Rupert John Rayner (11 April 1921 – 17 May 2008) was an Australian state and national representative rugby league player and NSWRFL coach.

In 1949 he was appointed the coach of the club as well as captain and Souths finished as minor-premiers and managed a Grand final appearance going down to St George in 1949 season decider.

Rayner's fifth premiership win in 1955 stands as the record for the most number of grand final successes by an individual as captain (equaled by Ken Kearney's who also achieved five in 1960).

As captain-coach for all of those wins Rayner was the first man to coach a side to five Grand Final victories, a record subsequently matched by Kearney and Jack Gibson and eventually beaten in 2006 by Wayne Bennett.

He made eleven appearances for the New South Wales rugby league team scoring two tries with a total of six points.

The True Blue reference quotes Clive Churchill describing Rayner "He was a brilliant tactician.

[6] Rayner was a Police Detective by occupation and a man whom the Sydney Telegraph obituary described as renowned for his sportsmanship and dignified manner and who embodied an "Australian tough but fair attitude".