Viv Farnsworth
Centre
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 04 February 1889
- Birthplace:
- Newtown, NSW
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- Wallabies
- Date:
- 11 September 1909
- Opposition:
- Kangaroos
- Venue:
- Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney
- Representative:
- New South Wales, Australia
- Clubs:
- Newtown, Oldham, Wests
Career
Milestones
- Premiership: 1910
- Kangaroo Tour: 1911-12
- Rated No. 84 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
Playing
- First Class Games
- 175
- Points
- 237
- Tries
- 79
Biography
From the time he switched codes in 1909, Viv Farnsworth enjoyed a glittering rugby league career. Farnsworth made his league debut in the third of the matches between the Kangaroos and Wallabies that year, deputising for his injured brother Bill.
Viv joined Newtown in 1910 and was a key part of their premiership win that year, a season in which he also gained NSW selection.
He won his first Australian jersey the following year, when picked for the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour, forming a lethal combination with Herb Gilbert that was a feature of the successful campaign.
Farnsworth's zippy footwork, creative ball play and bruising defence brought him 19 tries from 29 matches on tour.
One story told is how an opposing player, seeing that Farnsworth was to mark him, immediately withdrew from the match to save himself.
Viv and Bill Farnsworth joined Oldham in 1912 and then enlisted with a Lancashire regiment when World War I erupted.
Viv returned to Australia after the hostilities and joined Wests, uniting with Gilbert again at club level and for Australia's 1920 Ashes triumph. An injury suffered in the Third Test of that series ended his career.
“He was equally brilliant in attack and defence, and was one of the most punishing tacklers I have ever seen..."
Johnny Quinlan Kangaroos Manager, 1911-12
10. Viv Farnsworth - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown Bluebags | Premiership |
1910
1919 |
1912
1919 |
33 | 23 | - | - | 69 |
| Oldham | England First Class Games | 1913 | 1915 | 78 | 27 | 1 | - | 83 |
| Western Suburbs | Premiership | 1920 | 1921 | 12 | 6 | - | - | 18 |
Representative Career
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate series | Queensland | 1910 | 1910 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| New South Wales | Touring teams |
1910
1920 |
1912
1920 |
5 | 1 | - | - | 3 | |
| New South Wales | Tour matches | 1912 | 1912 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests |
1911
1920 |
1912
1920 |
6 | 4 | - | - | 12 |
| Australia | Tour matches | 1911 | 1912 | 25 | 15 | - | - | 45 |
Other Representative
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallabies | Kangaroos | 1909 | 1909 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Australasia | England | 1910 | 1910 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Metropolis | Newcastle | 1911 | 1911 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Kangaroos | Metropolis | 1912 | 1912 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Metropolis | Central Western | 1912 | 1912 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Hall of Fame Members
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
