1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Bill Swift Colin Siddle | ||||
Coach(es) | Jim Amos | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Travers Hardwick | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Des White 107 | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Alister Atkinson 10 | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Des White 36 | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Alister Atkinson 3 Ron McKay 3 Col Geelan 3 | ||||
Summary |
| ||||
Total |
| ||||
Test match |
| ||||
Opponent |
| ||||
Australia |
| ||||
Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1948 by to 1951 by 1951-52 to | ||||
Next tour | 1953 by 1953 by to 1955-56 to 1956 by to |
The 1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the sixteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the twelfth tour to visit Australia. The thirteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
Captained by Travers Hardwick and coached by Jim Amos, the Kiwis completed a successful tour, winning ten of the thirteen matches. The team recovered from losing the First Test Match, to win – in the space of five days – the Second and Third Tests and claim the series by a two-one margin.
The team was coached by Les Amos and managed by Bill Swift and Colin Siddle. Travers Hardwick was captain in all three Test Matches and in each of the eight other tour matches in which he appeared. Tommy Baxter captained the side against Newcastle.
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their club and provincial team.
Player | Pos. | Age | Weight | Club | Province | Tests on Tour | Tour Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alister Atkinson | Lock | 25 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | Linwood | Canterbury | 3 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
Tommy Baxter | Centre | 22 | 13 st. 8 lb. (86 kg) | Richmond | Auckland | 3 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
David Blanchard | Prop | 27 | 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) | Linwood | Canterbury | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Bill Davidson | Hooker | 26 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Cyril Eastlake | Centre | 21 | 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) | Ellerslie | Auckland | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Robert Edwards | Wing | 25 | 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 3 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Jimmy Haig | Halfback | 27 | 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) | Marist Brothers Old Boys | Canterbury | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
Travers Hardwick | Lock | 29 | 13 st. 11 lb. (88 kg) | Ngaruawahia | South Auckland | 3 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Cliff Harris | Centre | 21 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bevan Hough | Wing | 23 | 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) | Richmond | Auckland | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Harvey Kreyl | Second-row | 26 | 14 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) | Randwick | Wellington | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Ron McKay | Five-eighth | 20 | 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) | Central | Taranaki | 3 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Bill McKenzie | Wing | 27 | 13 st. 6 lb. (85 kg) | Marist Brothers Old Boys | Canterbury | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bill McLennan | Prop | 24 | 16 st. 0 lb. (102 kg) | Blackball | West Coast | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
George Menzies | Five-eighth | 21 | 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) | Runanga | West Coast | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Roy Moore | Fullback | 23 | 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) | Mount Albert | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 40 |
Frank Mulcare | Second-row | 23 | 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) | Ngahere | West Coast | 3 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Bob Neilson | Second-row | 28 | 13 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) | Greymouth Marist | West Coast | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Bob O'Donnell | Prop | 26 | 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) | Blackball | West Coast | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Joe Rātima | Second-row | 26 | 15 st. 7 lb. (98 kg) | Ponsonby | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Alan Riechelmann | Centre | 21 | 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Roy Roff | Hooker | 26 | 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) | Mount Albert | Auckland | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Jack Russell-Green | Halfback | 26 | 11 st. 5 lb. (72 kg) | Point Chevalier | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des White | Fullback | 25 | 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) | Ponsonby | Auckland | 3 | 9 | 1 | 52 | 0 | 107 |
