Rugby League
Your Stories

Note from Quigs: I have included a large pic of the 1945 news article on Bumper and McRitchie. It is a large file size and will take sometime to load - but for the sake of being able to read it, I've left it as a large file. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Stats available from 1976 on -

Bumper Farrell accused of biting off a bloke’s ear

It was 1945 and Newtown Rugby League captain, Frank ‘Bumper’ Farrell was accused of biting off a portion of an opponent’s ear in a Rugby League match on July 28. In its day, this was a big news story which generated plenty of opinion amongst Rugby League fans. Almost 60 years later, the incident still has the ability to raise debate between League historians.

A New South Wales Police officer, Farrell maintained his innocence when replying to a signed affidavit from St George prop forward, Bill McRitchie which accused Farrell of chomping and severing part of his ear.

The incident was never properly resolved. Despite a determined effort to bring about prosecution, Farrell was never charged and he was eventually cleared of any wrong doing.

A tough prop, Frank Farrell was a stoic club man for the Bluebags. ‘Bumper’ represented NSW no less than 13 times between 1939 and 1950. He played four Tests for Australia in 1946 and 1948. He captained Newtown to premiership glory in 1943. A popular policeman, Farrell played a then record of 250 grade games before retiring in 1951.

Bill McRitchie’s career was less illustrious. From 1942-1945, he played just 40 games for St George before being forced into retirement. The brother of Test star, Doug McRitchie, Bill’s career was undoubtedly cut short by the biting incident which saw him spend 22 weeks in hospital.

In his sworn affidavit, read in open League committee, McRitchie stated that during the game Farrell bit his right ear and that he (McRitchie) cried, “For Gods sake, let go,” and that he tried to free himself and even clawed at Farrell to force a release.

After getting to his feet, McRitchie reported the incident to referee George Bishop and yelled, “Look what he’s done to me!” The referee replied that he knew what was going on and if he caught the player responsible he would, “send him out for life.” Both players were cautioned.

Bleeding profusely, McRitchie left the field and took no further part in the match. He was treated by an ambulance officer and then by doctors at Marrickville hospital who told him that there no hope of stitching his ear back together.

Dr Finn reported to the committee that part of McRitchie’s ear was missing and “cartilage was sticking out.”

In his defence, Farrell expressed concern for McRitchie and stated, “Bill McRitchie has our sincere sympathy in his unfortunate accident and it is my own personal wish and the desire of my team mates is that he has a successful and speedy recovery from his injuries.

“I definitely state that I have been unjustly accused when it is stated that I bit the ear of W. McRitchie.”

Needless to say, the Newtown club backed their captain. Club secretary, Dave Jolley went to the media and launched a scathing attack against Farrell’s accusers. “We feel that our player has been unjustly accused and that we are the victims of a state of affairs that should not exist in Rugby League,” said Jolley. “We cannot reconcile such maladministration that has entered into such a case.”

Jolley also added the following statement regarding the public perception of the day: “The public point-of-view would seem to be that a member of my club committed an outrageous misdemeanor. Not one word of substantiated evidence has been given.”

The final defence for Farrell came when he informed the committee that he could not have bitten McRitchie’s ear because he left his dentures in a jar in the dressing room. Presented with the extraordinary notion that Farrell would have had to ‘gum’ McRitchie’s ear, the committee exonerated the Newtown skipper thus saving him from a possible life ban.

‘Bumper’ Farrell went on to play for Australia and to this day, holds pride of place as being the only player to have surpassed 200 first grade games for the Bluebags.

McRitchie on the other hand never wavered from his position that Frank Farrell had bitten off part of his ear. The public debate continued as well as both sides argued over the possibility that Farrell was still able to rip at the fleshy part of a man’s ear... teeth or no teeth.

St George officials tried to re-open the inquiry a month later, however the League disagreed, voting 21-2 against further investigation.

*Quote Ref: Daily Mirror (Sydney), August 1945.*
*Player Ref: Encylopedia of Rugby League Players.*

"THANKS A MILLION STEVE" --- Quigs (he is not a bad bloke even though he does follow Saints)

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

My father, Jim Farrell, was a cousin of Bumper's, but 15 years older. He was also raised in Newtown,and of stubborn Irish blood.

Most of the stories he told about his in/famous relative are not suitable to be repeated on a public forum...and related more to his career in the force.( NSW Police Force )

But Dad refused to believe that Bumper was guilty of the biting charge, partly because of loyalty and admiration, but mainly because Bumper always took his dentures out before he put his mouthguard in!!

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

I was getting up to play the ball when Bumper said in a deep voice, "Hello Son", and almost at the same time I felt Bumper's big powerful, clenched hands around my head, screwing it off. - Clive Churchill on his debut first grade game for South Sydney against Newtown.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

My memories are of Bumper - The Family Man.

My father Cos Mooney and Bumper were friends and I remember great times spent at the Farrell home in Leichhardt, Sydney.

I was around the same age as his children and enjoyed their company, I remember Susan and young Frank, and Bumper's lovely wife Phyllis, my memory is vague on Susan's sister's name.

Christmas mornings, Cracker Nights and holidays at Narrabeen - great innocent times.

I remember talk of the "ear biting" and also remember that Bumper always maintained he was innocent even in close family circles....

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Nobody is going to make a cream puff out of me - Frank Bumper Farrell to a stunned Ambulance Man who had gone onto the field to treat him. The medico had just whipped out the smelling salts as Bumper came to his senses.

courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Bumper had a lot of friends, but forgot them all the minute he took the field. He was the roughest, toughest player of his era. He looked at the rules as a minor distraction ... they never worried him -
courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

"Ive been reporting crime in this city for just on 40 years and Bumper Farrell was the most colourful cop I Knew," Jenkins wrote shortly after Farrell's death in 1985. "His very appearance instilled respect and sometimes fear into hoodlums and criminals who infested Kings Cross, which was his domain for so many years. With big cauliflower ears, rugged face and ham like fists, Farrell was a formidable figure. If Bumper spotted hoodlums hanging about a street corner he would say: "These mugs are up to no good. Let's attend to them. 'Yet I never once heard of Bumper using his baton or gun. He enforced the law with his fists and was known to walk alone through the streets of Surry Hills, which was known as tha Barbary Coast in Sydney."
courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

Farrell lamenting the changing face of the criminal element in Sydney

"The old crims were manly sort of blokes," he said, "They took it and they gave it. Today they are slimy types with hearts as big as the buttons on their shirts. There's not to many men of action around now."

courtesy of Tony Adams great book The Hitmen - A tribute to League's tough guys.

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

text

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -

text

- why not share your memories with other members of Team Era, just click here -