Beau Champion
A powerful and reliable centre who carved out a respected NRL career across multiple clubs, known for his strong carries and defensive grit.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Australian rugby league footballer·Birthday: December 23·Millennials
Biography
Beau Champion's name fit his role: a dependable, hard-running centre who battled in the trenches of the NRL. Hailing from Indigenous Australian heritage, his path was shaped early by a famous family connection—being a second cousin to Greg Inglis—but Champion forged his own identity. Debuting for South Sydney in 2007, he was initially groomed as a halfback but found his true calling in the centres, where his physicality and straight-line running could be best utilized. His journey saw him wear the jerseys of the Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans, and Parramatta Eels, bringing consistency to each backline. While not a constant representative star, his talents were recognized with selection for City Origin in 2010 and the Indigenous All-Stars squad, honors that spoke to his standing in the game. Champion's career wasn't defined by headlines, but by the weekly grind of a professional who could be counted on to make his tackles and gain tough metres.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Beau was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Beau Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Beau's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 150 first-grade games in the National Rugby League across four different clubs.
- Represented City Origin in the 2010 City vs Country Origin match.
- Selected for the Indigenous All-Stars squad in 2010.
Did You Know?
He is the second cousin of NRL superstar and fellow Indigenous Australian, Greg Inglis.
He made his NRL debut playing at five-eighth, not his preferred centre position.
He played his junior rugby league for the La Perouse Panthers in Sydney.
“You earn your spot every week with your effort in the middle.”
