About Bandy Adams
Lived 1934 – 2020 (aged 86). Bandy Adams was an Australian rugby league player and rugby league coach.
Don Patrick "Bandy" Adams (15 February 1934 – 4 March 2020) was an Australian rugby league player.
Born in Maitland, Adams was a stocky winger known for his career as a player/coach across the Hunter Valley during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He went by the nickname "Bandy" and made 191 appearances for his hometown side the Maitland Pickers. After making his first-grade debut for Maitland in a grand final at the age of 17, Adams began his representative career in 1955 with appearances for both New South Wales and NSW Country.
Adams was a member of the Australia team for all three of their 1956 home Test matches against New Zealand, scoring two tries on debut, including a last-minute match-winner. He followed this up with a hat-rick in the 3rd Test in Sydney. These performances helped him gain a place on the 1956–57 tour of Great Britain and France, where he featured in a further two Test matches and accumulated 11 tries from 15 tour fixtures.
As a coach, Adams had stints in charge of Gloucester, Scone, Muswellbrook and the Northern Division representative side, which included future international second-rower Noel Cleal.
Adams was the father of Manly and Balmain halfback David and grandfather of NRL hooker Adam Clydsdale. His brother's grandson is Brisbane Broncos halfback Jock Madden.
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Important facts
People in Bandy Adams's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bandy Adams's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bandy Adams?
Australian rugby league player
When was Bandy Adams born?
Bandy Adams was born on 15 February 1934.
When did Bandy Adams die?
Bandy Adams died on 4 March 2020.
What was Bandy Adams's occupation?
Bandy Adams was a rugby league player and rugby league coach.
What nationality was Bandy Adams?
Bandy Adams was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bandy Adams. https://biography.guide/bandy-adams/
MLA: "Bandy Adams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bandy-adams/.
Chicago: "Bandy Adams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bandy-adams/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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