2002 Great Britain women's rugby league tour of Australia

2002 Great Britain 2002 2002 Australia Andrew MacDonald and Roland Davis Jackie Sheldon Brenda Dobek and Lisa McIntosh Gemma Walsh 26 Teresa Bruce 5 Sally Milburn 16 Sally Milburn 4 5 3 0 2 3 1 0 2 AUS 3 1 0 2 1998 The Great Britain women's rugby league tour of Australia was their second tour to Australia, following on from a two to one test series victory in 1996. It was also their third overall, having visited New Zealand in 1998. The tour was the fourth by a national women's rugby league team into Australia, with visits by New Zealand in 1995 and 1999 in addition to Great Britain's 1996 tour. Three of the five matches were full internationals. Background Great Britain entered into this tour with a record of four wins from five matches against Australia, having won the 1996 three-match series by two to one, and both matches played in the 2000 World Cup. Australia had played one match since the 2000 World Cup, a loss to New Zealand in Auckland. The team would be selected from small club competitions in two centres – Brisbane and Canberra. The Sydney club competition of the 1990s had collapsed by 2001, with a twelve-team rugby union competition cited as one reason for the decline in playing numbers. 18th Annual Report of the Australian Rugby League 2001 Australian Rugby League Australian Women's Rugby League Annual Report 2001 White Veronica 18 29 Players from both sides were obligated to self-fund their travel and accommodation expenses for the tour, and several engaged in fund raising activities.In national colours Cooma Monaro Express 24 Jul 2002 Great Britain players were asked to find £1,000 in sponsorship as well as raising or making an individual contribution of £1,300.Help us in our World Cup bid - RL women Yorkshire Evening Post 7 Jun 2002 Collectively, the squad raised over £60,000.Confident Brook tackles despair head-on - Rugby league London Times 6 Jun 2002 45 Potter Sarah Great Britain squad An extended squad of 34 players met for a training camp on the weekend of 8 and 9 December 2001.Rugby League: GB suad at Oakbank West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications 7 Dec 2001 The final Great Britain squad of 25 players went into camp prior to departing London on Sunday, 7 July 2002.Banks is biting at the bit Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications 4 Jul 2002 Parsons Mike The team arrived in Sydney on Tuesday, 9 July ahead of their first match, the First Test.Six days to acclimatise Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications 11 Jul 2002 Lawrenson David Team leadership Great Britain was led by joint captains Brenda Dobek and Lisa McIntosh, and by coach Jackie Sheldon. Rugby Leaguer & League Express 15 July 2002 Pride of Lionesses 24 Davis Roland https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=729949459159207&set=a.661461772674643 Pride of Lionesses Davis Roland 8 Nov 2023 2002 facebook Rugby Leaguer & League Express 12 Jan 2025 Big League Cadigan Neil Curtain Raiser – Women’s Test Match – Australia v Great Britain 18 July 2002 27 83 19 Pacific Client Publishing In the absence of the joint-captains in the tour game against Queensland, Gemma Walsh was captain. Rugby Leaguer & League Express 22 July 2002 Lionesses ease to victory 35 Davis Roland Support staff included assistant coaches John Mitchell (Bradford Thunderbirds) and Dylan Reynard (Milford Storm), physiotherapist Elaine Kirton (Whitehaven), and managers Andrew McDonald (Keighley Albion Cats) and Roland Davis. Player’s tour record J# Jersey Number Player Position(s) Club H# Heritage Number Test Matches Tour Matches Debut M Matches T Tries G Goals D Drop Goals P Points M Matches T Tries G Goals D Drop Goals P Points 23 Samantha Bailey rugby league 1 LF Sheffield 40 