Frank Sponberg
Francis Anthony Sponberg (1913–2000) was a professional rugby league footballer who played for Western Suburbs, Canterbury-Bankstown and for the New South Wales Rugby League team.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francis Anthony Sponberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1913 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Second-row | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 19 February 2019 Source: [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Of Swedish descent, Sponberg had a very successful club career, ultimately winning three grand finals with two different clubs.
A Canterbury junior, Sponberg played for Western Suburbs for three seasons between 1932–1934. He played lock in the 1934 Grand Final winning Western Suburbs Magpies team as a late inclusion.
He joined the newly admitted Canterbury-Bankstown club for their debut season in 1935. He played a total of 8 seasons with Canterbury between 1935–1944, including the 1938 Grand Final and the 1942 Grand Final.[2] He spent the 1940 season as captain-coach of Wollongong, before returning to Canterbury in 1941.
Representative career
Sponberg represented New South Wales on 7 occasions between 1933–1935. He missed 1936 selection due to broken ribs.[3]
Accolades
During 1936, Sponberg was quoted in the press as "the next best lock to Wally Prigg in Australia." [4]
In 1985, Sponberg was selected in the Bulldog's 'Greatest Team Ever'.
In 2004, Sponberg was named in the Canterbury 70th year Berries to Bulldogs Team Of Champions as lock forward.
In 2007, he was inducted into the Bulldogs Ring of Champions (Hall of Fame).[5]
References
- "Frank Sponberg - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
- Alan Whitaker - rugbyleagueproject.org
- Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson
- Wollongong Argus and South Coast Times: GREAT LOCK. 10/06/1936 (page 6) Article & Photo
- http://www.bulldogs.com.au/Frank%5B%5D Sponberg