May 28 | Riverina-Western Division | 5–22 | New Zealand | Albert Park, Young | |
Tries: 1 Neville (Fraser) Frazer Goals: 1 Stan Root | Teams [1] [2] Report [3] [4] | Tries: 4 Robert Edwards (2) Des White Frank Mulcare Goals: 5 Des White (5) | Attendance: 3,351 Referee: L. Boyton |
Combined Riverina-Western Division FB: Les Koch ( Gundagai), WG: Neil Kingsmill ( Albury Blues), CE: Neville Brogan ( Young), CE: Clem O'Brien (Geurie), WG: Stan Root ( Narromine), FE: J. Doherty ( Warren), HB: Bob Isaac ( Adelong), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Young), SR: Ted Curran ( Adelong), SR: Neville (Fraser) Frazer ( Dunedoo), PR: Eric Funnell ( Bathurst Railway), HK: Harry Gibbs ( Gundagai), PR: Frank Hogan ( St Patrick's), IJ: Tom Kerwick ( Orange CYMS), Coach: Nevyl Hand. |
May 31 | New South Wales | 15–26 | New Zealand | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
3pm | Tries: 3 Brian Carlson Ferris Ashton Wally O'Connell Goals: 3 Noel Pidding (3) | Program Report [5] [6] | Tries: 4 Bill Davidson Alister Atkinson Robert Edwards Cyril Eastlake Goals: 7 Des White (7) | Attendance: 49,442 Gate: AU£ 6,836 Referee: George Bishop |
New South Wales FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Brian Carlson (19) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), FE: Wally O'Connell (29) ( Manly), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Wests), LK: Peter Diversi (20) ( Norths), SR: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Easts), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly), PR: Ken Mogg (25) ( South Newcastle). |
June 4 | Monaro-Southern Division | 8–21 | New Zealand | Goulburn | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 4 Bruce Smith (4) | Teams [7] Report [8] | Tries: 3 Ron McKay Frank Mulcare Alister Atkinson Goals: 6 Des White (6) | Attendance: 1,802 Referee: L. Grew |
Combined Monaro-Southern Division FB: Bert Hewitt ( Corrimal), WG: Ron Roberts (24) ( Picton), CE: Doug McRitchie (28) ( Queanbeyan), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Peter Morton ( Queanbeyan), FE: Bernie (O'Keeffe) O'Keefe ( C.B.C.), HB: Noel Hill ( Thirroul), LK: Jack Quinn ( Gerringong), SR: Jack Perrin ( Queanbeyan), SR: Bruce Smith (25) ( Thirroul), PR: Billy Hodges ( Captain's Flat), HK: Bill Bolt ( C.B.C.), PR: Austin Lawler ( C.B.C.). |
June 7 | Newcastle | 9–7 | New Zealand | Newcastle Sports Ground | |
2.45pm | Tries: 1 Ivor (Woolfe) Wolfe Goals: 3 Viv Madge (2) Darcy Russell | Teams [9] [10] Report [11] [12] Report [13] | Tries: 1 Bevan Hough Goals: 2 Roy Moore (2) | Attendance: 14,000 Gate: AU£ 2,042 Referee: O. Screen |
Newcastle FB: Gwyn Madge (26) ( Kurri), WG: Ivor (Woolfe) Wolfe ( Lakes United), CE: Viv Madge (30) ( Kurri), CE: Ned Andrews (30) ( Souths), WG: Darcy Russell (23) ( Waratah Mayfield), FE: Warren Foley (18) ( Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks (22) ( Centrals), LK: Frank Mayo (22) ( Wests), SR: Tom Anderson (23) ( Norths), SR: Gordon Harley (29) ( Maitland), PR: Doug Hawke (23) ( Norths), HK: Bill Hilliard (23) ( Kurri), PR: George Lawler (24) ( Maitland). |
June 9 2pm |
Australia | 25–13 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Denis Flannery (2) Noel Pidding (2) Albert Paul Goals: 5 Noel Pidding (5) | Program Report [14] [15] | Tries: 3 Robert Edwards Tommy Baxter Alister Atkinson Goals: 2 Des White (2) |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 56,376 Gate: AU£ 9,090 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri Kurri), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Eastern Suburbs), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Jack Rooney (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites). |
June 11 | Northern NSW | 12–55 | New Zealand | Tamworth | |
Tries: 2 Colin De Lore Carl Keogh Goals: 3 B. Hillier (2) Carl Keogh | Teams [16] [17] Report [18] Report [19] [20] | Tries: 11 Alister Atkinson (3) Bevan Hough (2) Bill McLennan (2) David Blanchard Travers Hardwick Jimmy Haig Tommy Baxter Goals: 11 Des White (11) | Attendance: 4,732 Gate: AU£ 724 Referee: K. Hilton |
Northern NSW (Combined North Coast-Northern Division) FB: B. Hillier ( North Tamworth), WG: Tom Mills ( Singleton), CE: Norman Young ( West Tamworth), CE: Colin De Lore (Tuncurry), WG: Jim Daley (Bangalow), FE: Kevin (Haydon) Hayden (Kempsey CYM), HB: Carl Keogh ( Gunnedah), LK: A J. Edwards (Murwillumbah), SR: George Alaban (Macksville), SR: Kevin (McKiernan) McKeirnan (Kempsey CYM), PR: Noel Hall ( Grafton), HK: Alf Hardman ( Moree), PR: C. Schaeffer (Macksville). |
