1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain

The Kangaroo squad of 1911–12

The 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain was the second ever Kangaroo tour and was actually a tour by an "Australasian" squad including four New Zealand players in addition to twenty-four Australian representatives.^[1] It took place over the British winter of 1911–12 and this time, to help promote the game of Rugby league in New Zealand, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited a combined Australian and New Zealand team. They became the first tourists to win the Ashes.^[2] and the last to do so on British soil for over half a century.^[3] The tour was a success in performance and organisation. Matches were well attended, the squad's touring payments were maintained throughout and the players all shared in a bonus at the tour's end.

Touring squad

Prior to the tour a three-way series of matches between New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand was organised as a basis of selection for the tour.^[4] The New South Welshmen dominated the touring side, with four New Zealanders and only one Queenslander selected. However counted amongst the New South Welshmen was Con Sullivan, who had moved to Australia from New Zealand a few years before. Due to family and business commitments, rugby league great Dally Messenger declined to tour with the 1911–12 Kangaroos.^[5] His friend and team-mate Sandy Pearce also chose not to go.^[6] Chris McKivat who had captained the 1908 Wallabies to Olympic Gold was at age 32 a natural selection as tour captain. The Heads/Middleton reference describes McKivat as being revered on that tour – a magnificent general, tough, durable and an inspiration to the men around him. It quotes Johnny Quinlan the tour co-manager "He always set a splendid example in conduct and training – a natural leader"^[7] Tour vice-captain was Paddy McCue. Tour managers were Charles H Ford and John Quinlan. The team sailed to England on the RMS Orvieto. The tourists were paid £4/5/ per week and received a bonus of £178 each.^[8]

New South Wales

All eight teams of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership were represented in the touring squad.

New Zealand

The New Zealand players that accompanied the Australians on tour have been listed in the Australian Rugby League's Kangaroos players register.^[9]

Queensland

Robert "Harold" Nicholson of Queensland was also selected for the tour but withdrew.^[10]

Tour schedule

Played: 35 Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Ashes: Australia 2–0

	Date	Opponent	Location	Result	Score	Attendance
Match 1	23 September 1911	Midlands/Southern England	The Butts Ground, Coventry	Won	20–11	3,000
Match 2	25 September 1911	Yorkshire	Bramall Lane, Sheffield	Won	33–13	4,000
Match 3	30 September 1911	Broughton Rangers	Wheater's Field, Broughton	Won	18–8	12,000
Match 4	2 October 1911	Lancashire	Ewood Park, Blackburn	Won	25–12	5,000
Match 5	7 October 1911	Wales	Bridgend Field, Ebbw Vale, Wales	Won	28–20	7,000
Match 6	11 October 1911	Widnes	Lowerhouse Lane, Widnes	Won	23–0	5,000
Match 7	14 October 1911	St Helens RLFC	Knowsley Road, St Helens	Won	16–5	12,000
Match 8	18 October 1911	England XIII	Craven Cottage, London	Won	11–6	6,000
Match 9	22 October 1911	Hunslet	Parkside, Hunslet	Draw	3–3	4,000
Match 10	25 October 1911	Northern League XIII	Goodison Park, Everton	Won	16–3	6,000
Match 11	28 October 1911	Wigan	Central Park, Wigan[11]	Lost	2–7	25,000
Match 12	1 November 1911	Swinton	Station Road, Swinton	Won	28–9	4,000
Match 13	4 November 1911	Hull F.C.	The Boulevard, Hull	Won	26–7	6,000
Match 14	8 November 1911	England	St James' Park, Newcastle	Won	19–10	5,317
Match 15	11 November 1911	Oldham	The Watersheddings, Oldham	Lost	8–14	10,000
Match 16	15 November 1911	Leigh	Mather Lane, Leigh	Won	13–12	6,000
Match 17	18 November 1911	Wakefield Trinity	Belle Vue, Wakefield	Won	24–10	5,000
Match 18	22 November 1911	Cumberland	Athletic Ground, Maryport	Won	5–2	6,000
Match 19	25 November 1911	Barrow	Cavendish Park, Barrow-in-Furness	Won	44–8	6,500
Match 20	29 November 1911	Runcorn RFC	Canal Street, Runcorn	Won	23–7	2,000
Match 21	2 December 1911	Huddersfield	Fartown Ground, Huddersfield	Lost	7–21	17,000
Match 22	6 December 1911	England XIII	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	Lost	3–5	3,000
Match 23	9 December 1911	Salford	The Willows, Salford	Won	6–3	4,000
Match 24	13 December 1911	York	Wigginton Road, York	Won	16–8	1,500
Match 25	16 December 1911	England	Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland	Draw	11–11	8,000
Match 26	20 December 1911	/ Wales/West England	Ashton Gate, Bristol	Won	23–3	1,000
Match 27	23 December 1911	Rochdale	Athletic Grounds, Rochdale	Won	18–6	4,500
Match 28	26 December 1911	Halifax	Thrum Hall, Halifax	Won	23–5	10,000
Match 29	30 December 1911	Warrington	Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington	Won	34–6	8,500
Match 30	1 January 1912	England	Villa Park, Birmingham	Won	33–8	4,000
Match 31	6 January 1912	Leeds	Headingley, Leeds	Won	8–6	1,000
Match 32	13 January 1912	Hull Kingston Rovers	Craven Street, Hull	Won	5–2	7,000
Match 33	20 January 1912	Barrow	Cavendish Park, Barrow-in-Furness	Won	22–5	1,500
Match 34	27 January 1912	Batley	Mount Pleasant, Batley	Lost	5–13	2,000
Match 35	31 January 1912	Northern League XIII	Central Park, Wigan	Won	20–12	2,000
Match 36	3 February 1912	Runcorn RFC	Canal Street, Runcorn	Won	54–6	1,500

