Viv Thicknesse

Infobox Rugby biography
name=Viv Thicknesse


birthname=Viv Thicknesse
nickname =
dateofbirth= 1910
placeofbirth =
dateofdeath = 1986
height=
weight=
ru_position= Half-back
ru_amateurclubs= Eastern Suburbs RUFC
ru_amateuryears = 1930-1932
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalyears =
ru_nationalteam =
ru_nationalcaps =
ru_nationalpoints =
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super14 =
super14caps =
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ru_province = New South Wales
ru_provinceyears = 1930
ru_provincecaps =
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ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
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ru_coachclubs =
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rl_position = Half-back
sooyears = 1933-1936
sooteam =
sooteam pre-1980 = yes
soocaps = 11
soopoints = (9)
rl_nationalteam = flagicon|AUS Australia
rl_nationalyears = 1933–1935
rl_nationalcaps = 7
rl_nationalpoints = (0)
rl_ntupdate = 31 December, 2007
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs =
rl_amupdate =
rl_clubyears = 1933–1937
rl_proclubs =
rl_clubcaps = 75
rl_clubpoints = (57)
rl_clubupdate = 31 December 2007
other = no
occupation =
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Viv Thicknesse (1910 - 1986) was an Australian rugby league footballer, a national and state representative whose club career was spent with the champion Eastern Suburbs sides of the 1930s. Prior to switching to rugby league he represented for his state in rugby union.

Playing career

Thicknesse was a half-back with Sydney's Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club before switching to the professional code in 1931 and joining Eastern Suburbs' rugby league side. He was a member of the Tricolours' champion teams of the 1930s and won consecutive premierships with the club in the seasons of 1935, 1936 and NSWRL season 1937. He captained the 1937 side.

He represented for New South Wales on eleven occasions between 1933 and 1936 and made his international debut for Australia on the 1933-34 Kangaroo tour where he appeared in two Tests and in sixteen minor matches. He played in futher Test series against New Zealand in 1935 and against Great Britain in 1936 for a total of seven career Test appearances. He formed a formidable representative halves pairing with Wests great Vic Hey and with his Easts clubmate Ernie Norman.

Accolades

A halfback, Thicknesse was renown for his passing game and was selected in Eastern Suburbs 'Team Of The Century'. Dally Messenger once said of Viv Thicknesse that he rated him the equal of any half he had seen play the game.

In February 2008, Thicknesse 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. [cite news|author=Peter Cassidy |publisher="Macquarie National News"|title=Controversy reigns as NRL releases top 100 players |url=http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/22/Controversy_reigns_as_NRL_releases_top_100_players |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23] [cite web|publisher="NRL & ARL"|title=Centenary of Rugby League - The Players |url=http://www.centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au/site/the-players.aspx?cat=3&list=true |accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23]

ources

* Andrews, Malcolm (2006) "The ABC of Rugby League" Austn Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
* Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) "The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players", Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney

References