2000 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 12 11 Jane Banks 1 SR Bradford Thunderbirds 17 1998 3 1 0 0 4 3 1 0 0 4 19 Nicola Benstead 1 WG Hull Dockers 53 2003 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 Teresa Bruce 1 FB WG SR Bradford Thunderbirds 27 1998 3 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 20 15 Sue Cochrane 1 PR Wakefield Townville Panthers 47 2000 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 6 Brenda Dobek 1 SO Wakefield Townville Panthers 6 1996 3 0 4 1 9 3 0 4 1 9 25 Rebecca Jones rugby league 1 HK Hillside Hawks 57 2002 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4 18 Alex Knight 1 SR Keighley Albion Cats 44 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 9 Michelle Land 1 HK Wakefield Townville Panthers 9 1996 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 21 Paula McCourt 1 SR Wakefield Townville Panthers 54 2002 3 1 0 0 4 5 2 0 0 8 8 Lisa McIntosh rugby league 1 PR Bradford Thunderbirds 13 1996 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 4 Sally Milburn 1 CE Barrow 25 1996 3 4 0 0 16 4 4 0 0 16 16 Nikki O'Donnell 1 PR Hull Dockers 51 2002 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 17 Natalie Parsons 1 SO Bradford Thunderbirds 52 2003 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 8 5 Chantelle Patrick 1 WG Bradford Thunderbirds 2 1996 3 1 0 0 4 4 2 0 0 8 10 Nicholette Postlethwaite 1 PR Wigan 50 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 4 3 Donna Prime 1 WG CE Hull Dockers 48 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 13 Debbie Rice 1 CE Hull Dockers 41 2000 3 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 4 7 Amy Robinson rugby league 1 SH Hull Dockers 49 2002 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 20 Kirsty Robinson 1 SH Bradford Thunderbirds 32 1998 2 1 0 0 4 4 4 0 0 16 24 Nicola Simpson rugby league 1 CE Milford Storm 56 2002 1 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 12 12 Rebecca Stevens rugby league 1 SR Sheffield 33 1998 3 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 5 Dannielle Titterington 1 WG HK Wakefield Townville Panthers 39 2000 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 4 14 Gemma Walsh 1 SO Wakefield Townville Panthers 45 2000 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 9 0 26 22 Rachael Wilson 1 SR Wakefield Townville Panthers 55 2002 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 Notes: Great Britain players were assigned a jersey number for the duration of the tour. For example, Paula McCourt appeared in jersey number 21 in the three Tests, as well as the matches against Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The match report for the Queensland game listed 19 players, with six on the interchange bench. The tally of appearances reflects this extension beyond the then standard 17 players. Jane Banks toured Australia in 1996 and played in tour matches, but did not make her Test debut until the 1998 tour of New Zealand. Samantha Brook was selected in the squad but withdrew from the tour due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Natalie Parsons, at age 17, was the second youngest member of the squad.Gym fixes it for Natalie's Ashes tour West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Counties Publications 22 May 2002 Australia squad The Australian squad was selected after the national championships on the June long weekend. This tournament featured two teams from Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and despite the lack of a club competition in Sydney, New South Wales.Captaincy role again for Dwyer Illawarra Mercury 11 Jul 2002 50 Zalunardo PaulForward battle Queensland Times 17 Jun 2002 35 Ten members of the Queensland A team were included in the squad, and one member from the