The family of Dragons ‘‘Immortal’’ Reg Gasnier will unveil a plaque in memory of the Prince of Centres before the 2pm clash with Newcastle Knights at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, on Sunday, August 2.
The plaque will be a permanent marker honouring the six-time premiership winner who died at 74 on Sunday, May 11, last year.
Gasnier, born and raised in St George, began his rugby league career with Renown United and joined the Dragons in 1959, scoring 127 tries in 125 games in his nine-year career.
Gasnier was selected to represent NSW after just five first grade games.
He played 16 times for his state, scoring 15 tries in 1959-67.
National honours, including being captain, came and he scored 28 tries in 39 games in 1959-67.
His exciting career ended prematurely when he broke his leg against a French provincial team in a European tour match.
Gasnier was 28.
Clive Churchill, John Raper, Bob Fulton and Gasnier were chosen in 1985 as Australia’s initial four post-war rugby league “Immortals” and inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame.
The Order of Australia (AM) was given to Gasnier in 1989 and he was inducted in 2002 into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.
Gasnier was named in the Australian and NSW teams of the century during the Australian rugby league centenary celebrations in 2008,
The Gasnier family and St George District Rugby League Football Club, with St George Illawarra Dragons in support, are working to create the annual Reg Gasnier scholarship which will give financial support to a sportsperson from St George.
The Dragons will support the formation of the Reg Gasnier Foundation.