Viv Farnsworth
Encyclopedia
Viv Farnsworth was an Australian professional rugby league
player for Newtown
, Wests
, New South Wales and Australia, he also represented Australasia
. He primarily played in the s is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century
in inner-western Sydney but he switched codes in 1909 and played for Newtown from 1910. He was regarded as an outstanding centre and, alongside his brother, Bill
, was selected for New South Wales in 1910. Farnsworth was a member of the 1910 premiership winning Newtown team in the try-less final against Souths
.
In the same year, the brothers made their international debut against the touring British Lions
and were both selected for the 'Australasian' Kangaroo tour of Britain in 1911–1912. They were the first set of brothers to play rugby league for Australia.
Viv Farnsworth made his test debut in the first test against England
on 8 November 1911 and scored two tries. He scored a total of 19 tries on tour (from 29 matches), one less than Herb Gilbert
. The combination of Gilbert and Farnsworth was a feature of the successful tour.
After touring New Zealand with New South Wales in 1912, Farnsworth headed back to England and joined the Oldham
club. He was still in England at the out-break of the Great War
and he subsequently enlisted with a Lancashire
regiment.
After the war, Farnsworth re-joined Sydney club Newtown in 1919 but by 1920 he had moved to Wests
where he played for two seasons.
Farnsworth participated in the Ashes-winning series of 1920, again proving a formidable combination with Herb Gilbert
in the second test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
. Although the score was even at 8–all at half-time, tries to Australia's three-quarter line of Dick Vest, Farnsworth, Gilbert and Harold Horder
secured the Ashes.
An injury in the third test of the series eventually ended Farnsworth's playing career. He died in 1953.
and the National Rugby League
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
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...
player for Newtown
Newtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
, Wests
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
, New South Wales and Australia, he also represented Australasia
Australasia rugby league team
-1911-12:Following individual tours by New Zealand and Australia in 1907-08 and 1908-09 respectively, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited an 'Australasian' team to tour Great Britain during the 1911-12 season...
. He primarily played in the s is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century
Playing career
As a youth, Farnsworth played for Petersham Rugby ClubNew South Wales Suburban Rugby Union
The New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union is affiliated to the New South Wales Rugby Union and runs the competition affectionately known as "Subbies" rugby. There are around 7500 players and 55 clubs competing across 6 divisions, making "Subbies" the largest centrally administered rugby competition...
in inner-western Sydney but he switched codes in 1909 and played for Newtown from 1910. He was regarded as an outstanding centre and, alongside his brother, Bill
Bill Farnsworth
Bill Farnsworth was an Australian rugby league footballer of the 1910s. In NSWRFL season 1910, he won the premiership with Newtown and was also selected to represent Australia and New South Wales, he also represented Australasia....
, was selected for New South Wales in 1910. Farnsworth was a member of the 1910 premiership winning Newtown team in the try-less final against 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...
.
In the same year, the brothers made their international debut against the touring British Lions
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and were both selected for the 'Australasian' Kangaroo tour of Britain in 1911–1912. They were the first set of brothers to play rugby league for Australia.
Viv Farnsworth made his test debut in the first test against England
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
on 8 November 1911 and scored two tries. He scored a total of 19 tries on tour (from 29 matches), one less than Herb Gilbert
Herb Gilbert
Herbert R. Gilbert was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player – a dual-code international. He represented the Wallabies in 3 Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in 7 Tests from 1911 to 1920, his last two as Captain. The captain-coach of the St...
. The combination of Gilbert and Farnsworth was a feature of the successful tour.
After touring New Zealand with New South Wales in 1912, Farnsworth headed back to England and joined the Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
club. He was still in England at the out-break of the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and he subsequently enlisted with a Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
regiment.
After the war, Farnsworth re-joined Sydney club Newtown in 1919 but by 1920 he had moved to Wests
Western Suburbs Magpies
The Western Suburbs Magpies are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia...
where he played for two seasons.
Farnsworth participated in the Ashes-winning series of 1920, again proving a formidable combination with Herb Gilbert
Herb Gilbert
Herbert R. Gilbert was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player – a dual-code international. He represented the Wallabies in 3 Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in 7 Tests from 1911 to 1920, his last two as Captain. The captain-coach of the St...
in the second test at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. Although the score was even at 8–all at half-time, tries to Australia's three-quarter line of Dick Vest, Farnsworth, Gilbert and Harold Horder
Harold Horder
Harold Norman Horder was an Australian rugby league player a national and state representative player whose club career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Sydney Bears between 1912 and 1924...
secured the Ashes.
An injury in the third test of the series eventually ended Farnsworth's playing career. He died in 1953.
Accolades
In February 2008, he was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian 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...
and the National Rugby League
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...
to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.