1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

Last updated

1978 Kangaroos tour
Date30 October 1978 – 10 December 1978
Manager Peter Moore, Jim Caldwell
Coach(es) Frank Stanton
Tour captain(s) Bob Fulton
Top point scorer(s) Michael Cronin (142)
Top try scorer(s) Bob Fulton (9)
Summary
PWDL
Total
22 180004
Test match
05020003
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
3 2 0 1
Flag of France.svg  France
2 0 0 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour 1973
Next tour 1982

The 1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France comprised the Australia national rugby league team's fourteenth tour of Great Britain and ninth tour of France and took place from September to December 1978. Coached by Frank Stanton and captained by Bob Fulton, the Australian team, also known as the Kangaroos, played a match against Wales before contesting the Ashes series against Great Britain, winning the third and deciding Test match. [1] The tourists then moved on to France where they were narrowly beaten in both Tests, the last series the Kangaroos would lose until 2005. [2] In addition to these six internationals, the Australians played sixteen other matches against local club and representative sides in both countries. The 1978 Kangaroo tour followed the tour of 1973 while the next tour would be staged in 1982.

Contents

Background

The 1978 Kangaroo tour was the first since 1973 and took place in the wake of Australia's rugby league season. Sydney's 1978 NSWRFL season, which contributed the vast majority of the tourists, ended later in the year than usual as it involved a grand final replay. For the English the tour was conducted during the first half of the 1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season.

Touring squad

The Australian team's coach was Frank Stanton, who had already taken the City, New South Wales and the Manly-Warringah teams to victory in all of their respective competitions that year. [3] Eastern Suburbs's captain (and former Manly premiership captain under Stanton in 1976), Bob Fulton, was selected to be the touring Australian side's skipper while Cronulla back rower Greg Pierce was named as vice-captain. [4] Manly-Warringah Grand Final winner John Harvey created some controversy when he declined selection for the tour for personal reasons. [5] As a result, his Manly-Warringah teammate Bruce Walker was called in as a replacement. [6] Another Manly premiership winner Terry Randall also declined to tour citing exhaustion after Manly's arduous finals campaign in 1978 where the Sea Eagles played 6 matched in 24 days, including the drawn Grand Final against Cronulla-Sutherland, and the replay played just three days later. He later admitted regret in not touring. [7] One shock omission was Manly centre Russel Gartner, who had played two games for Australia in the 1977 World Cup including the Final in which he scored a spectacular 65 metre solo try. Gartner, a speedy outside back who could play either centre or wing, had scored two tries in the Grand Final replay, one a 70-metre effort where he easily outpaced the Cronulla defence despite having torn his hamstring a week earlier, was considered unlucky not to tour.

Of the 28 man squad, only three Queensland based players were chosen - Souths Innisfail winger Kerry Boustead, Brisbane Easts prop forward Rod Morris and Redcliffe halfback Greg Oliphant. The only other Queenslanders in the squad were St George back rower Rod Reddy and Manly forward Bruce Walker.

The tour manager was Canterbury-Bankstown Chief Executive Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, with Jim Caldwell as the co-manager. [8]

Craig Young was named 'player of the tour'. [9] Bob Fulton was the tourists' top try scorer with 9. [10] Michael Cronin was the tourists' top point scorer with 142.

