1963–64 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

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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.

1963–64 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
ManagerJack Lynch
Arthur Sparkes
Coach(es)Arthur Summons
Tour captain(s)Arthur Summons
Ian Walsh
Top point scorer(s)Graeme Langlands 207
Top try scorer(s)Ken Irvine 29
Top test point scorer(s)Graeme Langlands 49
Top test try scorer(s)Ken Irvine 8
Summary
P W D L
Total
36 28 01 07
Test match
06 04 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 2 0 1
 France
3 2 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour1959-60 by
1961 by to
1961 by
Next tour1965 by to
1965 by
1967-68 by

The squad's leadership

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The Australian team was captain-coached by Western Suburbs Magpies Halfback Arthur Summons, though due to injury to Summons the test captaincy fell to St George Hooker Ian Walsh for Ashes series against Great Britain and the first test against France.
In the five matches in which neither Summons nor Walsh played, the Kangaroos were captained by Barry Muir (against Featherstone), Ken Irvine (Rochdale), Noel Kelly (Cumberland), Reg Gasnier (Pyrenees) and Brian Hambly (Les Espoirs (French Colts)).
The team was managed by Jack Lynch and Arthur Sparkes.[1]

Touring squad

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The Rugby League News published details of the touring team including each player's ages, weight, height and occupation.[2]
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring.[3]
John Cleary, Ken Day, Peter Gallagher, John Gleeson and Barry Muir were selected from Queensland clubs. Earl Harrison, Paul Quinn and Barry Rushworth were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1963 season.

Player Position Age Weight
st.lb (kg)
Club Tests
on
Tour
Games Tries Goals FG Points
John Cleary Prop 24 15.7 (98)   Ipswich Brothers 0 14 1 0 0 3
Michael Cleary Wing 23 12.13 (82)   South Sydney 1 21 14 0 0 42
Ken Day Second-row 27 15.0 (95)   Brisbane Western Suburbs 2 18 5 0 0 15
Peter Dimond Wing 24 14.7 (92)   Western Suburbs 6 24 16 0 0 48
Peter Gallagher Prop 26 15.6 (98)   Brisbane Brothers 3 21 2 0 0 6
Reg Gasnier Centre 24 12.12 (82)   St George 6 19 15 0 0 45
John Gleeson Five-eighth 22 11.10 (74)   Brisbane Brothers 0 9 3 0 0 9
Brian Hambly Prop, Second-row 25 15.3 (97)   Parramatta 5 24 2 12 0 30
Earl Harrison Five-eighth 22 12.7 (79)   Gilgandra 4 17 3 0 0 9
Ken Irvine Wing 23 12.0 (76)   North Sydney 5 27 29 2 0 91
Les Johns Fullback 21 11.11 (75)   Canterbury 0 14 3 28 1 67
Noel Kelly Prop, Hooker 26 14.0 (89)   Western Suburbs 6 23 2 0 0 6
Graeme Langlands Centre 21 13.0 (83)   St George 5 25 17 78 0 207
Jim Lisle Centre 23 12.3 (78)   South Sydney 0 13 2 0 0 6
Barry Muir Halfback 25 11.6 (73)   Brisbane Western Suburbs 6 20 5 0 0 15
Paul Quinn Prop 25 14.10 (93)   Gerringong 3 20 1 0 0 3
Johnny Raper Lock 24 13.9 (87)   St George 5 18 2 0 0 6
Barry Rushworth Centre 20 12.2 (77)   Lithgow Workmen 1 19 9 0 0 27
Kevin Ryan Second-row 28 14.10 (93)   St George 0 4 0 0 0 0
Kevin Smyth Lock 29 13.0 (83)   Western Suburbs 2 18 4 0 0 12
Frank Stanton Utility Back 23 11.6 (73)   Manly-Warringah 0 18 4 0 0 12
Arthur Summons Five-eighth, Halfback 27 11.0 (70)   Western Suburbs 2 17 5 0 0 15
Ken Thornett Fullback 25 13.9 (87)   Parramatta 6 16 3 0 0 9
Dick Thornett Prop, Second-row 22 16.0 (102)   Parramatta 4 22 6 0 0 18
Ian Walsh Hooker 28 13.4 (84)   St George 4 18 1 0 0 3
Graham Wilson Prop, Second-row 23 14.12 (94)   Newtown 2 18 1 0 0 3

Great Britain

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The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 65,286 attending the Test series. The largest attendance of the tour came during the Kangaroos 50-12 second test win over Great Britain at Station Road in Swinton with 30,843 in attendance. The largest non-test attendance of the tour was 21,284 when the Kangaroos defeated St. Helens at Knowsley Road.

