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The Ashes series, similar to the cricket series of the same name, is a best-of-three series of test matches between the British and Australian national rugby league football teams. It has been contested 39 times from 1908 until 2003 largely with hosting rights alternating between the two countries. From 1973 Australia won thirteen consecutive Ashes series. The series was set to be revived in 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents Great Britain in rugby league. Administered by the Rugby Football League (RFL), the team is nicknamed The Lions.
The Australian national rugby league team, the Kangaroos, have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the 'Northern Union game' in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission, the Kangaroos are ranked first in the RLIF World Rankings. The team is the most successful in Rugby League World Cup history, having contested all 16 and won 12 of them, failing to reach the final only once, in the inaugural tournament in 1954. Only five nations have beaten Australia in test matches, and Australia has an overall win percentage of 70%.
Steve Nash is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s. A Great Britain and England national representative and scrum-half, he played his club rugby for Featherstone Rovers, winning a Challenge Cup title with them and being one of the inaugural inductees into the club's hall of fame. He also played for the Salford club and at representative level for Yorkshire. Nash later coached the Mansfield Marksman club for a season in 1989.
John William Whiteley MBE was an English professional rugby league footballer and coach. He played his entire club career with Hull FC making over 400 appearances between 1950 and 1965. He also represented Great Britain at international level, winning the Rugby League World Cup with the team in 1954 and 1960.
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The 1990 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand which took place from May to July 1990.
The 1963-64 Kangaroo tour was the eleventh Kangaroo tour, during which the Australian national rugby league team traveled to Europe and played thirty-six matches against British and French club and representative teams. It included three Test matches against Great Britain for The Ashes, and three Tests against the French. The tour followed the 1959-60 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France and was followed by the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.
The 1958 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 11th tour of Australia and New Zealand and took place from May to November 1958. The Lions played 26 games on tour including the three test Ashes series against Australia and two tests against New Zealand.
John Butler is an English former professional rugby league footballer. Born in St Helens, Butler began his career at Keighley, and went on to play for Rochdale Hornets, Salford, Wigan and St Helens. He also represented Lancashire and was selected for the 1974 British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The 1984 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 17th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1984. A total of 24 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively, and one Test match against Papua New Guinea.
The 1979 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 16th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1979. A total of 27 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.
References
- ↑ Mather, Harold (5 March 1974). "Dream comes true for Hesketh". The Guardian. London. p. 25. ProQuest 185792319.
- ↑ Mather, Harold (13 March 1974). "Leeds are let down by backs". The Guardian. London. p. 21. ProQuest 185663378.
- ↑ "Oxley is league's choice". The Guardian. London. 16 May 1974. p. 28. ProQuest 185632872.
- ↑ "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.