Bob Bugden

Bob Bugden (born 1936) is an Australian former rugby league player. He was a halfback with the St. George Dragons in the first half of their 11-year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was also a representative in the Australian national team in 1959 and 1960, making two test appearances.

Bugden grew up in northern New South Wales and attended Murwillimbah High School where he played rugby union. He moved to Sydney aged 15 as a cadet with the Commonwealth Bank and was posted to Wollongong where he played under-18 rugby league for Nowra-Shellharbour. Back in Sydney a year later he played with the Sutherland Woronora junior league side and a St George fourth grade rugby union side. He was a champion beach sprinter with the Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club, winning three national beach flags titles.

He played with the St George Dragons' Presidents Cup side in 1954 aged 18 and late that season appeared in reserve grade. He made his first grade debut still aged 18 in the Dragon's premiership semi-final victory over North Sydney in 1954 and two weeks later appeared and scored a try in the final against Newtown which St George lost 27-3. His first full year in first grade was in 1955, learning the ropes against the powerful South Sydney Rabbitohs champion outfit to whom his side again bowed out in the premiership final with Bugden again scoring a try.

He was the Dragons' first choice half-back for the first six of their consecutive premiership victories from 1956–61 and played 135 club games (133 1st grade), scoring 56 tries for the club.