PlayerClubPosition(s)TestsMatchesTriesGoalsF/GoalsPoints
Flag of New South Wales.svg Chris Anderson Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wing 5
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Kerry Boustead Cougscolours.svg Innisfail Souths (Qld) Wing 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Les Boyd Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Second-row , Prop 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Larry Corowa Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Wing 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Michael Cronin Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Centre 5142
Flag of New South Wales.svg Graham Eadie Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Fullback 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Bob Fulton (c) Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Five-eighth , Centre 59
Flag of New South Wales.svg Geoff Gerard Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Prop , Second-row 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Johnny Gibbs Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ron Hilditch Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Hooker , Prop 1
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Kneen Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Second-row , Lock 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Max Krilich Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Hooker 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Martin Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback 1
Flag of New South Wales.svg Allan McMahon Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Fullback , Wing , Centre 0
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Rod Morris Balmain colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Qld) Prop 2
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Greg Oliphant Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (Qld) Halfback 0
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Graham Olling Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Prop 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg George Peponis Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Hooker 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Greg Pierce (vc) Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Lock , Second-row 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ray Price Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Lock 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Tommy Raudonikis Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Halfback 5
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Rod Reddy St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Second-row , Lock 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Rogers Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 4
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ian Schubert Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Fullback , Wing 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Alan Thompson Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Five-eighth 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ian Thomson Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Bruce Walker Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop , Second-row 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Craig Young St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Prop 5

Great Britain leg

Test Venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Wigan Bradford Leeds
Central Park Odsal Headingley
Capacity: 40,000Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 30,000
Central park kop.jpg Odsal Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 5432047.jpg South Stand, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014) 001.JPG
Saturday, 30 September Blackpool Borough Blackpoolcolours.svg 1 – 39 Australian colours.svg Australia Borough Park, Blackpool
Tries:
Goals:
[11]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 2,700

Sunday 1 October Cumbria County Flag of Cumbria.svg 4 – 47 Australian colours.svg Australia Craven Park, Barrow
Tries:
Goals:
[12]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 5,964
Referee: Stan Wall

Wednesday 4 October Great Britain U/24 Great Britain colours.svg 8 – 30 Australian colours.svg Australia Craven Park, Hull
Tries:
Goals:
[13]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 6,418
Referee: Fred Lindop

Sunday 8 October Bradford Northern Bullscolours.svg 11 – 21 Australian colours.svg Australia Odsal, Bradford
Tries:
Goals:
[14]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 15,755

Wednesday 11 October Warrington Wolvescolours.svg 15 – 12 Australian colours.svg Australia Wilderspool, Warrington
Tries:
Goals:
[15]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 10,143

A controversial late Alan Gwilliam try gave Warrington a 15–12 win over Australia, with Steve Hesford kicking six goals. In the tourists' first lost match of the tour Warrington's packmen Tommy Martyn, Mike Nicholas, Tommy Cunningham and Roy Lester were in superb form, ably supported by replacement half backs Gwilliam and Clark. This was Warrington's eighth win over Australia since . [16]


Wales

The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at the St. Helen's Rugby Ground. As of 2024 this was the 13th and final rugby league international played at the ground.

Sunday, 15 October
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg3 – 8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:


Goals:
David Watkins (1)
Field Goals::
David Watkins
[17]
Tries:
Bob Fulton
Tommy Raudonikis
Goals:
Michael Cronin (1)
St Helen's Rugby Ground, Swansea
Attendance: 4,250
Referee: Ron Campbell
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Australia
FB1 David Watkins (c)
RW2 Clive Sullivan
RC3 David Willicombe
LC4 Eddie Cunningham
LW5 John Bevan
SO6 Bill Francis
SH7 Paul Woods
PR8 Jim Mills
HK9 Tony Fisher
PR10 Mel James
SR11 Glyn Shaw
SR12 Trevor Skerrett
LK13 Roy Mathias
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Kel Coslett
Swansea, St. Helen's Ground - geograph.org.uk - 5043748.jpg
FB1 Graham Eadie
LW2 Ian Schubert
RC3 Michael Cronin
LC4 Steve Rogers
RW5 Kerry Boustead
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Graham Olling
HK9 George Peponis
PR10 Ian Thomson
SR11 Greg Pierce
SR12 Rod Reddy
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Craig Young
IC15 Alan Thompson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

Kangaroos' vice captain Greg Pierce injured his knee in this match and made no more appearances on the tour. [18]


Tuesday 17 October Leeds Rhinoscolours.svg 19 – 25 Australian colours.svg Australia Headingley, Leeds
Tries:
Goals:
[19]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 9,781

1st Ashes Test

This year Great Britain had the opportunity to re-gain the Ashes title on home soil. The Ashes series was styled the "Forward Chemicals Test series" due to sponsorship reasons.

