1954 (1954) World Cup  ()
Number of teams	4
Host country	France
Winner	Great Britain (1st title)
Matches played	7
Attendance	138,329 (19,761 per match)
Points scored	231 (33 per match)
Top scorer	Jimmy Ledgard (29)
Top try scorer	Gordon Brown (6)
Tournaments 1957 >

The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 and officially known as the "Rugby World Cup".^[1] The prime motivators behind the idea of holding rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II.

The trophy, which was donated by the French, was worth eight million francs.^[2]

A group stage was held first, with Great Britain topping the table as a result of points difference. They went on to defeat France (who finished second in the table, level on points) in the final, which was held at the Parc des Princes, Paris, in front of around 30,000 spectators.

Contents 1 Background 2 Squads 2.1 Australia 2.2 France 2.3 Great Britain 2.4 New Zealand 3 Results 3.1 First round 3.2 Second round 3.3 Third round 3.4 League standings 3.5 Final 4 References 4.1 In-line 4.2 General 5 External links

[edit] Background

The World Cup was a French initiative. They had been campaigning for such a tournament since before World War II. Teams from America, Australia, Britain and New Zealand were invited to join hosts, France for the first World Cup in 1953.^[3] However the tournament was not held till 1954, with all teams except America participating.

[edit] Squads

[edit] Australia

Coach: Vic Hey^[4]

[edit] France

[edit] Great Britain

[edit] New Zealand

• Manager: Tom McKenzie (West Coast)
• Coach: Jim Amos (Canterbury)

Name	Region	Position
Doug Anderson	Auckland	FB
Jimmy Edwards	Auckland	Back
Neville Denton	Auckland	Back
Jim Austin	Auckland	Back
Ron McKay	Taranaki	Back
Cyril Eastlake (c)	Auckland	Back
Bill Sorensen	Auckland	SO
George Menzies	West Coast	SO
Len Eriksen	Auckland	HB
Lory Blanchard	Canterbury	HK
John Bond	Canterbury	PR
Cliff Johnson	Auckland	PR
Bill McLennan	West Coast	PR
Jock Butterfield	Canterbury	SR
George McDonald	Waikato	SR
John Yates	Auckland	SR
Alister Atkinson (vc)	Canterbury	LF
Ian Grey	Auckland	LF

[edit] Results

[edit] First round

1954-10-30	France	22–13	New Zealand	Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 13,240 Referee: C. F. Appleton

France's niggling tactics in their win against New Zealand in the tournament's opening match drew criticism from the media and the Kiwis coach, Jim Amos.^[5]

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1954-10-31	Australia	13–28	Great Britain	Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 10,250

the English team proved too strong for Australia in both sides' first World Cup game.^[6]
Great Britain: Ledgard, Rose, Jackson, Sullivan, Kitchen, Brown, Helme, Valentine, Robinson, Watts, Coverdale, Smith, Thoreley.
Australia: Clive Churchill, Pidding, Watson, Wells, Moir, Banks, Holman, Diversi, O'Shea, Provan, Duncan Hall, Keaney, Davies.

[edit] Second round

1954-11-07	France	13–13	Great Britain	Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 37,471

This draw resulted in Great Britain and France sharing the lead in the tournament so far.^[7]

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1954-11-07	Australia	34–15	New Zealand	Stade Velodrome, Marseille Attendance: 20,000

Australia's vicory in this match put them in third position on the ladder and New Zealand last.^[8]

[edit] Third round

1954-11-11	Great Britain	26–6	New Zealand	Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 14,000

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1954-11-11	France	15–5	Australia	Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes Attendance: 13,000

Australia and France were playing for the chance to meet Great Britain in the final. Mistakes cost the Australians the match, so France advanced to the decider.^[9]

[edit] League standings

Team	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	For	Against	Difference	Points
Great Britain	3	2	1	0	67	32	+35	5
France	3	2	1	0	50	31	+19	5
Australia	3	1	0	2	52	58	−6	2
New Zealand	3	0	0	3	34	82	−48	0

[edit] Final

13 November 1954	France	12 – 16	Great Britain	Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 30,368 Referee: Charles F Appleton (Great Britain)
	Try: Cantoni Contrastin Goal: Puig Aubert (3)	(Report)	Try: Brown (2) Rose Helme Goal: Ledgard (2)

France	[10] Position	Great Britain
Puig Aubert (c)	FB	Jimmy Ledgard
Vincent Cantoni	WG	David Rose
Claude Teissiere	CE	Phil Jackson
Jacques Merquey	CE	Albert "Ally" Naughton
Raymond Contrastin	WG	Mick Sullivan
Antoine Jiminez	SO	Gordon Brown
Jean Crespo	SH	Gerry Helme
Joseph Krawzyck	PR	John Thorley
Jean Audobert	HK	Sam Smith
Francois Rinaldi	PR	Robin Coverdale
A. Save	SR	Basil Watts
Jean Pambrun	SR	Don Robinson
Gilbert Verdier	LF	Dave Valentine (c)
Jean Duhau Rene Duffort	Coach	G. Shaw

France played well early in the match and early in the second half led thanks to a Brilliant try from Cantoni. However Great Britain didn't waver, with credit given to the play of their forward pack, as well as the tough match between Australia and France in Nantes two days earlier, for the win.^[11]

[edit] References

[edit] In-line

[edit] General

• Independent Review Committee (February 2009). "Rugby League - Contributing to New Zealand's Future". SPARC. http://www.sparc.org.nz/filedownload?id=637d4871-7d11-46b1-92e5-bfe1abcd2416&getfile=true. Retrieved 13 December 2009. 

[edit] External links

• 1954 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• 1954 World Cup at rlwc2008.com
• 1954 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.org
• 1954 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
• 1954 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk

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