Churchill and Coote Inducted into IRL Hall of Legends
Two of the greatest names in Rabbitohs history, Clive Churchill and Ron Coote, have been named among 42 inaugural inductees into the International Rugby League (IRL) Hall of Legends.
Both Immortals, Churchill and Coote will be celebrated at a ceremony at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday, ahead of this weekend's Rugby League World Cup finals.
A Global Honour
The inaugural class recognises the greatest players from the beginnings of international rugby league through to current superstar Jason Taumalolo. It comprises 10 players from the pre-1954 era, six greats of the women's game and 26 male players from the post-1954 era, representing eight nations.
Churchill and Coote join a list that includes fellow Immortals Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga, Andrew Johns, Reg Gasnier, John Raper, Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton and Arthur Beetson, along with modern Kangaroos greats Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater.
More than 240 nominees were identified, with the inductees chosen by a committee of coaches, players, administrators, journalists and commentators from across the world.
Clive Churchill
Known as 'The Little Master', Clive Churchill joined the Club in 1947 and went on to play 157 games for South Sydney, winning four premierships and revolutionising the role of the fullback.
Churchill made his debut for City, New South Wales and Australia in just his second season, and in 1950 he earned the Australian Test captaincy, leading the Kangaroos to their first Ashes win against Great Britain in more than three decades. He played 37 internationals for Australia and is listed in the Hall of Legends among the pre-1954 inductees.
He later returned to the Club as head coach in 1967, winning four premierships in five years and mentoring Club Legends John Sattler, Ron Coote, Eric Simms and Bob McCarthy. In 1981, he was honoured as one of the inaugural Immortals, and the Clive Churchill Medal has been awarded to the man of the match in every Grand Final since 1986.
Ron Coote
Born in Kingsford and a product of Kensington Juniors, Ron Coote made his first grade debut for South Sydney in round 1, 1964, and played 148 games for the Club through to 1971. The 'Prince of Locks' played in six Grand Finals in the red and green, winning premierships in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971.
Coote played 23 Tests for Australia between 1967 and 1975, captained the Kangaroos in 1970 and represented his country at three World Cups. He captained the Rabbitohs in 1971, was inducted as a Life Member of the Club in 1990 and was named at lock in the South Sydney Dream Team in 2004.
Elevated as the game's 14th Immortal in 2024, Coote is also honoured every time the Rabbitohs and Roosters meet, with the Ron Coote Cup named in his honour. He founded the Men of League Foundation, which continues today as Family of League.
Immortals Together
The two inductees share a special bond. Churchill coached Coote to the 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971 premierships, and the pair stand together as Rabbitohs among the game's Immortals.
The Rabbitohs congratulate Clive Churchill and Ron Coote on this international recognition, which further cements their place among the greats of Rugby League.
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 finals will be played at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.