Saturday 21 October
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg9 – 15Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan

Goals::
George Fairbairn (3)
[20]
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Bob Fulton
Goals::
Mick Cronin (4)
Field Goals::
Bob Fulton
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 17,644
Referee: Ron Campbell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Rod Reddy
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Australia
FB1 George Fairbairn
RW2 Stuart Wright
RC3 Eric Hughes
LC4 Eddie Cunningham
LW5 John Bevan
SO6 Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Steve Nash
PR8 Jimmy Thompson
HK9 David Ward
PR10 Paul Rose
SR11 George Nicholls
SR12 Len Casey
LK13 Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 John Holmes
IC15 Phil Hogan
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Graham Eadie
RW2 Kerry Boustead
RC3 Steve Rogers
LC4 Michael Cronin
LW5 Chris Anderson
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Graham Olling
HK9 Max Krilich
PR10 Craig Young
SR11 Geoff Gerard
SR12 Rod Reddy
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Steve Kneen
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

Great Britain were trailing 6-7 with fifteen minutes remaining when an Australian pass went to ground and Welsh winger John Bevan kicked the ball ahead. It was then a foot race between him and Australian fullback Graham Eadie to reach the ball which was slowing within Australia's in-goal area. Both players stumbled and dived, with Bevan getting a hand on the ball and claiming the try which was awarded, giving the home side a 9-7 lead. The Kangaroos then worked their way up to the other end of the field and moved the ball through the hands out to the right wing where Kerry Boustead crossed for a try, regaining his side the lead 9-10. In the final minutes Australian captain Bob Fulton forced his way over for a try which was also converted, so the match ended with the scoreline at 9-15.


Wednesday 25 October Widnes Widnes colours.svg 11 – 10 Australian colours.svg Australia Naughton Park, Widnes
19:00
Tries:
Stuart Wright
Goals::
Mick Burke (4)
[21]
Tries:
Ian Schubert, Bruce Walker
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)

Attendance: 12,202
Referee: Ron Moore

Widnes: David Eckersley, Stuart Wright, Malcolm Aspey, Mick George, Mick Burke, Eric Hughes, Reg Bowden, Brian Hogan, Keith Elwell, Jim Mills, Mick Adams, David Hull, Doug Laughton (c). Coach - Doug Laughton

Australia: Allan McMahon, Ian Schubert, Michael Cronin (c), Alan Thompson, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Greg Oliphant, Rod Morris, Ron Hilditch, Ian Thomson, Geoff Gerard, Steve Kneen, Ray Price. Res - Bob Fulton, Bruce Walker

Widnes, the reigning British champions, were leading 7–2 half time. Up to and including the last Kangaroo tour in which Australia played English club teams as part of their schedule in 1994, this was the last game the Kangaroos lost to an English club side. This was also the only time in what would be 15 tour games between 1909–1990 that Widnes would defeat The Kangaroos. Their previous best result was a 13–all draw on 21 October 1937 during the 1937–38 tour.


Sunday 29 October Hull F.C. Hullcolours.svg 2 – 34 Australian colours.svg Australia The Boulevard, Hull
Tries:
Goals:
[22]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 10,723

Wednesday 1 November Salford Redscolours.svg 2 – 14 Australian colours.svg Australia The Willows, Salford
Tries:
Goals:
[23]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 6,155

2nd Ashes Test

Several changes were made to the Great Britain team, including a completely new front row. This match was broadcast live. [24]

Sunday 5 November
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg18 – 14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Stuart Wright (2)

