Frank Delgrosso


Frank Delgrosso was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand.

Playing career

A Ponsonby player in the Auckland Rugby League competition, Delgrosso was first selected for the New Zealand side in 1921. He made his Test debut against Great Britain in 1924 and went on to play in nine Test matches. This included captaining New Zealand in the second and third Test matches in 1924. He also played for the Auckland Provincial team in 1924 and scored a try in a 13-28 loss. He was part of the 1926-1927 tour of Great Britain.
Delgrosso was also an Auckland representative and was part of the side that won the Northern Union Cup in 1919 as well as playing for both Auckland City and Auckland Province against touring sides. In 1925 Delgrosso was selected for the North Island team in an inter-island match as part of the lead up to selecting the New Zealand side. He scored a try in a 27-9 win. In October of that year he also played for the Auckland Provincial team against the touring Queensland side. He kicked a conversion and 3 penalties however Auckland was trounced by 54 points to 14 against an outstanding opponent.
In the 1927 season he scored 43 points for Ponsonby which was the 4th highest in the competition however he did not play in any of the Auckland representative matches. He did however play against Auckland early in the season for the New Zealand Auckland representative team.
Delgrosso captained Ponsonby in 1929 and 1930. At the end of 1930 Delgrosso was sensationally suspended for three seasons by the Auckland Rugby League, which would have effectively ended his career. Delgrosso was accused off failing to get one of his sent off team mates to leave the field, throwing mud at the referee and using foul language. At a management committee meeting in March, 1930 they decided to remit the remainder of his suspension after he apologised for his actions. He began his playing career again at the beginning of the 1931 season and top scored through the first grade championship and Roope Rooster competitions with 70 points from 35 goals..