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Australia's national rugby league team the Kangaroos has an enviable international record, winning 11 of the 15 World Cup titles contested. Since the 60s the green and golds have had the measure both of England, the British Lions in Ashes series home and away and more recently against New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations that are new to league's international community.
The Kangaroos legend had its origins in December, 1908 in London, England when they tied their first-ever Test status match 22-all against the Northern Union in front of a small crowd of 2,000. Such was the interest engendered from that match that the the Second Test in Newcastle in January, 1909 attracted a crowd of 22,000 which the English side won 15–5 likewise in the The Third Test in Birmingham defeating the Kangaroos 6–5. It was at series end the Australian Rugby League suggested that future series between the two nations be named 'The Ashes' after the cricket series of the same name.
The first British Lions tour was in 1910 with Australia beaten for the rugby league Ashes in a two tests series. The Aussies had to wait a further decade before it won its first series against the old enemy on home soil. In January 1922, the Lions playing as England defeated Australia 6–0 at The Willows, Salford to win back the Ashes that had been lost in 1920. The Brits did not lose again until 1950.
In the 50s another nation was to enter international rugby league, France. Call it beginners luck as the Frenchmen hammered the Kangaroos 3-zip in their first ever tour to our shores in 1951. The French had arrived and remained powerful thruout the 50s mostly on the back of their inspirational skipper and freakish goal kicker Puig Aubert.
After ten previous tours of Britain, the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour saw the Kangaroo's first ever Ashes victory on British soil. The Arthur Summonds- coached Kangaroos won the first test at Wembley Stadium before rampaging to a famous Johnny Raper-inspired 50–12 thrashing in the second. The match has gone down in league folklore as 'the Swinton Massacre'. Although the 'Roos lost the third Test at Headingley, legendary winger Ken Irvine became the first Australian player to score a try in each Test of an Ashes series.
The Kangaroos have not lost a series in Britain since.
The Kangaroos legend had its origins in December, 1908 in London, England when they tied their first-ever Test status match 22-all against the Northern Union in front of a small crowd of 2,000. Such was the interest engendered from that match that the the Second Test in Newcastle in January, 1909 attracted a crowd of 22,000 which the English side won 15–5 likewise in the The Third Test in Birmingham defeating the Kangaroos 6–5. It was at series end the Australian Rugby League suggested that future series between the two nations be named 'The Ashes' after the cricket series of the same name.
The first British Lions tour was in 1910 with Australia beaten for the rugby league Ashes in a two tests series. The Aussies had to wait a further decade before it won its first series against the old enemy on home soil. In January 1922, the Lions playing as England defeated Australia 6–0 at The Willows, Salford to win back the Ashes that had been lost in 1920. The Brits did not lose again until 1950.
In the 50s another nation was to enter international rugby league, France. Call it beginners luck as the Frenchmen hammered the Kangaroos 3-zip in their first ever tour to our shores in 1951. The French had arrived and remained powerful thruout the 50s mostly on the back of their inspirational skipper and freakish goal kicker Puig Aubert.
After ten previous tours of Britain, the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour saw the Kangaroo's first ever Ashes victory on British soil. The Arthur Summonds- coached Kangaroos won the first test at Wembley Stadium before rampaging to a famous Johnny Raper-inspired 50–12 thrashing in the second. The match has gone down in league folklore as 'the Swinton Massacre'. Although the 'Roos lost the third Test at Headingley, legendary winger Ken Irvine became the first Australian player to score a try in each Test of an Ashes series.
The Kangaroos have not lost a series in Britain since.
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