Education
Born in Brunswick, Balfe attended Princes Hill State School before earning a scholarship to attend University High School, Melbourne. Rupert decided after High School that he would study medicine. He attended Melbourne University for his degree and accomplished lieutenant
During his years at the University he played for the VFL Football Club.
Career
He played Australian rules football for VFA Club Brunswick whilst enjoying athletics at University High. Balfe, a wingman, broke his arm during the match and that turned the game, with Footscray winning by 24 points. When at Melbourne University, he became a classy football player with the VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress side University, but due to studies he was limited.
He played on 1 game in season 1909–1910, making his debut in 1909, but in 1911 he came back, and allowed for 6 more games, before ending a football career for athletics.
He had always been a great athlete, especially in field athletics. In 1913 he was runner-up in the Victorian long jump.
lieutenant was announced on 2 September 1914 that he would be a Second Lieutenant with the 6th Battalion in the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Rupert Balfe died on ANZAC Day at Gallipoli, Turkey, at the age of 25.
He was one of many players from the VFL during the World Wars who lost their lives.
Menzies went on to become the Prime Minister of Australia from 1939–1941, 1949–1966. Menzies wrote a poem for the late Balfe which appeared in several local newspapers on 16 July 1915. In Memoriam Lieutenant J.R. Balfe, Killed in Action, Gallipoli, July 1915.