Widnes Stuart Spruce made his début for
Widnes during the 1989–90 season, under coach
Doug Laughton. When regular fullback
Alan Tait quit for
Leeds, Spruce became the permanent fullback.
Bradford Bulls paid a record £120,000 for a fullback when they signed Spruce in May 1996. The previous record of £90,000 was paid by
St Helens to
Warrington for David Lyon in September 1992.
Bradford Bulls Spruce played for
Bradford Bulls at in the
1999 Super League Grand Final which was lost to
St. Helens. He became known as a good defensive player and an excellent offense.
James Lowes, who played with him throughout his time with Bradford, paid this tribute: "Stuart has been one of the best fullbacks of his generation. He is a great talker on the field and a devastating runner." He played for Bradford until the week before the 2001 Rugby League
Challenge Cup Final, when he announced his retirement due to injury.
Return to Widnes Spruce came out of retirement to play for Widnes during their inaugural
Super League season in 2002. He made a total of 54 appearances before retiring permanently at the end of the
2003 Super League season.
International honours Spruce won
caps for
England while at Widnes in 1992 against Wales and while at Bradford Bulls in 2000 against Russia (sub) and Fiji, and won
caps for
Great Britain while at Widnes in 1993 against France, and while at Bradford Bulls in 1996 against Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and New Zealand (3 matches). ==Coaching==