ON August 18, 1973, Gregg Humphries was part of Moree High School’s University Shield-winning team against Forbes High School at Gosford’s Grahame Park.

Fifty-one years later to the day in England, Gregg’s son, Rob Humphries, celebrated as coach and club chairman, a grand-final win by Anglian Vipers Rugby League in the East Premier Division.

The Vipers swept to an emphatic 50-10 win against competition leaders Hemel Stags at the weekend to further strengthen Humphries’ goal for the club to go semi-professional next year.

Anglian Vipers, based in Wymondham, Norfolk, pulled on jerseys for the first time in May, 2022, having only been formed in January that year.

“The region has exceptional rugby talent, with over 40 rugby union clubs in our catchment area, but there were no rugby league teams at all in East Anglia, which is strange. Rugby league is a summer sport here, so the seasons don’t generally clash,” Humphries said.

“We set up the club in the hope we could convert a few rugby union players and tease some ex-pat northerners that may have been hibernating in the region.”

Humphries, who was recently visited in England by parents Gregg and Katrina, is indeed a sports all-rounder.

He’s also a self-confessed ‘cricket nut’, a passion forged at the Ron Harborne Oval cricket nets during his schoolboy days in Moree.

He’s excelled at rugby union and motocross, and won a Central North under-19s title with the Weebolla Bulls in 2002 as well as a couple of cricket titles with the Golfies, club he played for from the age of 14 when a B-grade team was formed in the late 1990s.

Rob Humphries is ‘iced’ as the Anglian Vipers celebrate their 50-10 win against competition leaders Hemel Stags in England at the weekend (Image Supplied).

Humphries graduated from Moree Secondary College in 2002 and started a banking career at Westpac Banking Corporation.

He relocated to the UK in 2004 and played in the Norfolk Cricket Alliance competition, before heading to Melbourne to play cricket for Box Hill Cricket Club in the Victorian sub-districts competition.

He also played rugby union for the Box Hill Broncos in the VRU competition.

When in Victoria, Humphries re-joined Westpac, then relocated to south-east Queensland, where he played both codes for the Warwick Water Rats and Warwick Cowboys.

He came back to Moree in late 2006, but the UK calling was too great, and he returned the following year.

Humphries worked for National Australia Bank’s UK operation, Clydesdale Bank, and established World Sports Xchange, a management agency for talented sportspeople.

Humphries and his wife, Jac, came back to Moree in 2010, and returned to England four years later.

During his time in Moree, when children Tyler and Scarlett were born, Humphries was president of Moree and District Cricket Association.

“That time back home was particularly satisfying. Our original plan was to stay and raise our kids and give them that laidback country upbringing that I got such enjoyment out of growing up, so it was nice to give back to the cricket association and a great bunch of blokes, many of which are still involved locally,” Humphries said.

Rob Humphries’ Anglian Vipers celebrate their grand-final win after only two years in the East Premier Division (Image Supplied).

In 2018, Humphries began running World Sports Xchange full-time and he and Jac also took on three foster daughters just prior to COVID-19.

He is now the proud chairman, manager and game-day coach of an English rugby league grand-final winning outfit.

Incredibly, the Anglian Vipers didn’t get off to a great start when established less than three years ago.

“After giving it the big sell on social media, we had three blokes turn up to our first training session,” Humphries said.

“That was heartbreaking at the time, but I am glad we stuck at it because look where we are now – champions!”

To top off a successful year, the Vipers ladies team beat Women’s Super League Academy side, Hull KR, a couple of weeks ago.

“I still love Moree, and having mum and dad over for nearly three months has given me a good top-up of the ‘big M’,” Humphries said.

“Their visit has been brilliant, and they’ve loved catching the Vipers games, with dad coming to all the away games as well.”

Humphries now has the welcome mat out, and warmly invites any Moree players planning a UK trip in the foreseeable future

“I’d genuinely like to extend an open invitation to any of the Boars and Boomerangs players, male and female, who are planning a trip overseas,” he said.

“Everyone is always welcome to come and have a run with us, if they choose to get overseas and travel like I did all those years ago.”

Words: Bill Poulos

Images: Supplied