Viv Thicknesse facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | Vivian Arthur Thicknesse 18 November 1910 Temora, New South Wales |
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| Died | 19 August 1986 (aged 75) Orange, New South Wales |
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Playing information
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Rugby union
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| Position | Half-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league
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| Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Viv Thicknesse (1910–1986) was a talented Australian rugby player. He played as a half-back in two different types of rugby: rugby league and rugby union. Viv represented his home state, New South Wales, in both sports.
His most famous time was playing rugby league for the champion Eastern Suburbs team in the 1930s. He also played for Australia in seven important international games called Tests.
Contents
Viv's Rugby Journey
Early Days in Rugby Union
Viv Thicknesse went to Sydney Boys High School in the 1920s. After school, he played rugby union for the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club. He was a half-back, a key player who helps direct the game.
Switching to Rugby League
In 1931, Viv decided to switch to professional rugby league. He joined the Eastern Suburbs rugby league team. This team was very strong in the 1930s.
Winning Championships
Viv was a big part of the Eastern Suburbs team that won three championships in a row. They won the NSWRL premierships in 1935, 1936, and 1937. He even captained the team in 1937.
Playing for State and Country
Viv also played for the New South Wales state team 11 times between 1933 and 1936. His first international game for Australia was during the 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. On this tour, he played in two Tests and 16 other matches.
He continued to play for Australia in Test series against New Zealand in 1935 and against Great Britain in 1936. In total, he played in seven Test matches for Australia. He is known as Kangaroo No. 181 in the Australian Players Register.
Viv often played alongside other great players like Vic Hey from Wests and his Eastern Suburbs teammate Ernie Norman.
Why Viv Was Special
Recognized for His Skills
Viv Thicknesse was known for his amazing passing skills as a half-back. His club, Eastern Suburbs, even picked him for their 'Team of the Century'. This shows how important he was to the team's history.
The famous rugby player Dally Messenger once said that Viv Thicknesse was "the equal of any half he had seen play the game." This was a huge compliment!
One of Australia's Greatest
In 2008, Viv Thicknesse was named in a special list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players. This list was created to celebrate 100 years of rugby league in Australia. It shows that Viv is remembered as one of the best players ever.
Viv's Legacy
Viv Thicknesse kept scrapbooks and a diary during his playing career. His diary from the 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain gives us a look into his experiences. In 2012, the State Library of New South Wales bought Viv's scrapbooks and diaries. This means his memories are now kept safe for everyone to learn from.
Images for kids
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Thicknesse scores in 1933 for NSW v Qld
