Willie Wolfgramm is a former professional rugby league and rugby union player who represented Tonga at two Rugby League World Cups and the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 20 September 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editHe is the cousin of fellow Tongan international Greg Wolfgramm.
Playing career
editWolfgramm played for Tonga in the 1992 Pacific Cup.[3]
He then spent some time at Manly before joining the Counties Manukau Heroes in the new Lion Red Cup.[4] He came off the bench in the 1994 Lion Red Cup grand final loss to the North Harbour Sea Eagles.[5]
Following the World Cup Wolfgramm signed with Swinton.[4][6]
Wolfgramm played in the 1997 Super League Nines for Tonga.[7]
Wolfgramm also won the 1999 Group 20 Rugby League premiership with the Narrandera Lizards as their Captain/Coach.
He was then included in the 2000 World Cup side.[8]
In 2001, 2003 and 2004 Wolfgramm was part of the West Belconnen Warriors side in the Canberra Raiders Cup.[9][10][11] Wolfgramm spent 2002 with the Valley Dragons.
Return to New Zealand
editWolfgramm returned to New Zealand, playing for the Counties Manukau Jetz in the 2006 Bartercard Cup. He played for Tonga in the 2006 Pacific Cup and was man of the match in the final.[12]
He played for the Bay Roskill Vikings between 2010 and 2011 in the Auckland Rugby League's Sharman Cup competition, serving as player-coach.[13][14]
Wolfgramm, who works as a butcher, was arrested in December 2011 for being involved in a plot to import methamphetamine into New Zealand.[15]
References
edit- ^ RLP
- ^ "Player Summary: Willie Wolfgramm". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ John Oliver Coffey; Bernie Wood (2008). 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908–2008. Huia Publishers. p. 276. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
- ^ a b Wigan vs Bath on League's agenda The Independent, 6 December 1995
- ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.106
- ^ Trios Lions Debut Bolton Evening News, 29 Match 1996
- ^ World Nines Tournament rugby-league-world.com
- ^ Tonga BBC Sport
- ^ Blues face flustered foes The Queanbeyan Age, 26 July 2004
- ^ Roos' blues The Queanbeyan Age, 29 May 2003
- ^ District teams boot up for battle of bush The Canberra Times, 21 February 2002
- ^ Tongan National Rugby League
- ^ Willie Wolfgramm While Playing for BAY ROSKILL VIKINGS in SAS SHARMAN CUP Bay Roskill Vikings
- ^ Ex-league player tried to import meth stuff.co.nz, 5 September 2012
- ^ Sportsmen charged over drug hoax stuff.co.nz, 16 December 2011