History of The Great Britain National Rugby League Team - 1960s

1960s

In the March prior to the 1960 World Cup, Great Britain played two matches against France, alternating between venues in France and Great Britain. Great Britain drew one and lost one of the fixtures: France won 20-18 at Stade Municipal, Toulouse. On 65 minutes a colossal brawl erupted when Georges Fages kicked Derek Turner on the chin following a tackle on Fages. When the dust settled Turner was ordered off, but five minutes elapsed before he was finally escorted from the field by Bill Fallowfield, secretary of the Rugby Football League. There was 17-17 draw at Knowsley Road, St Helens.

In 1960, the World Cup was played on home soil. The tournament is decided on a league system but with both Great Britain and Australia undefeated, the last match became a virtual World Cup Final. Eric Ashton lifted the trophy after a 10-3 victory at Odsal in front of a crowd of 32,733 and Britain played in an exhibition game in lieu of a decider.

In December 1960, Great Britain beat France 21-10 at Stade André Moga, Bordeaux, and in January 1961, they won again 27-8 at Knowsley Road, St Helens. New Zealand toured Great Britain in 1961. They won the first of the three matches 29-11 at Headingley, Leeds.

Eric Ashton was again captain of the 1962 Lions side and Colin Hutton was coach. The British Lions won the opening two Tests 31-12 and then 17-10, the first time in 34 years that they had won the first two matches on Australian soil. The first Test was played before more than 70,000 spectators. The third Test was staged at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday 14 July 1962. A controversial last-minute Australian try and the subsequent touchline conversion resulted in a 17-18 defeat; but for this, the 62 Lions would have been the first team to achieve a whitewash of the Australians.

After crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, they lost both Tests against New Zealand with a team depleted with injuries. The first Test 19–0, only the second time a British team had been held scoreless. In the second Test at Carlaw Park, Auckland on Saturday 11 August 1962, several players had to play out of position and New Zealand won 27-8. Sixteen Lions visited South Africa on the way home and played three matches against South Africa. The second of those matches took place on Saturday 25 August in Durban, Great Britain won 39-33.

In 1962, Great Britain were defeated 17-12 by France at Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan.

Great Britain beat France 12-0 in Avignon in 1964, they also won the return leg 10-0 in Leeds but were booed off the field. All ten points had come from the boot of David Hobbs.

The Great Britain won the first Test 16-11 at Headingley. The second Test was played at the old White City Stadium on Friday 3 November 1967, it was the only Test match ever to be played there. Australian tour manager Jack Drews appealed to the thousands of Australians living in London to support the tourists and was rewarded with a crowd of 17,445, many of them supporting Australia. Australia won 17-11, and then went on to clinch the series with a 11-3 victory in a blizzard at Swinton.

The fourth Rugby League World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, in 1968. The match between Great Britain and Australia attracted an attendance of 62,256, the highest for a rugby league World Cup match until 1992. However, Great Britain failed to make the final.

The 1968 Great Britain World Cup squad made a visit to Queensland on their way back to Britain. They played three matches in three days, the middle match being against North Queensland at Townsville on Sunday 16 June. Britain won 25-2.