Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one-off tour to Papua New Guinea (1991). The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain (sometimes called Northern Union or The Lions) and a number of tour matches. The 1911/12 and 1921/22 tours were by the Australasian Kangaroos as both teams included New Zealand players. Some Kangaroo tours to Great Britain and France also included international friendly matches against Wales, though these games were not given test match status.
The last full Kangaroo Tour was in 1994, although shortened Kangaroo Tours took place in 2001 and again in 2003.
Since 1954, the Kangaroos have also made a number of overseas tours for multi-team tournaments such as the World Cup, Tri-Nations and Four Nations, however these are not classed as Kangaroo tours.
Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France[edit]
1908/09 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Northern Union vs. Australia[edit]
Northern Union 22โ22 Australia Northern Union 15โ5 Australia Northern Union 6โ5 Australia
Played: 45
Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 22
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ0
1911/12 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Northern Union vs. Australasia[edit]
- First Test Northern Union 10โ19 Australasia
- Second Test Northern Union 11โ11 Australasia
- Third Test Northern Union 8โ33 Australasia
Played: 35
Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5
Ashes: Australasia 2โ0
1921/22 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australasia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 6โ5 Australasia
- Second Test Great Britain 2โ16 Australasia
- Third Test Great Britain 6โ0 Australasia
Played: 36
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1929/30 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
The Lions vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test The Lions 8โ31 Australia
- Second Test The Lions 9โ3 Australia
- Third Test The Lions 0โ0 Australia
- Fourth Test The Lions 3โ0 Australia
Played: 35
Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1933/34 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
The Lions vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test The Lions 4โ0 Australia
- Second Test The Lions 7โ5 Australia
- Third Test The Lions 19โ16 Australia[1]
Played: 37
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10
Ashes: Great Britain 3โ0
1937/38 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
The Lions vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test The Lions 5โ4 Australia
- Second Test The Lions 13โ3 Australia
- Third Test The Lions 3โ13 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 35
Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1948/49 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 23โ21 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 16โ7 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 23โ9 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 37
Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13
Ashes: Great Britain 3โ0
1952/53 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 16โ9 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 21โ5 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 7โ27 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: France 12โ16 Australia
- Second Test: France 5โ0 Australia
- Third Test: France 13โ5 Australia
Played: 40
Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1956/57 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour.[2]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 21โ10 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 9โ22 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 19โ0 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: France 8โ15 Australia
- Second Test: France 6โ10 Australia
- Third Test: France 21โ25 Australia
Played: 28
Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1959/60 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 14โ22 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 11โ10 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 18โ12 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: France 19โ20 Australia
- Second Test: France 2โ17 Australia
- Third Test: France 8โ16 Australia
Played: 24
Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2โ1
1963/64 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 2โ28 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 12โ50 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 16โ5 Australia
The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil.[3]
France vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: France 8โ5 Australia
- Second Test: France 9โ21 Australia
- Third Test: France 8โ16 Australia
Played: 36
Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
1967/68 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 16โ11 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 11โ17 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 3โ11 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: France 7โ7 Australia
- Second Test: France 10โ3 Australia
- Third Test: France 16โ13 Australia
Played: 27
Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
1973 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 21โ12 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 6โ14 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 5โ15 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 19
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
1978 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 9โ15 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 18โ14 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 6โ23 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 22
Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
1982 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 4โ40 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 6โ27 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 8โ32 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 22
Won: 22 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3โ0
The 1982 Kangaroos became the first team to go through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Invincibles.
1986 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 16โ38 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 4โ34 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 15โ24 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 20
Won: 20 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3โ0
Emulating the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the 1986 Kangaroos went through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Unbeatables.
1990 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 19โ12 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 10โ14 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 0โ14 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
1994 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test: Great Britain 8โ4 Australia
- Second Test: Great Britain 8โ38 Australia
- Third Test: Great Britain 4โ23 Australia
France vs. Australia[edit]
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
2001 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 20โ12 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 12โ40 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 8โ28 Australia
Played: 3
Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2โ1
2003 Kangaroo Tour[edit]
Great Britain vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Great Britain 18โ22 Australia
- Second Test Great Britain 20โ23 Australia
- Third Test Great Britain 12โ18 Australia
Played: 6
Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3โ0
Kangaroo tour of New Zealand[edit]
1919[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 21โ44 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 26โ10 Australia
- Third Test New Zealand 23โ34 Australia
- Fourth Test New Zealand 2โ32 Australia
Played: 9
Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3โ1
1935[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 22โ14 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 8โ29 Australia
- Third Test New Zealand 8โ31 Australia
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2โ1
1949[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 26โ21 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 10โ13 Australia
Played: 10
Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1โ1
1953[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 25โ5 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 12โ11 Australia
- Third Test New Zealand 16โ18 Australia
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2โ1
1961[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 12โ10 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 8โ10 Australia
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1โ1
1965[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 8โ13 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 7โ5 Australia
Played: 8
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1โ1
1969[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 10โ20 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 18โ14 Australia
Played: 6
Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1โ1
1971[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 24โ3 Australia
Played: 3
Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1โ0
1980[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 6โ27 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 6โ15 Australia
Played: 7
Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2โ0
1985[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Australia 26โ20 New Zealand (Brisbane)
- Second Test New Zealand 6โ10 Australia
- Third Test New Zealand 18โ0 Australia
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2โ1
1989[edit]
New Zealand vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test New Zealand 6โ26 Australia
- Second Test New Zealand 0โ8 Australia
- Third Test New Zealand 14โ22 Australia
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3โ0
Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea[edit]
1991[edit]
Papua New Guinea vs. Australia[edit]
- First Test Papua New Guinea 2โ58 Australia
- Second Test Papua New Guinea 6โ40 Australia
Played: 5
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Test series: Australia 2โ0
See also[edit]
- The Invincibles (rugby league)
- Rugby League Ashes
- Australia national rugby league team
- Great Britain national rugby league team
References[edit]
- ^ England snatches victory in last two minutes (1934-01-15) the Courier-Mail
- ^ John MacDonald and Ian Arnold (29 June 1989). "Kangaroos fly the Maroon flag". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. p. 50. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ "1963 Kangaroos Team | Sport Australia Hall of Fame".
Further reading[edit]
- Heads, Ian (1990). The Kangaroos: the saga of Rugby League's great tours. Lester-Townsend Publishing. ISBN 978-0-949853-39-4.