Lonnie Spragg Explained

Lonnie Spragg
Birth Name:Alfonso Stephen Spragg[1]
Birth Date:2 October 1879
Birth Place:Redfern, New South Wales[2]
Death Place:Brisbane
Height:178cm (70inches)
Weight:73kg (161lb)
Occupation:Banking
Ru Position:centre
Ru Amateuryears:1900–1904
Ru Amateurclubs:Norths Brisbane
Ru Provinceyears:1898–1899
1900-??
Ru Province:NSW
Queensland
Ru Nationalyears:1899
Ru Nationalteam:Australia
Ru Nationalcaps:4
Ru Nationalpoints:(17)

Alonzo Stephen "Lonnie" Spragg (2 October 1879 – 12 February 1904) was a rugby union player who represented Australia.

Spragg, a centre, was born in Redfern, New South Wales[2] and claimed four international rugby caps for Australia. He did not start playing rugby until he was seventeen and two years later he made his Test debut was against Great Britain, at Sydney, on 24 June 1899, the inaugural rugby Test match played by an Australian national representative side. Due to funding constraints he was one of only six New South Wales players (with Charlie Ellis, Hyram Marks, Bob McCowan, Peter Ward & Robert Challoner) selected to make the trip to Brisbane four weeks later for the second Test.[3] Zavos describes Spragg as a "crack three-quarter" and a "brilliant outside back".[4] He quotes contemporary commentators describing Spragg as "possessing rare gifts, denoting a special aptitude for the game.....a splendid kick, either place or drop and eager and capable on defence"[4]

Spragg was also a state representative oarsman, and a cricketer who captained the Norths Brisbane Cricket Club.[5]

Spragg died in February 1904 at the age of 25, from appendicitis and peritonitis. A memorial was erected at Toowong Cemetery to his memory.[6]

Published references

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scrum.com player profile of Lonnie Spragg. Scrum.com. 12 July 2010.
  2. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogsA120046b.htm?hilite=toowong%3Bcemetery Spragg, Alonzo Stephen (Lonnie) (1879–1904)
  3. Howell p19
  4. Zavos p95
  5. News: DEATH OF MR. S. A. SPRAGG. . . 13 February 1904 . 15 April 2011 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: SPRAGG MEMORIAL. . . 21 July 1904 . 15 April 2011 . 6 . National Library of Australia.