Jump to content

Ryan Cross

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 128.250.6.247 (talk) at 05:36, 29 July 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ryan Cross
Full nameRyan Cross
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
SchoolWaverley College
Notable relative(s)Clay Cross (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Outside Centre
Current team Western Force
Correct as of 5 July 2008

Ryan 'Noughts' Cross (born 6 October 1979) is a former rugby league footballer who played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition before switching codes to join the rugby union Super 14 side the Western Force in 2007.

Early career

Cross, a product of Waverley College, was a member of the Australian Rugby Union Schoolboys side in both 1996 and 1997, some of his team-mates being future Wallabies Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, David Lyons, George Smith, Phil Waugh, and rugby league star Craig Wing. At 17 years he joined the Sydney Roosters rugby league club.

Rugby league career

Cross made a spectacular first-grade debut on the 17 April 1998, scoring two tries against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. After a promising start to his league career, including a Grand Final appearance in 2000, the Roosters first in 20 years, he was plagued by serious leg injuries. A broken leg saw him miss much of the 2001 season at a time when he was touted as being in line to make his state debut. Just a few matches into the 2002 season he suffered a major knee injury that kept him out for the remainder of that year. That season, Sydney Roosters won the premiership, their first in 27 years. Cross returned in 2003, finishing as the clubs leading try-scorer. In 2004 and 2005 he was chosen to represent City Origin.

Cross is the fifth-highest try scorer in the Sydney's history, with 85 tries from his 143 matches. He also played in three losing Grand Finals for the club. His greatest attributes were his acceleration, his ability to 'explode' from a near standing start, as well as possessing good upper-body strength.

Ryan's father, Paul Cross, was an Eastern suburbs junior who played on the wing for the club in the 1964 and 1965 seasons. His brother Clay is a notable shot put athlete.

Rugby union career

In June 2006, after a period of speculation and rumour, Cross signed with the Perth-based rugby union Super 14 side, the Western Force. He made his debut with the club on 2 February 2007, against the Highlanders.

He scored his first Wallaby try against France at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane in his second test on 5th July 2008, having come on as a Second-Half replacement. He followed this with another try later on in the game, both came from Matt Giteau passes.

Ryan Cross got his full test debut against New Zealand on 26 July in place of injured Stirling Mortlock. He scored the first try which contributed to the 34-19 victory over the All Blacks.

References