Goals:
George Fairbairn (6)
[25]
Tries:
Ray Price
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Mick Cronin ( 2 ) Steve Rogers (2)
Odsal, Bradford
Attendance: 26,761
Referee: Mick Naughton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Brian Lockwood
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Great Britain
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Australia
FB1 George Fairbairn
RW2 Stuart Wright
RC3 John Joyner
LC4 Les Dyl
LW5 John Atkinson
SO6 Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Steve Nash
PR8 Jim Mills
HK9 Tony Fisher
PR10 Brian Lockwood
SR11 George Nicholls
SR12 Phil Lowe
LK13 Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 John Holmes
IC15 Paul Rose
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Graham Eadie
RW2 Kerry Boustead
RC3 Steve Rogers
LC4 Michael Cronin
LW5 Chris Anderson
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Graham Olling
HK9 Max Krilich
PR10 Craig Young
SR11 Geoff Gerard
SR12 Rod Reddy
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Alan Thompson
IC15 Les Boyd
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

In the final minutes of the first half the British had just made their way into Australia's half of the field when they made a break up the middle through Roger Millward. He then kicked the ball ahead as he was being tackled and his winger Stuart Wright was chasing through to get a hand on it and score. The try was converted so the home side led at the break 11 – 4.

In the second half Britain's right centre John Joyner made a break and popped a pass over to his winger Stuart Wright to cross once again. They won the match 18–14 to bring the series to 1-all.

This would be the last time Great Britain beat Australia in a Test match for another ten years. [26]


Wednesday 8 November Wigan Wigancolours.svg 2 – 28 Australian colours.svg Australia Central Park, Wigan
19:30
Tries:

Goals:
George Fairbairn (1)
[27]
Tries:
Larry Corowa (2), Steve Rogers (2), Bruce Walker, Allan McMahon
Goals:
Michael Cronin (5)

Attendance: 10,645
Referee: Peter Massey

Wigan: George Fairbairn, Dennis Ramsdale, David Willicombe, Alan Greenall, Jimmy Hornby, Keiron O'Loughlin, Bernard Coyle, John Wood, Tony Karalius, Steve O'Neill, John Foran, Bill Melling, Dennis Boyd. Res - Malcolm Swann, David Regan. Coach - Vince Karalius

Australia: Allan McMahon, Larry Corowa, Steve Rogers, Michael Cronin, Ian Schubert, Alan Thompson, Steve Martin, Ian Thomson, Ron Hilditch, Rod Morris, Geoff Gerard, Les Boyd, Bruce Walker

At half time Wigan trailed Australia 2 – 5. [28]


In a Leeds bar, a member of Surrey rock band The Jam, Paul Weller, glassed the face of Jim Caldwell, the team manager from Queensland. [29] Australian player Larry Corowa ran to defend the bloodied Caldwell, was punched from behind himself and raced into a nearby bar to get teammates to provide reinforcements for the brawl that ensued. One member of The Jam landed in hospital with broken ribs and another was reported at the time to have been charged with assault. The official police statement cleared the Australians of any wrongdoing. [30]


Sunday 12 November St. Helens Saintscolours.svg 4 – 26 Australian colours.svg Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens
Tries:
Goals:
[31]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 16,352

The game against St Helens saw the largest non-test attendance of the tour of 16,532.


Tuesday 14 November York YorkRLFCcolours.png 2 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia Clarence Street, York
Tries:
Goals:
[32]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 5,155

3rd Ashes Test

Warrington's John Bevan came into the centres for Leeds star Les Dyl, while Hull F.C. prop Vince Farrar made his Great Britain debut in place of second test Man of the Match, Hull Kingston Rovers' forward Brian Lockwood who was unavailable due to injury. The Kangaroos maintained the same backline from the 2nd Test, but brought George Peponis, Rod Morris and Les Boyd into their forward pack.

