Brian Nordgren
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Full name | Brian Carl Lloyd Nordgren Greymouth, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 15 May 2007 Hamilton, New Zealand | (aged 81)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] |
Brian Carl Lloyd Nordgren (23 October 1925 – 15 May 2007) was a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally for Wigan.
Early years
Born in Greymouth in 1926, Nordgren grew up in a Christchurch orphanage. He successfully joined the Army in 1940, claiming to be almost 18. However, in 1944, while awaiting shipment to Europe, a family member revealed he was only 17, and he was discharged.[3]
Playing career
Nordgren joined Ponsonby in 1944, scoring 5 tries. In the following season he scored 156 points in the Auckland Rugby League competition for Ponsonby which was an Auckland senior club record. In an exhibition match between Ponsonby and Mt Albert in Cambridge, Waikato he scored a try and kicked 8 goals.[4] He also represented Auckland and scored 91 points from just 5 games including a remarkable 17 tries. Norgren also scored 13 points for Auckland Pākehā against Auckland Māori in their 19-16 win. He also scored a try in the North Island's 18-8 win over the South Island on October 6, 1945. Nordgren was a champion sprinter and held the New Zealand junior 100 yard and 220 yard records.
Along with
Nordgren made his début for Wigan against Warrington on 3 April 1946 and went on to play in nine matches that season.[6] During his time at Wigan he was the top try scorer in the 1949-50 season, with 57 tries, and played in two Challenge Cup finals in 1946 and 1951. Wigan lost to Wakefield Trinity in 1946 after Nordgren missed a long-range penalty goal, estimated by Nordgren to be about 54m.[7] The team won the Challenge Cup in 1951, defeating Barrow.
He represented Other Nationalities against France in 1951 and retired in 1955, having played in 293 games and scored 1154 points from 312 tries and 109 goals.[8]
County Cup Final appearances
Brian Nordgren played
Later years
Nordgren studied law at the University of Liverpool and was called to the bar in 1951. After retirement he returned to New Zealand and practiced law in Auckland and Hamilton. He also spent some time coaching Ponsonby.[3]
References
- ^ "Brian Carl Lloyd Nordgren". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 7 July 2022 – via Online Cenotaph.
- ^ B Nordgren rugbyleagueproject.org
- ^ ISBN 9781869693664.p.131.
- ^ "Visit Of Auckland Teams". Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 1194. 17 October 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ NZRL pays tribute to Rugby League great Brian Nordgren rleague.com, 19 May 2007
- ^ Brian Nordgren wigan.rlfans.com
- ^ Obituary: Brian Nordgren nzherald.co.nz, 2 June 2007
- ^ "Brian Nordgren". Wigan Warriors. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "1946-1947 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "1947-1948 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "1948-1949 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "1949-1950 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "1950-1951 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "1951-1952 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.