Queensland Barbarians team. Three members of the Australian Capital Territory team were selected to in both the Australian squad and to play for NSW in the interstate game, held in Brisbane on 23 June 2002.Three ACT women get the nod from selectors Canberra Times 12 Jun 2002 30 Hardy Karen Team leadership Australia was led by captain Natalie Dwyer and coach Terry Boland. Karyn Murphy was unavailable to play in the series due to injury, but filled the role of assistant coach.Murphy's Law for rugby league's unluckiest twins Courier Mail 20 Jul 2002 41 Hintz Paddy Support staff included manager Jeanette Luker and trainers Tudor Young, Angela Street, and Kate Field. Australian Rugby League - 2002 Annual Report Australian Women's Rugby League 28 19 Player’s test record J# Jersey Numbers Player Position(s) Club State / Territory H# Heritage Number Test Matches Debut M Matches T Tries G Goals D Drop Goals P Points 1 Teresa Anderson 1 FB North Aspley QLD Qld 39 1998 3 0 0 0 2 Erin Elliott 1 WG QLD Qld 65 2002 3 0 0 0 3, 16 Neena Fraser 1 CE QLD Qld 66 2002 2 0 0 0 4 Samantha Ramsamy 1 CE Toowoomba QLD Qld 60 2001 3 0 0 0 5 Nicole Pollard 1 WG Gungahlin Bulls ACT ACT 59 2001 2 0 0 0 6 Tracy Bailey 1 FE North Aspley QLD Qld 63 2002 3 0 0 0 7 Natalie Dwyer 1 HB Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 1 1995 3 3 0 6 8, 15 Katrina Fanning 1 PR ACT ACT 6 1995 3 0 0 0 9 Tammy Pohatu 1 HK Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 58 2001 3 0 0 4 10, 15, 8 Melissa Edwards 1 PR Toowoomba QLD Qld 55 2001 3 1 0 2 11 Loretta O'Neill 1 SR Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 18 1995 3 0 0 12 12 Veronica White 1 SR Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 19 1995 3 0 0 0 13 Tahnee Norris 1 LK Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 42 1998 3 0 0 0 14 Rebecca Tavo CE Toowoomba QLD Qld 68 2002 3 0 0 8 15, 17 Karley Banks 1 WG FE Toowoomba QLD Qld 64 2002 3 0 0 0 16 Tracey Musgrove 1 Toowoomba QLD Qld 67 2002 1 0 0 0 17 Annie Banks 1 HK QLD Qld 54 1999 1 0 0 0 18 Rommillia Emanuel 1 ACT ACT 5 1995 0 0 0 0 3 Tracey Thompson 1 CE Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 46 1999 2 0 0 4 5 Kelly O'Doherty 1 WG Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 51 2000 2 0 0 8 10 Debbie Merritt 1 PR Brothers Ipswich QLD Qld 22 1996 2 0 0 0 Notes: Australia allocated jersey numbers fresh for each Test Match. Members of the Australian squad did not play for Queensland or the ACT against Great Britain. Results First Test Sunday, 14 July 2002 AUS 3 Tammy Pohatu 3 Loretta O'Neill 73 Rebecca Tavo 79 2 Natalie Dwyer 1/1 5 Melissa Edwards 1/2 74 16 26 614 1012 GB 5 Paula McCourt 16 Jane Banks 20 Sally Milburn 36 Chantelle Patrick 51 Amy Robinson 70 3 Brenda Dobek 3/6 pen 40 52 71 NSW Ringrose Park, Wentworthville, Sydney ≈ 2,100 Marcus Jennet Teresa Bruce (GB) and Veronica White (Aus) Sydney League News 8 August 2002 Academy News - Women’s Test Series 6 8 21 Williams Terry Wednesday, 17 July 2002 Queensland Queensland 16 2 Tarah Westera 20 Kellie Batchelor 42 1 Lisa Elkins 10 52 430 622 GB 16 Great Britain 10 Nicola Simpson 3 28 64 70 Samantha Bailey 2 39 68 Rebecca Jones 6 Kirsty Robinson 14 Teresa Bruce 34 Nicola Benstead 37 Michelle Land 53 5 Gemma Walsh 3 Natalie Parsons 2 QLD Ipswich Brothers Leagues Club ≈ 1,050 Eddie Kimmerly Second Test Saturday, 20 July 2002 3:30 PM AUS 3 Kelly O'Doherty 14 Loretta O'Neill 49 Tracey Thompson 74 1 Natalie Dwyer 14 10 410 100 Rugby Leaguer & League Express 22 July 2002 Roos bounce back 35 Davis RolandPoms pipped Courier Mail 21 Jul 2002 130 GB 2 Sally Milburn 20 24 1 Brenda Dobek QLD ANZ Stadium, Brisbane ≈ 10,000 (NRL Attendance: 13,009)https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2002/round-19/brisbane-broncos-vs-wests-tigers/summary.html 2002 