The Oldest International Stadium in Football - The Racecourse Ground

International Rugby League Matches of Note - 1900-1950

The First International Rugby League match took place on 1st January 1908 and the result was Wales - 9, New Zealand All Golds - 8 in Aberdare.

In 1907-08, Albert Henry Baskerville organized a group of New Zealand players for a professional tour to the UK against Northern Union opposition. Dubbed the All Golds they included Australian Dally Messenger as a guest and played a total of 46 matches including the first RL international against Wales. Although the All Golds led 8 -3 at half time the Welsh came back strongly and Dai Jones scored a try with only minutes to go. They held on for a famous victory although Dick Wynard of the All Golds missed a great opportunity

The famous Rorke's Drift Test took place 14th July 1914 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The 1914 Northern Union tour to Australia became controversial when the third and deciding test was brought forward against the wishes of the Northern Union who were struggling with injuries. They were ahead 9-3 at half time but were reduced to ten players, in the days before substitutions, during the second half when Frank Williams, Douglas Clark and Billy Hall were injured. The team defended heroically and even managed to increase their lead to 14-3 with a try from John Johnson (a forward playing on the wing in place of Williams) after a great break by captain and Price of Centres, Harold Wagstaffe. Sid Deane scored for Australia in the last few minutes but the Lions hung on for a famous victory. The score was Australia 6 Northern Union 14.

Australia won the Ashes for the first time on 3rd July 1920 when they beat the Northern Union in Sydney.

Australia won the first test 8-4 in Brisbane then secured the Ashes 21-8 in Sydney.

The Northern Union received some consolation by winning the third test 23-13 in Sydney with tries from Farnsworth, Gilbert, Horder, Potter and Vest with goals from Burge and Horder and a drop goal from Fraser. The Lions replied with tries from Gallagher and Johnson and a goal from Gronow. The final score was Australia - 21, Northern Union - 8.

In 1922, the Northern Union team representing Great Britain adopted the nickname The Lions and regained the Ashes which would not be lost again until 1950.

The first international match involving France was played on 15th April 1934 and the result was France - 21, England - 32 in Paris.

After an exhibition match between Great Britain and Australia in Paris, ex-RU International and Championship Boxer, Jean Galia led France on a six match tour to England which included a win in Hull. Their first international match followed soon and 20,000 excited Parisians watched them lose narrowly to England at the Buffalo Velodrome. Enough enthusiasm was developed to form the French Championship and soon after the national team secured a 15-15 draw in a return match against England.

The Indomitables toured Australia in 1946 and retained the Ashes in a match played on 20th July 1946 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The result was Australia - 7 v The Lions - 20.

After the devastation caused by World War II, Great Britain relaunched International Rugby League with a tour down under which was the first major event in any sport after the war. Captained by Gus Risman, they are regarded as the greatest touring team of all time and they still remain the only Great Britain team to remain unbeaten in a test series in Australia. At the time, the only way to travel was onboard Royal Navy vessels and the team made the trip onboard HMS Indomitable from which their nickname came. The first test was drawn 8-8 in Sydney while Great Britain won the second test 14-5 in Brisbane. The Ashes were retained with a 20-7 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground with tries from Bassett, Curren and Owens with goals from Risman (3) and Ward.

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Top International Rugby League Matches From 1950 to 1982

In 1951, France toured Australasia for the first time led by their legendary fullback Puig Aubert. Their flamboyant style of rugby attracted large crowds and the first Test match was the first "all ticket" international to be staged at the Sydney Cricket Ground with a crowd of over 60,000. It took place on 11th June 1951 and the score was Australia 15 v France 26.

The first Rugby League World Cup was organized by the French RL under Paul Barriere and took place in France in 1954. This was 33 years before the first RU equivalent. Australia, France, GB and NZ took part and the teams were evenly matched although GB were forced, through injuries/withdrawals, to select an inexperienced squad led by Scotsman Dave Valentine. It was a pleasant surprise when they made the final against the home team. France led early in the second half due to a try from Cantoni but Great Britain fought back with their their dominance in the forwards and centre Phil Jackson playing a starring role. France had played a tough match against Australia in Nantes two days earlier. The BBC broadcast the match live in the UK which was a novelty for the time. It took place on 13th November 1954 and the result was France 12 Great Britain 16 at Parc de Princes, Paris

The 1972 World Cup was played in France and Great Britain and Australia fought their way through to the Final. Clive Sullivan and Mick (Stevo) Stephenson scored tries for Great Britain and Terry Clawson kicked a goal. Artie Beetson and John O'Neill replied for Australia which took the game into extra time although no further points were scored and Great Britain were declared the winners courtesy of their superior record in the group stages of the competition. The game is best remembered for the brilliant try by Clive Sullivan and the accompanying commentary by Eddie Waring. The Australians felt hard done by due to a Graeme Langlands try disallowed for offside. This was the last time that a Great Britain side won a major International Rugby League trophy on 2nd November 1972 in Lyon. The match took place on 2nd November 1972 and the result was Great Britain 10 v Australia 10.

Papua New Guinea is the only country in the world where Rugby League is regarded as the national sport. The national team nicknamed The Kumuls played their first international match on 6th July 1975 in Port Moresby against the returning England World Cup squad although they lost 40 -12. Two years later they thrashed France 37 -6 and made their first overseas tour to Europe in 1979.

In 1982, the Australian side for the opening Test was built around a new breed of young players such as Eric Grothe, Wayne Pearce, Mal Meninga, Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling. Great Britain chose five players aged over 30 and did well in the first half to be trailing 10-4 at the break. In the second half the Kangaroos unleashed their pace, guile, excellent teamwork and superior fitness to score six stunning tries to leave the British crowd and game stunned. The match took place on 30th October 1982 at Bothberry Park in Hull and the result was Great Britain 4 v Australia 40.

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