June 14 | Queensland | 5–20 | New Zealand | Brisbane Cricket Ground | |
3pm | Tries: 1 Ron (Roy) Teys Goals: 1 Nev Linde | Team [21] Report [22] | Tries: 4 George Menzies (2) Jimmy Haig David Blanchard Goals: 4 Bill Davidson (3) Jimmy Haig | Attendance: 9,995 Referee: S.W. Chambers |
Queensland FB: Nev Linde (27) ( Tivoli), WG: Des McGovern (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Eric Webster ( Souths), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Bob Banks (21) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr (22) ( Toowoomba Newtown), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys), SR: Roy Greenwood (Tully), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Jack Rooney (26) ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ron Griffiths (26) ( Ipswich CYM), PR: Gordon Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys). |
June 15 | Central Queensland | 4–35 | New Zealand | Murray Street Grounds, Rockhampton | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 Norm Pope (2) | Team [23] Report [24] | Tries: 7 Cyril Eastlake (3) Travers Hardwick (2) Roy Roff Bevan Hough Goals: 7 Roy Moore (7) | Attendance: 3,500 Gate: AU£ 612 Referee: E.Condon |
Central Queensland FB: Norm Pope (20) ( Railways), WG: Leo Jeffcoat ( Brothers), CE: D. Watkins ( Norths), CE: B. Ford ( Brothers), WG: J (Paten) Paton ( Railways), FE: D. White ( Norths), HB: Duncan Jackson ( Norths), LK: Peter Robinson ( Norths), SR: Tony Brown ( Brothers), SR: Noel Joyce ( Brothers), PR: F. Bryson ( Brothers), HK: Vince Hage ( Norths), PR: D. Casey ( Railways). |
June 18 | Central West Queensland | 7–66 | New Zealand | Barcaldine Sports Ground | |
Tries: 1 Leo Quigley Goals: 2 Norm Elliott (2) | Report [25] | Tries: 16 Frank Mulcare (3) Joe R?tima (3) Bevan Hough (2) Harvey Kreyl (2) Alister Atkinson (2) Bob Neilson Roy Roff Bill McLennan Jimmy Haig Goals: 9 Roy Moore (9) | Attendance: 2,400 Referee: Jack Ross |
Central West Queensland FB: Noel Webster ( Longreach), WG: Alan Deasy ( Longreach), CE: Mick Hauff ( Blackall), CE: Mick Irwin ( Blackall), WG: Bill (Chic) Buchester ( Blackall), FE: Leo Quigley ( Blackall), HB: Alf (Alby) O'Brien ( Winton), LK: George Lynn ( Winton), SR: Doug Davis ( Longreach), SR: Col Hauff ( Blackall), PR: Norm Elliott ( Winton), HK: Brian Jisberg ( Barcaldine), PR: Mick Turnbull ( Blackall). |
June 22 | North Queensland | 10–25 | New Zealand | Sports Reserve, Townsville | |
Tries: 2 Dev Dines Neville Wilson Goals: 2 Dev Dines Keith Geary | Report [26] Photo [27] | Tries: 5 George Menzies Tommy Baxter Frank Mulcare Travers Hardwick Ron McKay Goals: 5 Des White (5) | Attendance: 7,953 Gate: AU£ 1,763 Referee: W. Morrison |
North Queensland FB: Frank Gill ( Kangaroos), WG: A. Boundy ( Ivanhoes), CE: Frank Fahey (Ayr), CE: Dev Dines (Mareeba), WG: Norm Stokes (Ayr), FE: Neville Wilson (Charters Towers), HB: Ron O'Connell ( Brothers), LK: Trevor Whitehead (Herbert River), SR: Horrie Robertson (Herbert River), SR: Keith Geary (Souths), PR: E. Kratzman (Tully), HK: Kel O'Shea (18) (Ayr), PR: Ross Primrose (Mackay). |
June 25 | Toowoomba | 15–10 | New Zealand | Toowoomba Athletic Oval | |
Tries: 3 Athol Halpin (2) Bill Beardsworth Goals: 3 Neil Teys (3) | Report [28] [29] | Tries: 2 Alan Riechelmann Cyril Eastlake Goals: 2 Roy Moore (2) | Attendance: 5,901 Gate: AU£ 1,125 Referee: V. Vercoe |
Toowoomba FB: Ken Cronin ( Valleys), WG: Sammy Hunter ( Souths), CE: Russell Brown ( Souths), CE: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Jim Allen ( All Whites), FE: Bob Banks ( Newtown), HB: Ken McCaffery ( Souths), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Valleys), SR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), SR: Bill Beardsworth ( Valleys), PR: Vince Soorley ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), PR: Neil Teys ( Valleys). |
June 28 |
Australia | 25–49 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Col Geelan (3) Ferris Ashton Keith Holman Goals: 5 Noel Pidding (5) | Report [30] [31] Database Photo [32] [33] | Tries: 9 Alister Atkinson (2) Ron McKay (2) Tommy Baxter Frank Mulcare Cyril Eastlake Bill Davidson Robert Edwards Goals: 11 Des White (11) |
Brisbane Cricket Ground Attendance: 29,243 Gate: AU£ 7,396 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill ( South Sydney), WG: Denis Flannery ( Ipswich Brothers), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), CE: Gordon Willoughby ( Manly-Warringah), WG: Noel Pidding ( St George), FE: Col Geelan ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton ( Eastern Suburbs), SR: Brian Davies ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Charlie Gill ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Kevin Hansen ( Western Suburbs). |
