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Viv Farnsworth

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Vivian Robert Farnsworth
Born
Monday, 4th February, 1889
Died
Thursday, 16th April, 1953 (Aged 64 years and 71 days)
Place Of Birth
Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

Known Family Links

Brother
Bill Farnsworth
Roy Farnsworth

Competitions Won

The Ashes
1911/12, 1920
Test Series
1910 Australasia vs England
Interstate Series
1910
NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1910

Honours & Awards

National Rugby League Hall Of Fame
2008

Biography

With his brother Bill, Viv Farnsworth formed the first set of brothers to play rugby league for Australia. Viv was an outstanding centre with Newtown after coming from Petersham's RU ranks. He represented NSW in 1910-11 before joining his brother on the 1911-12 ‘Australasian’ Kangaroo tour. Equally brilliant in attack and defence he made his Test debut against England in the First Test against England and scored two tries (he had to wait for the final two Tests to play in the same side as Bill). Due to the advent of World War I Viv Farnsworth did not play in another Test series until almost a decade later in the Ashes-winning series in Australia in 1920. He died in 1953, aged 64.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tests (Senior International Matches) - 9 - 9 6-6 - - - 18 - - - 6 2 1 66.67% List
Other International Matches - 2 - 2 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - 1 50.00% List
The Ashes 2 6 - 6 4-4 - - - 12 - - - 4 1 1 66.67% List
Tour Matches New South Wales FirstsNFI - 15 1 16 4-4 - - - 12 - - 1 13 3 - 81.25% List
Tour Matches AustraliaAUS - 31 - 31 19-19 - - - 57 - - - 25 4 2 80.65% List
Tour Matches KangaroosKAN - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Tour Matches Sydney FirstsSDF - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Test Series 3 8 - 8 5-5 - - - 15 - - - 5 1 2 62.50% List
Interstate Series 1 3 - 3 1-1 - - - 3 - - 1 3 - - 100.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 1 45 - 45 27-27 - - - 81 - - 1 27 13 5 60.00% List
NRL Finals - 1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - - 1 0.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  95 1 96 51-51 - - - 153 - - 2 67 21 8 69.79% List

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australia 1911-12, 1920   9 - 9 6-6 - - - 18 - - - 6 2 1 66.67% List

International Matches - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Australasia 1910   2 - 2 1-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - 1 50.00% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Wallabies 1909   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
NSW Firsts 1910-12, 1920   15 1 16 4-4 - - - 12 - - 1 13 3 - 81.25% List
Metropolis 1911-12   3 - 3 --- - - - - - - - 3 - - 100.00% List
Kangaroos 1912   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
AIF 1919   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Sydney Firsts 1920   1 - 1 --- - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NewtownNewtown 19101910 NSWRFL   13 - 138-8 - - - 24 - - - 10 2 1 76.92% List
NewtownNewtown 19111911 NSWRFL   10 - 106-6 - - - 18 - - - 5 2 3 50.00% List
NewtownNewtown 19121912 NSWRFL   9 - 96-6 - - - 18 - - 1 6 3 - 66.67% List
NewtownNewtown 19191919 NSWRFL   2 - 21-1 - - - 3 - - - 1 - 1 50.00% List
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19201920 NSWRFL   5 - 55-5 - - - 15 - - - 3 2 - 60.00% List
Western SuburbsWestern Suburbs 19211921 NSWRFL   6 - 61-1 - - - 3 - - - 2 4 - 33.33% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Newtown 1910-12, 1919   34 - 34 21-21 - - - 63 - - 1 22 7 5 64.71% List
Western Suburbs 1920-21   11 - 11 6-6 - - - 18 - - - 5 6 - 45.45% List

Your Say

  • DENIS FITZGERALD
    17 Jul 2019 5:21pm

    Viv Farnsworth was a great-uncle of Parramatta Eels player and CEO Denis Fitzgerald AM.

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Contributions: Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Rugby League Tables, Tony McCarron, Darth Orion, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates, Tim Costello

Sources: Wakefield Trinity Heritage , Widnes RLFC History , Warrington Rugby Heritage