Chris Phelan RIP
May 5th 2026
The Oldham Rugby League Heritage Trust were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Phelan (Heritage Number 892). He was a member of the Parramatta Eels 1982 and 1983 Premiership-winning teams. A tough prop or second-row forward he joined Oldham in 1984 along with team-mate Paul Taylor.
Born in Ireland on December 12, 1955, Chris emigrated to Australia in 1967 at age 12 and returned after his brief injury-hit spell with the Roughyeds where he played 11 games in the 1984-85 season. He went back to play in Queensland for Souths Magpies where he won the Brisbane RL Premiership in 1985 coached by Wayne Bennett, playing alongside Mal Meninga and Gary Belcher.
All the Oldham RL community send their sincere condolences to all of Chris’ family and friends.