July 2 3.30pm |
Australia | 9–19 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 1 Noel Hazzard Goals: 3 Clive Churchill (3) | Program Report [34] Database | Tries: 3 Frank Mulcare Ron McKay Cyril Eastlake Goals: 5 Des White (5) |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 44,916 Gate: AU£ 7,799 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( South Sydney), WG: Des McGovern (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri Kurri), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), WG: Jack Lumsden (22) ( Manly-Warringah), FE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), HB: Col Donohoe (24) ( Eastern Suburbs), LK: Harold (Mick) Crocker (24) ( South Brisbane), SR: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Tom Tyrrell (24) ( Balmain), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Jack Rooney (26) ( Toowoomba All Whites) |
Acronym | Item | Years | Database App | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Online Access | ||||
RLN | Rugby League News | 1920-1973 | Trove | Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles |
RLP | Rugby League Project | 1907–present | RLP Website | Test Match teams & scorers. |
Sun | The Sun (Sydney) | 1910-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
DT | The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) | 1931-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
CM | The Courier-Mail | 1933-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
- | Various Australian Regional Newspapers | up to 1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Given Names of Players |
- | New Zealand Newspapers | up to 1950 | Papers Past | Match Reports. |
Offline Resources | ||||
EECYB | E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book | 1946-1978 | Copies at State Library of NSW | Teams, Point Scorers, Report. 1953 Yearbook covers the 1952 tour. |
QRLG | Queensland Rugby League Gazette | 1950-1955 | Copies at State Library of Qld | Program for matches in Brisbane. Collection is predominantly of representative matches. |
RRLG | Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette | 1951-1968 | Copies at State Library of Qld | Program for matches in Rockhampton. Collection includes club as well as Rockhampton and Central Queensland representative matches. |
- | Ipswich Versus International Teams [35] | 1913-1975 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players |
- | The Bulimba Cup Era [36] | 1925-1972 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. |
- | A History of Mackay Rugby League [37] | 1919-2015 | Author's Website | Given Names & Club of Mackay Players |
- | More Than The Foley Shield [38] | 1908-2014 | Author's Website | Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players |
John (Johnny) Graves was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. An Australian international representative goal-kicking wing, he played his club football for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with whom he won back-to-back premierships in 1950–51.
Women's rugby league is the female-only version of rugby league.
Gerard Beale is a New Zealand international rugby league professional footballer who last played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the NRL.
Dane Gagai is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. He has played for Australia, Indigenous All Stars and the Māori All Stars at international level.
The 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first ever tour of Australasia by any French sports team in history. Puig Aubert captained the France national rugby league team who played 28 matches in total in both Australia and New Zealand, winning 21 of them in what is regarded as the high point in the history of rugby league in France. The Australian Test series resulted in a 2–1 victory to France; however, the tourists then lost their match against the New Zealand national rugby league team. Welcoming the team home to Marseille, more than 150,000 people turned out for a street parade.
The Australia women's national rugby league team, also known as the Australian Jillaroos, or Harvey Norman Jillaroos for sponsorship reasons, represents Australia in women's rugby league. They played their first formal international in 1995 under the administration of the Australian Women's Rugby League. The AWRL affiliated with the Australian Rugby League in the late 1990s, with AWRL reports included in ARL annual reports. Since the advent of the Australian Rugby League Commission in February 2012, the team has been administered by that body and the National Rugby League.