Test venues

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

London Swinton Leeds
Wembley Stadium Station Road Headingley
Capacity: 100,000 Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 35,000
     
Saturday, 14 September Warrington   20 – 28   Australia Wilderspool, Warrington
[1]

Attendance: 20,090

Monday, 16 September Huddersfield   5 – 6   Australia Fartown, Huddersfield
[2]

Attendance: 13,398

Wednesday, 18 September Yorkshire   11 – 5   Australia Craven Park, Hull
[3]

Attendance: 10,324
Referee: Denis Davies

Saturday, 21 September Leeds   10 – 13   Australia Headingley, Leeds
[4]

Attendance: 16,641

Wednesday, 25 September Lancashire   13 – 11   Australia Central Park, Wigan
[5]

Attendance: 15,068
Referee: M. Coats

Saturday, 28 September St. Helens   2 – 8   Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens
[6]

Attendance: 21,284

Wednesday, 2 October Featherstone Rovers   23 – 17   Australia Post Office Road, Featherstone
[7]

Attendance: 7,898

Saturday, 5 October Oldham   4 – 12   Australia Watersheddings, Oldham
[8]

Attendance: 11,338

Wednesday, 9 October Leigh   7 – 33   Australia Hilton Park, Leigh
[9]

Attendance: 9,625

Saturday, 12 October Hull F.C. / Hull Kingston Rovers XIII 10 – 23   Australia The Boulevard, Hull
[10]

Attendance: 10,481

The Ashes series

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First Test

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The first Ashes series test was played at the famous Wembley Stadium in London. Reg Gasnier ran in 3 of the Kangaroos 6 tries while his St George team mate and centre partner Graeme Langlands kicked 5 goals and crossed for his own try. In front of a small crowd of only 13,946 (in a stadium which at the time could hold up to 100,000 and earlier in the year had seen a crowd of 84,488 for the Challenge Cup Final), the Kangaroos kept the Lions scoreless with Neil Fox's lone goal the only score for the home side as Australia won 28-2.

Wednesday, 16 October
Great Britain   2 – 28   Australia
Tries:




Goals:
Neil Fox (1)
[11]
Tries:
Reg Gasnier (3)
Ken Irvine
Graeme Langlands
Ken Thornett
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (5)
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 13,946
Referee: Denis Davies  
Player of the Match: Reg Gasnier  
Great Britain Position Australia
Ken Gowers FB Ken Thornett
Bill Burgess WG Ken Irvine
Eric Ashton (c) CE Reg Gasnier
Neil Fox CE Graeme Langlands
Norman Field WG Peter Dimond
Dave Bolton SO Earl Harrison
Alex Murphy SH Barry Muir
John Tembey PR Peter Gallagher
Bill Sayer HK Ian Walsh (c)
Brian Tyson PR Noel Kelly
Jim Measures SR Brian Hambly
Ken Bowman SR Dick Thornett
Vince Karalius LF Johnny Raper
Coach Arthur Summons

Saturday, 19 October Rochdale Hornets   0 – 3   Australia Athletic Grounds, Rochdale
[12]

Attendance: 8,637

Wednesday, 23 October Hunslet   13 – 17   Australia Parkside, Hunslet
[13]

Attendance: 4,400

Saturday, 26 October Wakefield Trinity   14 – 29   Australia Belle Vue, Wakefield
[14]

Attendance: 15,821

Thursday, 31 October Cumberland   0 – 21   Australia Derwent Park, Workington
[15]

Attendance: 8,229
Referee: A. Durkin

Saturday, 2 November Barrow   5 – 18   Australia Craven Park, Barrow
[16]

Attendance: 10,130

Second Test

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The second test at Station Road in Swinton has gone down in rugby league folklore as the "Swinton Massacre". The Kangaroos ran riot, crossing for 12 tries to just 2 from the Lions. The 50-12 win was not only the Kangaroos highest ever score against Great Britain, it also saw Australia win The Ashes in England for the first time since 1911–12 and the first time an all-Australian team (the 1911–12 squad included New Zealand players) had won The Ashes in England. British fans got a taste of Ken Irvine's legendary speed when he crossed for three long range tries while Reg Gasnier, Peter Dimond and Graeme Langlands all crossed for doubles with Langlands also kicking 7 goals for a personal tally of 20 points. Though on this day there was none better than Kangaroos lock forward Johnny Raper who while not scoring himself, had a hand in 9 of his teams 12 tries.[4]