Saturday 18 November
15:00
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg6 – 23Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan
Roger Millward


Goals:
[33]
Tries:
Les Boyd
Geoff Gerard
George Peponis
Tom Raudonikis
Goals:
Mick Cronin (5/6)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 30,604
Referee: Mick Naughton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Tom Raudonikis
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Great Britain
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Australia
FB1 George Fairbairn
RW2 Stuart Wright
RC3 John Joyner
LC4 John Bevan
LW5 John Atkinson
SO6 Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Steve Nash
PR8 Jim Mills
HK9 Tony Fisher
PR10 Vince Farrar
SR11 George Nicholls
SR12 Phil Lowe
LK13 Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 John Holmes
IC15 Paul Rose
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Graham Eadie
RW2 Kerry Boustead
RC3 Steve Rogers
LC4 Michael Cronin
LW5 Chris Anderson
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Craig Young
HK9 George Peponis
PR10 Rod Morris
SR11 Geoff Gerard
SR12 Les Boyd
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Alan Thompson
IC15 Ian Thomson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

The deciding test attracted the largest attendance of any match on the tour. After two penalty goals by Mick Cronin Australia led by 4 points to nil. The Kangaroos then got the first try of the match with a close-range dive from George Peponis at dummy-half. The conversion by Cronin was successful so Australia led 9 – 0. The visitors scored another try when the ball was passed from dummy-half to a steamrolling Les Boyd who raced through to score under the goal posts, bringing the lead to 12 – 0. Later, after making a break and crossing the half-way line Raudonikis passed to Geoff Gerard who ran the remaining metres to score untouched, making the score 17 – 0.

Australian fullback Graham Eadie crossed early in the second half but the try was controversially disallowed for a forward pass. Bob Fulton took the Australians' lead out to 20–0 with a drop-goal early in the second half. [34] Great Britain scored the first try of the second half when 31-year-old Roger Millward, captaining Great Britain for the last time, [35] reached out of a tackle and bounced the ball off the turf of the Australian in-goal area. The home side scored again when they moved the ball through the hands out to the left wing where Bevan dived over in the corner. The Kangaroos scored next when Raudonikis, directly from a scrum win, ran through and put the ball down.

Australia therefore retained the Ashes with the first of a fourteen-year winning streak between these two sides that would last until 1988. [36]

France leg

Wednesday 22 November Catalan XIII Catalanscolours.svg 15 – 26 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Tries:
Goals:
[37]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 2,270

1st Test

Steve Martin was selected to make his Test debut. [38]

Sunday 26 November
France  Flag of France.svg13 – 10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
José Moya (5)
[39]
Tries:
Michael Cronin
Graham Eadie
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Andre Breysse Flag of France.svg
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Australia
FB1 Francis Tranier
RW2 José Moya
RC3 Christian Laumond
LC4 Michel Naudo
LW5 Philippe Fourcade
SO6 Éric Waligunda
SH7 Ivan Grésèque
PR8 Henri Daniel
HK9 André Malacamp
PR10 Delphin Castanon
SR11 Didier Hermet
SR12 Charles Zalduendo
LK13 Michel Maïque (c)
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of France.svg Roger Garrigue
FB1 Graham Eadie
RW2 Kerry Boustead
RC3 Michael Cronin
LC4 Steve Martin
LW5 Chris Anderson
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Craig Young
HK9 George Peponis
PR10 Rod Morris
SR11 Geoff Gerard
SR12 Les Boyd
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

France won the first Test 13–10 at Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne.


Wednesday 29 NovemberCôte d'Azur7 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia Parc des Sports, Avignon
Tries:
Goals:
[40]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 645

Sunday 3 DecemberLes Espoirs (Colts)20 – 5 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi
Tries:
Goals:
[41]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 1,600

Wednesday, 6 December Midi-Pyrénées XIII Flag of Midi-Pyrenees.svg 7 – 36 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
Goals:
[42]
Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 1,627

