Russell Fairfax

Russell Lance Fairfax (born 29 March 1952, Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He coached the Eastern Suburbs in 1989 and 1990.

Fairfax attended Matraville High School and played for La Perouse and Alexandria Rovers rugby league clubs in his junior years, before joining the Randwick club to play rugby union. In the early 1970s Fairfax played in eight rugby union tests for Australia.

In 1974, the fullback joined Eastern Suburbs rugby league club and was an instant sensation in the new code. His unorthodox play and long blonde flowing locks made him a crowd favourite. Fairfax played in 115 matches for Easts and won premierships with that club in 1974 and 1975. Fairfax represented both Sydney and NSW during his career but a broken leg suffered during the height of his career in the 1975 season probably prevented him from playing for Australia also in that rugby code. During the 1976 NSWRFL season, Fairfax played at fullback in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge match against British champions St. Helens in Sydney.

Fairfax played the final season of his career - 1981, with the South Sydney club and went on to coach the Snowy River Bears in Group 16.

During the 1970s, prior to becoming a full-time professional player, Fairfax taught physical education at Randwick North High School and Cleveland Street High School.