Ross Strudwick

Ross Strudwick (born 1950[3]) is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. An Australian international, New South Wales and Queensland representative halfback of the 1970s, he played club football in the New South Wales Rugby Football League Premiership for St. George and in the Brisbane Rugby League Premiership for Fortitude Valley. Strudwick later embarked on a coaching career in Queensland and England.

Ross Strudwick
Personal information
Full nameRoss Andrew Strudwick
Born1950
Nyngan, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
PositionHalfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1969–72 St. George 32 1 54 4 117
1973–81 Fortitude Valley
Total 32 1 54 4 117
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1973–76 Queensland 8 0 3 2 8
1975 Australia 1 0 0 0 0
1979 Brisbane 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1979–84 Fortitude Valley
1985–87 Brothers (Brisbane)
1988–89 Halifax 20 7 0 13 35
1990–93 London Crusaders 25 8 0 17 32
Total 45 15 0 30 33
Source: [1][2]

Playing

Strudwick started his career in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership with St. George Dragons in 1969. He played there until 1972, gaining selection for New South Wales during this period. Strudwick was the understudy to the champion Dragons halfback Billy Smith during that period, thus his first grade appearances were irregular.

After moving north to play in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership with Fortitude Valley, Strudwick was selected to represent Queensland several times and also played for Australia in the 1975 World Series. He was captain of Valleys when a teenage Wally Lewis made his first grade debut for the club in 1978[4] and worked with the youngster to help develop his long passing skills. That year they made the Grand Final but lost to Easts. The following year, with Strudwick as captain-coach, Valleys beat Souths to win the 1979 BRL premiership.[5]

Coaching

Following his retirement from playing, Strudwick continued coaching in Queensland, taking Brothers to victory in the 1987 BRL grand final, before moving to England the following year to take up opportunities there. He coached Halifax during the 1980s but was sacked after a home defeat by Featherstone Rovers. He also worked as a television match commentator for BBC Grandstand, and coached and managed London Crusaders before being replaced by Darryl van der Velde in 1992.[6] He resigned as general manager of the club in 1993.[7]

Strudwick is also the founder and CEO of a sporting goods retail franchise called Struddy's Sports, and his son, Nathan has also played rugby league, signing with the Brisbane Broncos club.[8]

References
  • Whiticker, Alan & Hudson, Glen (2006) The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players, Gavin Allen Publishing, Sydney

Footnotes
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. Queensland Rugby League. "QRL History". Queensland Representatives. qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. Meares, Peter (2003). Legends of Australian sport: The Inside Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780702234101.
  5. "1979 Brisbane Rugby League Grand Final". Rugby League News. World of Rugby League. 17 September 1989. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  6. "Biography & Career Highlights". Player Profile: Ross Strudwick. yesterdayshero.com.au. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  7. Hadfield, Dave (16 February 1993). "Wigan's travel plans unclear". Independent, The. independent.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  8. "Struddys Sports franchise reveals Sunshine Coast expansion plan". franchisebusiness.com.au. 27 March 2007. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
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