Saturday, 9 November
Great Britain   12 – 50   Australia
Tries:
John Stopford
Jim Measures




Goals:
Neil Fox (3)
[17]
Tries:
Ken Irvine (3)
Reg Gasnier (2)
Peter Dimond (2)
Graeme Langlands (2)
Earl Harrison
Noel Kelly
Dick Thornett
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (7)
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 30,843
Referee: Denis Davies  
Player of the Match: Johnny Raper  
Great Britain Position Australia
Ken Gowers FB Ken Thornett
Mick Sullivan WG Ken Irvine
Eric Ashton (c) CE Reg Gasnier
Neil Fox CE Graeme Langlands
John Stopford WG Peter Dimond
Frank Myler SO Earl Harrison
Alex Murphy SH Barry Muir
Bill Robinson PR Paul Quinn
Len McIntyre HK Ian Walsh (c)
Cliff Watson PR Noel Kelly
Jim Measures SR Ken Day
Ron Morgan SR Dick Thornett
Vince Karalius LF Johnny Raper
Coach Arthur Summons

Wednesday, 13 November Castleford   13 – 12   Australia Wheldon Road, Castleford
[18]

Attendance: 7,887

Monday, 18 November Wigan   10 – 18   Australia Central Park, Wigan
[19]

Attendance: 11,746

Thursday, 21 November Widnes   9 – 20   Australia Naughton Park, Widnes
[20]

Attendance: 6,509

Saturday, 23 November Swinton   2 – 2   Australia Station Road, Swinton
[21]

Attendance: 11,947

Third Test

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With pride on the line as no England or Great Britain team had ever lost a home series 3-0 to Australia, The Lions put in a much improved performance at Headingley in Leeds. The Rugby Football League had appointed "Sergeant Major" Eric Clay as the referee for the game. The two sides set about settling scores and the Australians felt Clay was biased. It is considered was one of the most brutal Tests ever played, with two Australians (Barry Muir and Brian Hambly) and one British player (Cliff Watson) being sent off. Muir who was sent off (for kicking) later told that he first told Clay "where to go" as he left the field, and later approached Clay after the game and said to him "You robbed us". According to Muir, Clay reportedly responded with "Barry, I've got to live here".[5]

Ken Irvine, who scored Australia's only try for the match, repeated his efforts from the 1962 Ashes series by scoring a try in each test of an Ashes series.

Saturday, 30 November
Great Britain   16 – 5   Australia
Tries:
Johnny Ward
John Stopford
Geoff Smith
Don Fox
Goals:
Don Fox (2)
[22]
Tries:
Ken Irvine



Goals:
Graeme Langlands (1)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 20,497
Referee: Eric Clay  
Great Britain Position Australia
  1. Ken Gowers
FB
  1. Ken Thornett
2. Geoff Smith WG 3. Ken Irvine
3. Keith Holden CE 7. Reg Gasnier
4. Alan Buckley CE 4. Graeme Langlands
5. John Stopford WG 5. Peter Dimond
6. Dave Bolton SO 11. Earl Harrison
7. Tommy Smales (c) SH 14.Barry Muir
8. Frank Collier PR 26. Noel Kelly
9. Johnny Ward HK 25. Ian Walsh (c)
10. Cliff Watson PR 21. Paul Quinn
11. Dick Huddart SR 20. Brian Hambly
12. Ken Roberts SR 18. Dick Thornett
13. Don Fox LF 15. Johnny Raper
Coach Arthur Summons

France

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The Rugby League News published a list of Match Results in a February 1964 special issue.

Date Opponent Score Ground Referee Crowd Report
5 December 1963 Celtic de Paris 2 – 30 Stade Pershing, Paris 200
8 December 1963 France 8 – 5 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux A. Cassan (FRA) 4,261 [6]
12 December 1963 Basque / Bearnaise XIII 5 – 18 4,261
15 December 1963 South West France 11 – 41 Stade Jules Ribet, Saint-Gaudens 1,266
19 December 1963 Pyrenees 10 – 14 Stade Jules Ribet, Saint-Gaudens 2,059
22 December 1963 France 10 – 14 Stade des Minimes, Toulouse E. Martung (FRA) 6,932 [7]
25 December 1963 Rouergue XIII 2 – 13 Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi 3,780
29 December 1963 Languedoc XIII 12 – 16 Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne 6,143
4 January 1963 XIII Catalan 15 – 11 Stade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan 4,524
4 January 1964 South France 11 – 51 889
5 January 1964 Provence XIII 4 – 35 Parc des Sports, Avignon 2,009
12 January 1964 Roanne XIII 2 – 38 2,969
16 January 1964 Les Espoirs (Colts) 12 – 19 2,617
18 January 1964 France 8 – 16 Parc des Princes, Paris G. Jameau (FRA) 5,979 [8]