The 1920 Great Britain Lions tour was the third British national rugby league team or 'Lions' tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, as well as several local teams. In Australia, the three-Test match series was won by the hosts. In New Zealand another three-Test series was played and won by the visitors. The tour was a success and brought in a handsome profit.
The 1993 Trans-Tasman Test series was an international rugby league test series played in Australia between Australia and New Zealand. The series, which started on 20 June in Auckland and finished on 30 June in Brisbane, consisted of three test matches. The three Tests attracted a total of 74,494 fans.
Women's rugby league is a popular women's sport in Australia. The sport has a high level of participation in the country both recreational and professional. Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) is the national governing body of the sport in Australia, organising the Australian Women's Rugby League, the Australian women's national team, and the nine state governing bodies of the game, among other duties. Women's participation of modern rugby league has been recorded since the early 1920s. It has since become one of Australia's most popular women's team sports.
The 1932 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team) of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1932. The tour involved a schedule of 26 games, 18 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes and a further eight in New Zealand including a three-test series against New Zealand.
The 1936 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1936. The tour involved a schedule of 24 games, 16 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes and a further 8 in New Zealand including a two-test series against New Zealand.
Jamayne Isaako is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a goal-kicking winger for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). At the 2023 Dally M Awards, Isaako received the Ken Irvine Medal for being the "Top Tryscorer of the Year". He was also the "Top Pointscorer of the Year", and named as Best Winger of the Year along with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the New Zealand Warriors.
The 1950 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1950. The tour involved a schedule of 25 games: 19 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes, and a further 6 in New Zealand including two test matches against New Zealand. A scheduled fixture in Forbes, New South Wales, against a Western Districts team, was abandoned when the chartered plane could not land due to bad weather. Captained by Ernest Ward, the Lions returned home having won 19 and lost 6 of their games. The team won the first test match of the tour but lost the second and third to lose the Ashes Test series to Australia. The team also lost both Test Matches in and against New Zealand. Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.
The 1948 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the fourteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the eleventh tour to visit Australia. The eight-match tour included two Test Matches, which were the first played by New Zealand in Australia since 1909.
Captained by Pat Smith, the Kiwis returned home having won six and lost two of their games. The team won the first test match of the tour but lost the second.
The 1954 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1954. Captained by Dickie Williams, the tour involved a schedule of 32 games: 22 in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, with two three-match Test Series against both nations.
The tour began inauspiciously, with Great Britain losing four of their first seven matches, including the First Test against Australia in Sydney. Moving into the Queensland leg, the Lions' results improved, and they won all nine of their matches in the state. This included victory in the Second Test in Brisbane.
A common feature of many of the tour matches was rough play, punches being throw in and out of tackles. The July 10 match against New South Wales was abandoned by the referee seventeen minutes into the second half due to persistent brawling by the players.
One week after the abandoned game, Australia won the Third Test to claim the Ashes by a 2–1 margin.
Moving to New Zealand, Great Britain lost the Second Test, but recovered to win the Third Test and the series, by a 2–1 margin.
The tour concluded with three matches in five days back in Australia at Sydney, Canberra and Maitland.
Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh, two from Scotland and hooker Tom McKinney from Northern Ireland – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.
The 1953 American All Stars rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was a tour by a group of twenty men who had not previously played the sport of Rugby League. Most of the team were current or former College Gridiron footballers with Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, or the University of Southern California. Some of the party had played rugby union at their colleges, during gridiron off-seasons.
The 1956 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the eighteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the thirteenth tour to visit Australia. The fifteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
The touring team began with a pair of wins but then lost the next two, against Newcastle and the First Test in Sydney. Five strong performances in Queensland followed, with wins by wide margins in high-scoring matches. In contrast, the Second Test was a low-scoring match, Australia winning 8 to 2 to secure their first Trans-Tasman series win since 1935. New Zealand lost the Third Test, and thus the series three-nil, and also the two tour matches that followed.
The 1952–53 Kangaroo tour was the eighth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played forty matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain and three Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1948-49 and the next was staged in 1956-57.
The 1948–49 Kangaroo tour was the seventh Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played thirty-seven matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, an international match against Wales and two Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1937-38 and a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II. The next was staged in 1952-53.
The 1937–38 Kangaroo tour was the sixth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to New Zealand, Great Britain and France and played thirty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, and two Test matches each against the Kiwis and French. It followed the tour of 1933-34. Following a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II, the next tour was staged in 1948-49.