Test matches

First Ashes Test

Test # 12

8 November 1911

England	10–19	Australasia
Tries: Will Davies (2) Goals: Johnny Thomas (2)	[12]	Tries: Viv Farnsworth (2) Howard Hallett Billy Cann Arthur Francis Goals: Billy Cann (1) Arthur Francis (1)

St James' Park, Newcastle Attendance: 5,317 Referee/s: B. Ennion

The Kangaroos performing their war cry before the first Test.

In this match, Australia's Charles Fraser became Australia's youngest Test player at 18 years and 301 days, a record which would stand until 2007.

Second Ashes Test

Test # 13

16 December 1911

England	11–11	Australasia
Tries: Harold Wagstaff (2) Jim Lomas Goals: Alf Wood	[13]	Tries: Dan Frawley Chris McKivat Charlie Russell Goals: Arthur Francis (1)

Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 8,000 Referee/s: H. Renton

McKivat lead the way for Australia dominating the rucks and scoring a vital try. Renowned Australian journalist Claude Corbett was acting as one of the touch judges and referee Renton, over-ruled his goal decision on one of the Australian conversion attempts. ^[14]

Third Ashes Test

Test # 14

1 January 1912

England	8–33	Australasia
Tries: Doug Clark Jim Lomas Goals: Alf Wood (1)	[15]	Tries: Tom Berecry (2) Dan Frawley (2) Paddy McCue (2) Chris McKivat (2) Viv Farnsworth Goals: Dan Frawley (2) Herb Gilbert (1)

Villa Park, Birmingham Attendance: 4,000 Referee/s: R. Robinson

Great Britain only needed to win the third Test to tie the series and keep the Ashes but were reduced to 12 men early in the encounter after an injury to Dick Ramsdale. Great Britain led 8–0 early but had no answer to the Australian attack as they ran in nine tries. ^[16]

This would be the first (and final) time the Kangaroos would win The Ashes on British soil until the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour.

References

External links

• "Australian tour of Great Britain". hunterlink.net. Archived from the original on 11 May 2006. 
• Ashes series 1911 at rugbyleagueproject.org

Rugby league Ashes
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Related	Kangaroo tour Australia national rugby league team Australasia rugby league team Great Britain national rugby league team