The Brian Nordgren Wigan Rugby League medals, SIX MEDALS COMPRISING: TWO CHALLENGE CUP WINNER'S MEDALS AND A RUNNERS-UP MEDAL, AND THREE CHAMPIONSHIP
£3,000 - £5,000
The Brian Nordgren Wigan Rugby League medals, SIX MEDALS COMPRISING: TWO CHALLENGE CUP WINNER'S MEDALS AND A RUNNERS-UP MEDAL, AND THREE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER'S MEDALS i) silver-gilt & enamel Challenge Cup winner's medal 1947-48, inscribed with the player's name ii) silver-gilt & enamel Challenge Cup winner's medal 1950-51 iii) silver-gilt & enamel Challenge Cup runners-up medal 1946, inscribed with the player's name iv) a 9ct. gold & enamel Northern Rugby Football League winner's medal 1946-47, inscribed with the player's name v) a silver-gilt & enamel Northern Rugby Football League winner's medal 1949-50 vi) a silver-gilt & enamel Northern Rugby Football League winner's medal 1951-52 Brian Nordgren (1926-2007) is widely regarded as one of the greatest wings that has ever played for Wigan. He is 3rd in the all-time list with 312 tries behind only Billy Boston and Johnny Ring. In the 1949/50 season he scored a remarkable 57 tries. He was a New Zealander born in Greymouth and was raised in a Christchurch orphanage. He had tried to join the Army in 1940 claiming he was of age until a family member revealed he was still only 17 and he was discharged. He began his career with Ponsonby in 1945 scoring 267 points in the Auckland Rugby League and also represented Auckland. In December 1945 Wigan sensationally signed Nordgren together with Ces Mountford catching the New Zealand Rugby League seemingly unawares that a previously imposed transfer ban had elapsed. Nordgren made his debut for Wigan v Warrington on 3rd April 1946 and between then and 1945 helped the Lancashire club to three championship titles and three Challenge Cup finals, twice as winners. When he retired in 1955, having played 293 games, he had amassed 1,172 points. Leaving the Club after 10 seasons he returned to New Zealand to practise as a lawyer - having qualified at Liverpool University whilst still playing for the Club. He died in Hamilton aged 81 in 2007.