Stuart_Spruce

Stuart Spruce

Stuart Spruce

English RL coach and former GB & England international rugby league footballer

Stuart Arthur Spruce (born 3 January 1971) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played as a fullback for the Widnes Vikings and the Bradford Bulls, and represented England and Great Britain at international level.[2][3]

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Playing career

Widnes

Stuart Spruce made his début for Widnes during the 1989-90 season, under coach Doug Laughton. When regular fullback Alan Tait quit for Leeds, Spruce became the permanent fullback. Bradford Bulls paid a record £120,000 for a fullback when they signed Spruce in May 1996. The previous record of £90,000 was paid by St Helens to Warrington for David Lyon in September 1992.[7]

Bradford Bulls

Spruce played for Bradford Bulls at fullback in the 1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to St. Helens. He became known as a good defensive player and an excellent offense. James Lowes, who played with him throughout his time with Bradford, paid this tribute: "Stuart has been one of the best fullbacks of his generation. He is a great talker on the field and a devastating runner."

He played for Bradford until the week before the 2001 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, when he announced his retirement due to injury.[8]

Return to Widnes

Spruce came out of retirement to play for Widnes during their inaugural Super League season in 2002.[9] He made a total of 54 appearances before retiring permanently at the end of the 2003 Super League season.[10]

International honours

Spruce won caps for England while at Widnes in 1992 against Wales and while at Bradford Bulls in 2000 against Russia (sub) and Fiji,[4] and won caps for Great Britain while at Widnes in 1993 against France, and while at Bradford Bulls in 1996 against Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and New Zealand (3 matches).[5]

Coaching

Stuart served briefly as caretaker head coach after Neil Kelly left.

References

  1. [1]
    "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  2. [2]
    "Statistics at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. [4]
    "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. [5]
    "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. [6]
    Widnes player archive https://rugby.widnes.tv/playerprofile.php?mid=762
  7. [7]
    Rothmans RL Yearbook 1997 by Raymond Fletcher and David Howes page 379 ISBN 0747277648
  8. [8]
    "What a send off!". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 7 July 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Spruce makes Widnes return". BBC Sport. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Widnes veteran Spruce announces retirement". The Independent. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
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