Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australia national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one-off tour to Papua New Guinea (1991). The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain (sometimes called Northern Union or The Lions) and a number of tour matches. The 1911/12 and 1921/22 tours were by the Australasian Kangaroos as both teams included New Zealand players. Some Kangaroo tours to Great Britain and France also included international friendly matches against Wales, though these games were not given test match status.
The last full Kangaroo Tour was in 1994, although shortened Kangaroo Tours took place in 2001 and again in 2003.
Since 1954, the Kangaroos have also made a number of overseas tours for multi-team tournaments such as the World Cup, Tri-Nations and Four Nations, however these are not classed as Kangaroo tours.
Northern Union 22–22 Australia Northern Union 15–5 Australia Northern Union 6–5 Australia
Played: 45
Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 22
Ashes: Great Britain 2–0
Played: 35
Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5
Ashes: Australasia 2–0
Played: 36
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Played: 35
Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Played: 37
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
Played: 35
Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Played: 37
Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
Played: 40
Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour. [2]
Played: 28
Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Played: 24
Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil. [3]
Played: 36
Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 27
Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 19
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 22
Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 22
Won: 22 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
The 1982 Kangaroos became the first team to go through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Invincibles.
Played: 20
Won: 20 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
Emulating the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the 1986 Kangaroos went through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Unbeatables.
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 3
Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Played: 6
Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
Played: 9
Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–1
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
Played: 10
Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2–1
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Played: 8
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Played: 6
Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Played: 3
Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1–0
Played: 7
Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–0
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–0
Played: 5
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Test series: Australia 2–0
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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 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team, "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia, and their first as the visiting team, before travelling to Auckland to take on New Zealand. The tour was a huge promotional and financial success for what was then known as the "Northern Union" game and helped set the pattern for regular, alternating test match series between Britain and Australia. It is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of rugby league.
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The 1992 Rugby League World Cup final was the conclusive game of the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Great Britain and Australia on 24 October 1992 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Australia won the final by 10 points to 6 in front of an international record crowd of 73,631. Australia, the defending champions, won the Rugby League World Cup for the 7th time.
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.