2nd Test

Sunday 10 December
France  Flag of France.svg11 – 10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
José Moya (3)
Field Goals:
Jean-Marc Bourret (1)
Éric Waligunda (1)
[43]
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: P Laverny Flag of France.svg
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Australia
FB1 Francis Tranier
RW2 José Moya
RC3 Christian Laumond
LC4 Michel Naudo
LW5 Gerard Borreil
SO6 Éric Waligunda
SH7 Jean-Louis Castel
PR8 Henri Daniel
HK9 André Malacamp
PR10 Delphin Castanon
SR11 Didier Hermet
SR12 Charles Zalduendo
LK13 Michel Maïque (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Jean-Marc Bourret
IC15 Joël Roosebrouck
Coach:
Flag of France.svg Roger Garrigue
FB1 Graham Eadie
RW2 Kerry Boustead
RC3 Steve Rogers
LC4 Michael Cronin
LW5 Chris Anderson
FE6 Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Ian Thomson
HK9 Ron Hilditch
PR10 Craig Young
SR11 Geoff Gerard
SR12 Rod Reddy
LF13 Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Graham Olling
IC15 Alan Thompson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

The referee was Mr Laverny from Bordeaux. France were coached by Roger Garrigue. Their line-up included world class players, lock, Joël Roosebrouck [44] and prop, Didier Hermet from Villeneuve-Sur-Lot, and Jean-Marc Bourret in the centres. Ron Hilditch played at hooker in place of Max Krilich who was injured. [45] France claimed a 2–0 series win over the touring Kangaroos with an 11–10 result at the Stade Municipal, Toulouse in front of 6,500 spectators.

France thus became the last team to record successive victories against Australia in a single series. [46] This would be the last time the Kangaroos failed to win a series or tournament until the 2005 Tri-Nations. [47]

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Attendance

Largest Club Game Attendance

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia national rugby league team</span> Senior mens sports team

The Australian national rugby league team, the Kangaroos, have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competitions since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission, the Kangaroos are ranked first in the IRL Men's World Rankings. The team is the most successful in Rugby League World Cup history, having won the competition 12 times, and contested 15 of the 16 finals, only failing to reach the final in the 1954 inaugural tournament. Only five nations have beaten Australia in test matches, and Australia has an overall win percentage of 69%.

Robert Fulton, also nicknamed "Bozo", was an Australian international rugby league footballer, coach and later commentator. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century. As a player Fulton won three premierships with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the 1970s, the last as captain. He represented the Australian national side on thirty-five occasions, seven times as captain. He had a long coaching career at the first grade level, taking Manly to premiership victory in 1987 and 1996. He coached the Australian national team in thirty-nine Tests. He was a New South Wales State selector and a national selector. He was a radio commentator with 2GB at the time of his death in 2021, aged 73. In 1981, he was selected as one of the initial four post-war "Immortals" of the Australian game and, in 2008, he was named in Australia's team of the century.

Graham "Wombat" Eadie, is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been named amongst Australia's finest of the 20th century. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative fullback, he played in Australia during Manly-Warringah's dominance of the NSWRFL competition during the 1970s. He won four premierships with them and his 1,917 points in first grade and 2,070 points in all grades were both records at the time of his retirement. Eadie also played in England for Halifax, winning the Challenge Cup Final of 1987 with them. He also won World Cups with Australia and collected awards such as the Rothmans Medal and Lance Todd Trophy.

Kenneth John Irvine, also nicknamed "Mongo", was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He holds the standing Australian record for the most tries in a first-grade career – 212. No other player has yet managed 200 tries in their Australian club career, with the closest to Irvine's tally being South Sydney Rabbitohs player Alex Johnston who has scored 195 tries. He is also the 2nd all-time top try-scorer for the Australian national team with 33, two behind Darren Lockyer's 35. Irvine's great speed is legendary and he is regarded as Australia's greatest ever winger, being named in 2008 in the list of Australian rugby league's 100 greatest players, as well as being an automatic selection for the Australian Rugby League's "Team of the Century".

Stephen John Ella is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a utility back for the Parramatta Eels, New South Wales and Australia, playing in 4 Tests for Australia between 1983 and 1985. He is a cousin of the Ella brothers who were prominent in Australian rugby union in the 1980s.

