Bill Farnsworth

Who was Bill Farnsworth?

Andrew William "Bill" Farnsworth was an Australian pioneer rugby league footballer of the 1910s whose club career was played in Sydney with the Newtown club. He represented at state level for both New South Wales and Queensland and at the national level for Australia and Australasia.

His rugby union career was played with the Newtown club and he was invited to join the new rebel code from the outset to play against Albert Baskiville's All Golds when they arrived in Sydney in 1907. Farnsworth stayed true to rugby union and remained an amateur till 1909. In NSWRFL season 1910, he joined the Newtown club and won a premiership with them that year.

He is the brother of fellow New South Wales and Australian representative, and Newtown player Viv Farnsworth. In 1910 the brothers made their international debut against the touring British Lions and the following year were selected for the 'Australasian' Kangaroo tour of Britain in 1911–1912. They were the first set of brothers to play representative rugby league for Australia. Their brother Roy also played at Newtown.

Farnsworth also played in Brisbane for Toombul and Kurilpa, gaining selection for Queensland in 1912. With his brother Viv, he headed to England and the end of 1912 and joined the Oldham club. He was still in England at the out-break of the Great War and enlisted for active duty. He continued playing for Oldham tilll 1920.