Wally Prigg
Encyclopedia
Wally Prigg was an Australian rugby league
player. He was a lock forward for the Australian national rugby league team
. He played 19 Tests for the Kangaroos between 1929–38, 7 as captain and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
country based player to captain the Australian national rugby league team
.
He made his first appearance for New South Wales at the age of 20. Between 1929 and 1939 he made 32 appearances for New South Wales, a record at the time. He scored 12 tries or 36 points for New South Wales. During his career he revolutionized the position of lock forward. His game was based around short passing and close support play.
He played 19 Tests for the Kangaroos between 1929–38. He scored a total of 4 tries or 12 points for Australia. He toured with the Australia on their tours of New Zealand in 1935 and 1937 and on the Kangaroo Tour
of England in 1937–1938 when he was tour captain. He played in all five Tests of that tour as captain and in 24 minor matches.
He was the first man to be picked for three Kangaroo tour
s. His leadership style and skills were respected by English fans. His final test match for Australia was the first match ever between Australia and France in 1938.
Hall of Fame. In February 2008, Prigg 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.
In 2008 Prigg was named in New South Wales' rugby league team of the century.
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. He was a lock forward for the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
. He played 19 Tests for the Kangaroos between 1929–38, 7 as captain and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.
Club and representative career
Wally Prigg was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league. He spent his whole career as a Newcastle Wests and Central Charlestown player. He was the first New South WalesNew 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...
country based player to captain the Australian national rugby league team
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
.
He made his first appearance for New South Wales at the age of 20. Between 1929 and 1939 he made 32 appearances for New South Wales, a record at the time. He scored 12 tries or 36 points for New South Wales. During his career he revolutionized the position of lock forward. His game was based around short passing and close support play.
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...
of England in 1937–1938 when he was tour captain. He played in all five Tests of that tour as captain and in 24 minor matches.
He was the first man to be picked for three 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...
s. His leadership style and skills were respected by English fans. His final test match for Australia was the first match ever between Australia and France in 1938.
Accolades
Wally Prigg died in 1980 at the age of 71. In 2003 he was admitted into 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...
Hall of Fame. In February 2008, Prigg 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.
In 2008 Prigg was named in New South Wales' rugby league team of the century.