Michael David O'Connor is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union footballer who represented Australia in both codes. He played for the Wallabies in 13 Tests from 1979 to 1982 and then the Kangaroos in 17 Tests from 1985 to 1990. O'Connor played club football in the NSWRL Premiership for the St. George Dragons from 1983 until 1986, and later the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles from 1987 until his retirement at the end of 1992, becoming captain of Manly in 1990, as well as winning the 1987 Winfield Cup with the Sea Eagles.

The 1994 Kangaroo Tour was the 18th and last Kangaroo Tour played in the conventional format, where the Australia national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French clubs or provincial outfits, in additions to the Test matches. The outbreak of the Super League war in early 1995 meant that the next Kangaroo tour, set for 1998, never eventuated; although shortened, test only tours were staged in 2001 and 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Cleal</span> Australia international rugby league footballer and coach

Noel Harvey "Crusher" Cleal is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. A destructive second-row for the Manly Sea Eagles, he also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin Series and the Australian national rugby league team.

Michael William Cronin OAM is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982. Cronin retired as the NSWRL Premiership's and the Australian Kangaroos' all-time highest point-scorer and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff Lyons</span> Australian international rugby league footballer

Cliff Lyons is an indigenous Australian former international rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. A Clive Churchill Medallist and two-time Dally M Medallist, he made 309 first-grade appearances with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, winning grand finals with them in 1987 and 1996. Lyons also represented New South Wales and Australia, being part of the successful 1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

Les Boyd is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played representative football for the Australian national side in international matches as well as the New South Wales side in the State of Origin. Boyd played club football in both Australia and England and his usual position was in the second-row.

The 1990 Kangaroo Tour was the seventeenth Kangaroo Tour, where the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Europe and played eighteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1986 and the next was staged in 1994.

The 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France was the sixteenth Kangaroo tour in which the Australian national rugby league team plays a number of tour matches against British and French teams, in addition to the Test matches. The next Kangaroo tour was staged in 1990.

The 1982 Kangaroo tour was the fifteenth Kangaroo tour where the Australian national rugby league team played a number of matches against British and French rugby league teams, in addition to the Test matches. The Australia national rugby league team have generally since 1908 barring wartime, toured Great Britain every four years often capping the tour with matches and Tests in France. This regular touring side are known as the Kangaroos.

The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England, and to date has been the last Kangaroo Tour. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain for the Ashes. Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by Darren Lockyer, Australia continued its dominance, winning all of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973, although the 3-0 series win didn't show how close the series really was as Australia had to come from behind to win every test, and won each match by a margin of no more than one converted try making it arguably the closest Ashes series since 1974.

The 1992 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the 'Lions', of Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and July 1992. The tour was the last of such length undertaken by the Great Britain team, and included a test match against Papua New Guinea, a three-test series against Australia for The Ashes, and a two-test series against New Zealand for the Baskerville Shield, all interspersed with matches against local club and representative teams.

The 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series was an international rugby league test series played in Australia between Australia and New Zealand. The series, which started on 3 July in Melbourne and finished on 31 July in Brisbane, consisted of three test matches, with the third test doubling as a 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup tournament match. New Zealand did not play in any other matches while on tour.

The 1995 Trans-Tasman Test series was an international rugby league, three test series played in Australia between the Australian Kangaroos and New Zealand national rugby league team. As the series was played in the middle of the 1995 ARL season and most of the Kiwis selected came from Australian Rugby League (ARL) clubs, New Zealand did not play in any tour matches while in Australia, but prior to the series against Australia they had a two test home series against France.

The 1988 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 18th tour of Australasia and took place from May to July 1988. It started with a Test match against Papua New Guinea before the best-of-three series against Australia for the Ashes title, and finally a Test against New Zealand. Some of these matches counted toward the ongoing 1985–1988 World Cup tournament. An additional 13 matches were played against local club and representative sides from each host nation.

The 1973 Kangaroo Tour was the thirteenth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play nineteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1967-68 and the next was staged in 1978.

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