French Tests

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First test

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Although Ken Irvine was unavailable due to injury, The Kangaroos lost nothing with pace on the wing due to the selection of South Sydney flyer and dual-rugby international Michael Cleary who 12 months earlier had won the Bronze Medal in the 100 yards sprint at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. However it wasn't enough as the tourists were defeated 8-5 by a determined French.

8 December 1963
France   8 – 5   Australia
Tries:
Georges Ailleres
Bernard Fabre
Goals
Jean Villeneuve (1)
Tries:
Graeme Langlands

Goals
Graeme Langlands (1)
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Attendance: 4,261
Referee: A. Cassan  
France Position Australia
André Carrère FB Ken Thornett
Jean Etcheberry WG Michael Cleary
Bernard Fabre CE Graeme Langlands
Claude Mantoulan CE Reg Gasnier
Laurent Roldos WG Peter Dimond
Jean Villeneuve SO Earl Harrison
Georges Fages (c) SH Barry Muir
Laurent Faletti PR Noel Kelly
Jean Graciet HK Ian Walsh (c)
Jean Panno PR Paul Quinn
Henri Marracq SR Brian Hambly
Georges Ailleres SR Dick Thornett
André Lacaze LF Johnny Raper
Jean Capdouze Int.|
Coach Arthur Summons

Second Test

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22 December 1963
France   9 – 21   Australia
Tries:
Jean Etcheberry



Goals
Jean Villeneuve (2)
Andre Lacaze (1)
Tries:
Ken Irvine (2)
Graeme Langlands
Arthur Summons
Ken Thornett
Goals
Graeme Langlands (3)
Stade des Minimes, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,932
Referee: Eddie Martung  
France Position Australia
André Carrère FB Ken Thornett
Jean Etcheberry WG Ken Irvine
Bernard Fabre CE Graeme Langlands
Claude Mantoulan CE Reg Gasnier
Laurent Roldos WG Peter Dimond
Jean Villeneuve SO Arthur Summons (c)
Georges Fages (c) SH Barry Muir
Laurent Faletti PR
Jean Graciet HK Noel Kelly
Jean Panno PR Peter Gallagher
Henri Marracq SR Kevin Smyth
Georges Ailleres SR Dick Thornett
André Lacaze LF Johnny Raper
Coach Arthur Summons

Third Test

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18 January 1964
France   8 – 16   Australia
Tries:
Laurent Roldos
Louis Vergé

Goals
Jean Villeneuve (1)
Tries:
Barry Muir (2)
Ken Irvine
Barry Rushworth
Goals
Brian Hambly (1)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 5,979
Referee: Georges Jameau  
France Position Australia
André Carrère FB Ken Thornett
Laurent Roldos WG Ken Irvine
Bernard Fabre CE Reg Gasnier
Gilbert Benausse CE Barry Rushworth
Daniel Pellerin WG Peter Dimond
Jean Villeneuve SO Arthur Summons (c)
Louis Vergé SH Barry Muir
Laurent Faletti PR Brian Hambly
Jean Graciet HK Noel Kelly
Jean Panno PR Peter Gallagher
Hervé Larrue SR Graham Wilson
Henri Marracq SR Ken Day
Jean Barthe LF Kevin Smyth
Coach Arthur Summons

References

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  1. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Kangaroo Manager's Fine All-Round Record". The Rugby League News. 44 (14 (22 June 1963)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-637131927. Retrieved 18 Jan 2021 – via Trove.
  2. ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "1963 Kangaroos Who's Who". The Rugby League News. 44 (28 (7 September 1963)). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-637148450. Retrieved 18 Jan 2021 – via Trove.
  3. ^ E.E.Christensen (1964). "1963-64 Kangaroo Tour Records". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. 18. Sydney: E.E.Christensen.
  4. ^ Great Britain vs Australia, Second Test 1963
  5. ^ Australia @ Rugby League Project
  6. ^ 1963-64 France vs Australia 1st Test
  7. ^ 1963-64 France vs Australia 2nd Test
  8. ^ 1963-64 France vs Australia 3rd Test
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