Aggressive cover defending centre/lock in Balmain's premiership-winning teams during the 1940s, Hampstead won premierships in 1944 and 1946. He represented NSW in 1945 46, including the state match against Great Britain in 1946. He later coached Canterbury in 1953 54 and was a long standing member of the Balmain Club Board until his death in 1992. The grandfather of leading referee Sean Hampstead.