Frank Curran (rugby league)

{{short description|Australia international rugby league footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

| name = Frank Curran

| fullname = Francis Joseph Curran

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1908|03|06|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ballina, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|10|07|1908|03|06|df=y}}

| death_place = Ballina, New South Wales, Australia

| height =

| weight =

| position = {{Rlp|PR}}

| club1 = South Sydney

| year1start = 1931

| year1end = 37

| appearances1 = 71

| tries1 = 16

| goals1 = 1

| fieldgoals1 = 0

| points1 = 50

| club2 =

| year2start =

| year2end =

| appearances2 =

| tries2 =

| goals2 =

| fieldgoals2 =

| points2 =

| teamA = NSW City

| yearAstart = 1933

| yearAend = 37

| appearancesA = 7

| triesA = 3

| goalsA = 0

| fieldgoalsA = 0

| pointsA = 9

| teamB = New South Wales

| yearBstart = 1932

| yearBend = 36

| appearancesB = 18

| triesB = 4

| goalsB = 0

| fieldgoalsB = 0

| pointsB = 12

| teamC = Australia

| yearCstart = 1935

| yearCend = 38

| appearancesC = 10

| triesC = 1

| goalsC = 0

| fieldgoalsC = 0

| pointsC = 3

| teamD = NSW Country

| yearDstart = 1928

| yearDend =

| appearancesD = 1

| triesD = 0

| goalsD = 0

| fieldgoalsD = 0

| pointsD = 0

| teamE = Metropolis

| yearEstart = 1932

| yearEend =

| appearancesE = 2

| triesE = 0

| goalsE = 0

| fieldgoalsE = 0

| pointsE = 0

| updated = 14 May 2020

| source = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/frank-curran/summary.html Rugby League Project]{{cite web|title=Frank Curran|url=http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=2908|work=nrlstats.com|publisher=Sports Data|accessdate=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172430/http://www.nrlstats.com/archive/players.cfm?PlayerID=2908|archive-date=4 March 2018|url-status=dead}}

}}

Francis Joseph Curran (6 March 1908 – 7 October 1985) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s. An Australian international representative, he played club football for South Sydney in the NSWRFL Premiership as well as in country New South Wales.

Playing career

A star schoolboy footballer at De La Salle College in Armidale,{{cite web|last1=Whiticker|first1=Alan|title=Frank Curran|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/frank-curran/summary.html|publisher=Rugby League Project|accessdate=29 July 2014}} Curran played for Ballina's Rovers club before moving to Sydney. He started playing first grade for Souths in the 1931 NSWRFL season.{{cite web|title=Player Profile: Frank Curran|url=http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Frank-Curran_2206.aspx|work=yesterdayshero.com.au|publisher=SmartPack International Pty Ltd|accessdate=14 November 2011}} At the end of the season he played in the premiership final-winning Souths team. It was back-to-back premierships for South Sydney, with Curran playing in the 1932 premiership final as well. In 1933 Curran was first selected to represent Australia, for the 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain becoming Kangaroo No. 182.{{cite web|last=australianrugbyleague.com.au|title=Player Register|url=http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/kangaroos/register.php|work=Kangaroos|publisher=ARL|accessdate=14 November 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927000601/http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/kangaroos/register.php|archivedate=27 September 2011 }} That season he also played representative football for Sydney, and then New South Wales. The 1937 NSWRFL season was Curran's last with South Sydney.{{cite web|title=Frank Curran|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive/Frank-CURRAN.html|work=rabbitohs.com.au|publisher=South Sydney Rabbitohs|accessdate=14 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614224033/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive/Frank-CURRAN.html|archive-date=14 June 2012|url-status=dead}} He was selected to go on the Kangaroo tour of 1937–38. Curran became the first Australian player to score on French soil in a Test match in 1938.{{cite news|title=Ballina picks league Team of the Century|url=http://www.ballinaadvocate.com.au/story/2008/08/20/apn-ballina-picks-league-team-of-the/|accessdate=14 November 2011|newspaper=Ballina Shire Advocate|date=20 August 2008}}

Frank's son, Declan Curran, played rugby union for Australia.

References