Kurt Sorensen
Encyclopedia
Kurt John Sorensen is a New Zealand
former rugby league
footballer of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He is the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Dane Sorensen
, and the nephew of another pair of Kiwi brothers, Bill
and Dave Sorensen. He is of Tongan and Danish descent.
competition, Sorensen made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team
in the 1975 World Cup
. The following year, while playing for Mt Wellington, he won the Auckland Rugby League
's Rothville Trophy
, which is awarded to the Premier One player of the year as chosen by the Auckland Coach. Sorensen then moved to England to play for Wigan
for the 1976-77 season. He later played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Widnes
. While at Widnes he played in 252 games and captained the side that won the championship, the premiership
and the 1989 World Club Challenge
. He also played in the Widnes side that lost to Challenge Cup
. In 1986, after returning from the English season, Sorensen made some cameo appearances for the Northcote Tigers
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, Sorensen captained defending champions Widnes at second-row forward in their 1989 World Club Challenge
victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders
.
After leaving Widnes, Sorensen was the player-coach at Whitehaven
and then later was the coach at Chorley in England and Cudgen on the Gold Coast.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He is the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Dane Sorensen
Dane Sorensen
Dane Hans Ivan Peter Sorensen is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1970s and 80s. Sorensen represented New Zealand and his usual position was prop. He's the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Kurt Sorensen, and the nephew of another pair of Kiwi brothers, Bill and Dave Sorensen...
, and the nephew of another pair of Kiwi brothers, Bill
Bill Sorensen
William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in the 1954, 1957 and 1960 World Cups. His brother Dave also played for the Kiwis as did two of his nephews; Dane and Kurt.-Playing career:...
and Dave Sorensen. He is of Tongan and Danish descent.
Playing career
While playing in the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition, Sorensen made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in the 1975 World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
. The following year, while playing for Mt Wellington, he won the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's Rothville Trophy
Auckland Rugby League club trophies
-Trophies:There are approximately 24 trophies which have been competed for in Auckland Rugby League history by clubs. These include the following for teams; Fox Memorial Shield, Rukutai Shield, Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield, Kiwi Shield, A.R.L Trophy, Sharman Cup, Lawson Cup, Walmsley Shield, ARL...
, which is awarded to the Premier One player of the year as chosen by the Auckland Coach. Sorensen then moved to England to play for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
for the 1976-77 season. He later played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Eastern Suburbs Roosters and Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
. While at Widnes he played in 252 games and captained the side that won the championship, the premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
and the 1989 World Club Challenge
1989 World Club Challenge
The 1989 World Club Challenge was the third ever and first official World Club Challenge match. 1989's NSWRL season premiers, the Canberra Raiders traveled to England to play against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes.The match was played on Wednesday, 4 October at Old Trafford, Manchester...
. He also played in the Widnes side that lost to Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
. In 1986, after returning from the English season, Sorensen made some cameo appearances for the Northcote Tigers
Northcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.
During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, Sorensen captained defending champions Widnes at second-row forward in their 1989 World Club Challenge
1989 World Club Challenge
The 1989 World Club Challenge was the third ever and first official World Club Challenge match. 1989's NSWRL season premiers, the Canberra Raiders traveled to England to play against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes.The match was played on Wednesday, 4 October at Old Trafford, Manchester...
victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
.
After leaving Widnes, Sorensen was the player-coach at Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
and then later was the coach at Chorley in England and Cudgen on the Gold Coast.
External links
- Wigan Playing Career Details
- Widnes Playing Career Details
- http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Kurt-Sorensen_7683.aspx
- http://www.nzrl.co.nz/page/s.html
- http://rugbyleagueproject.com/players/KJ_Sorensen.html
- http://wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/index.php?page_id=503