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]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Stuart Arthur Spruce[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 January 1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 15 st 2 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editWidnes
editStuart 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
editSpruce 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
editSpruce 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
editSpruce 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
editStuart served briefly as caretaker head coach after Neil Kelly left.
References
edit- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Statistics at loverugbyleague.com". loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ a b "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) - ^ a b "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) - ^ Widnes player archive https://rugby.widnes.tv/playerprofile.php?mid=762
- ^ Rothmans RL Yearbook 1997 by Raymond Fletcher and David Howes page 379 ISBN 0747277648
- ^ "What a send off!". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 7 July 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "Spruce makes Widnes return". BBC Sport. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "Widnes veteran Spruce announces retirement". The Independent. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2023.