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 19 - Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers 20 Jul 2002 Rugby League Project 27 Feb 2025 Marilyn McKenna Alicia Newham, Vicki Café Tahnee Norris (Aus) and Sally Milburn (GB) Tuesday, 23 July 2002 Australian Capital Territory nil nil 0 72 034 038 Rugby Leaguer & League Express 29 July 2002 Canberra take a mauling 34 Davis RolandLionesses roar against totally outclassed ACT Canberra Times 25 Jul 2002 20 GB 16 Great Britain 15 Teresa Bruce 4 11 35 43 69 Kirsty Robinson 2 3 13 Gemma Walsh 17 49 Paula McCourt 21 Chantelle Patrick 52 Samantha Bailey 59 Dannielle Titterington 65 Nicholette Postlethwaite 74 Natalie Parsons 77 6 Gemma Walsh 6 ACT Kippax Oval, Canberra ≈ 300 Chris Knightingale Third Test Saturday, 27 July 2002 3:30 PM AUS 3 Loretta O'Neill 11 Kelly O'Doherty 57 Rebecca Tavo 71 1 Natalie Dwyer 1/3 12 14 5 65 80 Rugby Leaguer & League Express 29 July 2002 Roos clinch series 34 Davis RolandAustralian women win in tight Test Canberra Times 28 Jul 2002 79 de Kroo Karl GB 1 Sally Milburn 15 nil Brenda Dobek 0/2 1 Brenda Dobek 1/2 5 ACT Canberra Stadium ≈ 7,500 (NRL Attendance: 8,702)https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2002/round-20/canberra-raiders-vs-warriors/summary.html 2002 NRL Telstra Premiership - Round 20 - Canberra Raiders vs Warriors 27 Jul 2002 Rugby League Project 27 Feb 2025 Marcus Jennett Natalie Dwyer (Aus) and Jane Banks (GB) Notes: The Second Test was played prior to an NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers. The Third Test was the third in a four game event day programme. The Test was preceded by Jersey Flegg Cup and Reserve Grade (then named First Division) matches. The Test was followed by an NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and New Zealand Warriors. Big League Cadigan Neil Curtain Raiser – Women’s Test Match – Australia v Great Britain 25 July 2002 27 83 20 Pacific Client Publishing Players of the series A player of the series award was selected for one player from each side. Natalie Dwyer (Australia) Teresa Bruce (Great Britain) Sources Sources used to inform the creation of this page were drawn from direct online, indirect online and offline resources. Resources with direct online access included: NRL articles on Jillaroos history. Indirect online resources are newspaper and journal content housed on database applications (such as Newsbank and ProQuest) accessed through library eResources. Access may require library membership. As an example, SLNSW eResources requires a membership number, although membership is free to residents of New South Wales. Different titles have different starting dates. Newspaper text content is available in 2002 for all capital city based newspapers in Australia, and many large circulation newspapers in Great Britain. Newspapers that provided some coverage of this tour include: Canberra Times The Courier-Mail The Queensland Times (Ipswich) Cheshire, Greater Manchester, and Merseyside Counties Publications West Yorkshire & North Yorkshire Counties Publications Offline resources are physical copies of books, journals or microfilm. Items used prior to and during the creation of this page include: Rugby Leaguer & League Express Big League Sydney League News Australian Rugby League - Annual Report (2001 & 2002) New South Wales Rugby League - Annual Report (2002) References External links NRL Women List of Australian Jillaroos on NRL website Video of First Test on YouTube Video of Third Test on YouTube Great Britain (Women) matches on Rugby League Records website Category:2002 in English rugby league Category:2002 in English women's sport Category:Women's rugby league in Australia Category:Rugby league tours of Australia Category:Australia women's national rugby league team Category:Women's rugby league