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| Full name | Kurt John Sorensen[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1956-11-08)8 November 1956 (age 69) Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Bill Sorensen (uncle) Dane Sorensen (brother) Scott Sorensen (nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kurt John Sorensen (born 8 November 1956) is a New Zealand former professionalrugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.[2]
He is the brother of fellowKiwi international,Dane Sorensen, and the nephew of another pair of Kiwi brothers,Bill andDave Sorensen.[3] He is of Tongan and Danish descent.[4]
While playing in theAuckland Rugby League competition, Sorensen made his début for theNew Zealand national rugby league team in the1975 World Cup. The following year, while playing forMt Wellington, he won theAuckland Rugby League'sRothville Trophy, which is awarded to the Premier One player of the year as chosen by the Auckland Coach. Sorensen then moved to England to play forWigan for the 1976–77 season. He later played for theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks, finishing the 1982 season as the club's toptry scorer.
While at Widnes, Sorensen played in 252 games and captained the side that won theChampionship in 1987-88 and 1988-89, thePremiership in 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-1990 and the1989 World Club Challenge. He also played in the Widnes side that were losing finalists in the 1992-93Challenge Cup bursting through the defensive line from 20 yards out to score the opening try at Wembley. In 1986, after returning from the English season, Sorensen made some cameo appearances for theNorthcote Tigers in theAuckland Rugby League competition.[5] During the1989–90 season, Sorensen captained defending champions Widnes at second-row forward in their1989 World Club Challenge victory against the visitingCanberra Raiders. Kurt Sorensen played left-prop inWidnes' 24–18 victory overSalford in the1990 Lancashire Cup Final during the1990–91 season atCentral Park,Wigan on Saturday 29 September 1990.
Kurt Sorensen played left-prop inWidnes' 6–12 defeat byWigan in the1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final during the1988–89 season atBurnden Park,Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989,[6] and played left-prop, and scored atry in the 24–0 victory overLeeds in the1991–92 Regal Trophy Final during the1991–92 season atCentral Park,Wigan on Saturday 11 January 1992.
After leaving Widnes, Sorensen was theplayer-coach atWhitehaven before controversially joining rivalsWorkington Town in 1995. He resigned a year later before resuming his playing career with Chorley in England, and Cudgen on the Gold Coast.[3]
In 2000 Sorensen was inducted as one of theNZRL's Legends of League.[7]