Vic Armbruster
Encyclopedia
Louis Victor "Vic" Armbruster (born 12 July 1902 in Meerschaum Vale
, New South Wales
, died 1984) was an Australian rugby league
footballer for New South Wales, Queensland and Australia. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century. He primarily played in the .
Armbruster's grade career commenced in the country at Mullumbimby, New South Wales
from where he gained state selection for New South Wales
in 1922. He played in the historic match of 1922 which saw Queensland beat New South Wales for the first time since 1908. Many of the victorious Queenslanders that day would later be Armbruster's state and national team-mates.
Along with his future Kangaroo captain Tom Gorman
and state/national teammate Herb Steinohrt
, Armbruster was a member of the 1924-25 world class Toowoomba side that beat all-comers including Sydney premiers Souths
, Brisbane, Ipswich and representative sides including New South Wales
, Victoria, Great Britain and New Zealand
.
While playing with Toowoomba, Armbruster first gained national selection appearing in the 2nd and 3rd Tests of the 1924 domestic Ashes
series against Great Britain.
He played with the Grammars club in Brisbane and then Valleys and was a regular representative in the Queensland state side
making 35 appearances up till 1931. He was selected for the 1929 Kangaroo tour
and played in three Tests and sixteen minor representative tour games.
In February 2008, Armbruster was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
and ARL
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore is a subtropical town in northeastern New South Wales, Australia. Lismore is the main population centre in the City of Lismore local government area. Lismore is a regional centre in the Northern Rivers region of the State.-History:...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, died 1984) was an Australian 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 for New South Wales, Queensland and Australia. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century. He primarily played in the .
Playing career
Mullumbimby, New South Wales
Mullumbimby is a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia in Byron Shire, and is colloquially referred to as The Biggest Little Town in Australia. It lies at the foot of Mount Chincogan in the Brunswick Valley about from the sea...
from where he gained state selection for New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
in 1922. He played in the historic match of 1922 which saw Queensland beat New South Wales for the first time since 1908. Many of the victorious Queenslanders that day would later be Armbruster's state and national team-mates.
Along with his future Kangaroo captain Tom Gorman
Tom Gorman (rugby league)
Tom Gorman was an Australian rugby league player. He was a Centre three-quarter for the Australian national team. He played in 10 Tests between 1924 and 1930 as captain on 7 occasions....
and state/national teammate Herb Steinohrt
Herb Steinohrt
Herb Steinohrt was an Australian rugby league player. He was a front row forward for the Australian national team...
, Armbruster was a member of the 1924-25 world class Toowoomba side that beat all-comers including Sydney premiers Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, Brisbane, Ipswich and representative sides including New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
, Victoria, Great Britain and New Zealand
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...
.
While playing with Toowoomba, Armbruster first gained national selection appearing in the 2nd and 3rd Tests of the 1924 domestic Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series against Great Britain.
He played with the Grammars club in Brisbane and then Valleys and was a regular representative in the Queensland state side
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
making 35 appearances up till 1931. He was selected for the 1929 Kangaroo tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
and played in three Tests and sixteen minor representative tour games.
In February 2008, Armbruster was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.