1910 Great Britain Lions tour

April 2014 August 2020 J. Clifford and J. H. Houghton James Lomas James Lomas (136)Saxton Irvin History of Rugby League: No.15 1909–1910 League Publications 20 Bert Jenkins (14) 18 14 1 3 3 3 0 0 AUS 2 2 0 0 NZL 1 1 0 0 1914 The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team,The History of Rugby League http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/superleague/history.php Rugby League Information napit.co.uk 2 January 2014 "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia, and their first as the visiting team, before travelling to Auckland to take on New Zealand. The tour was a huge promotional and financial success for what was then known as the "Northern Union" game Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A social and cultural History Collins Tony Tony Collins (historian) 2006 Routledge UK 0-415-39614-X 8 https://books.google.com/books?id=J6nXcpxXzWsC and helped set the pattern for regular, alternating test match series between Britain and Australia. Rugby's great split: Class, Culture and the Origins of Rugby League Football Collins Tony Tony Collins (historian) 2006 Taylor & Francis UK 0-203-96997-9 199 https://books.google.com/books?id=dr6FLNcLsgIC It is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of rugby league.Barraclough Neil Review http://rugbyleaguebooks.com/2011/05/best-in-the-northern-union-by-tom-mather Best in the Northern Union, by Tom Mather rugbyleaguebooks.com 5 January 2014 6 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140106041425/http://rugbyleaguebooks.com/2011/05/best-in-the-northern-union-by-tom-mather/ dead Despite the selection of several Welsh players in the touring squad, the team is sometimes referred to as "England". They went south from Manchester in early April to London, then travelled by ship for six weeks before reaching Australia. Wilson Andy England players see France romp as serious business The Guardian UK Guardian News and Media Limited 10 June 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/jun/10/england-france-rugby-league 13 March 2011 Led by Salford captain James Lomas, Salford: a City and its past Tom Bergin Dorothy N. Pearce Stanley Shaw 1975 City of Salford [Cultural Services Department] UK 134 978-0-904981-00-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=OfhAAAAAYAAJ the tour was a huge success for the Lions who won all their test matches with Lomas topping the tour scoring charts with 136 points in 13 games.newsandstar.co.uk Name Man of the Match Award after Cumberland Legend News & Star UK CN Group 17 March 2010 http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/rl/name-man-of-the-match-award-after-cumberland-legend-1.684397?referrerPath=sport/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120322012531/https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/rl/name-man-of-the-match-award-after-cumberland-legend-1.684397?referrerPath=sport%2F 22 March 2012 Touring squad thumb|right|250px|The British touring squad, who wore red and white hooped jerseys. The team originally scheduled to tour consisted of eighteen internationals: nine English, eight Welsh and one Scottish. NORTHERN UNION TEAM Evening Post New Zealand 14 natlib.govt.nz 14 May 1910 LXXIX 113 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19100514.2.143 15 March 2011 All players were from clubs that participated in the 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season's Championship. The players were also accompanied by joint managers, J. H. Houghton and J. Clifford as well as trainer D. Murray.http://archiveshub.ac.uk/images/content/features-rfl-northernuniontouraustralia-lge.jpg The British (N.R.U.) Football Team 27 April 2014 Several Australians (including Jim Devereux, Dan Frawley and Andy Morton) also appeared for the tourists as guest players in a match against Newcastle on 18 June 1910. NameClubPositionAppearancesTestsTriesGoalsPoints Albert Avery Oldham Forward 11 2 7 0 21 Jack Bartholomew Huddersfield Three-quarter back 5 0 3 1 11 Billy Batten Hunslet Three-quarter back 12 3 5 1 17 Frank Boylen Hull Forward 7 0 1 5 13 Ephraim Curzon Salford Forward 6 1 3 0 9 James Davies Jim Davies (rugby) Huddersfield Half-back 5 0 1 0 3 Fred Farrar Hunslet Three-quarter back 4 0 4 1 14 Tom Helm Tom Helm (rugby)Helm was injured on the journey to Australia and did not play in any games on the tour. Oldham Forward 0 0 0 0 0 Bert Jenkins Wigan Three-quarter back 11 2 14 0 42 Chick Jenkins Ebbw Vale Three-quarter back 10 0 3 4 17 Bill Jukes Hunslet Forward 12 3 10 0 30 Herbert Kershaw Wakefield Trinity Forward 10 2 5 0 15 Jim Leytham Wigan Three-quarter back 12 3 12 5 46 James Lomas James Lomas (rugby league) (c) Salford Three-quarter back 13 3 10 53 136 Tommy Newbould Wakefield Trinity Half-back 7 1 2 0 6 Dick Ramsdale Wigan Forward 7 2 2 0 6 Joe Riley Joe Riley (rugby league) Halifax Three-quarter back 9 1 11 0 33 George Ruddick Broughton Rangers Forward 9 1 2 0 6 Jim Sharrock Wigan Full-back 9 3 0 3 6 Frank Shugars Warrington Forward 12 1 1 0 3 Fred Smith Fred Smith (rugby league) Hunslet Half-back 12 2 4 0 12 Johnny Thomas Johnny Thomas (rugby) Wigan Half-back 12 3 7 12 45 Billy Ward Billy Ward (rugby league) Leeds Forward 4 1 1 0 3 Fred Webster Fred Webster (rugby league) Leeds Forward 14 3 3 0 9 Billy Winstanley Leigh Forward 14 2 5 0 15 Frank Young Frank Young (rugby, born c. 1885) Leeds Full-back 2 0 0 0 0 Australian leg The Australian leg of the tour took place during the 1910 NSWRFL season, the third season of rugby league football in Australia since the game's split from rugby union. Test Venues The two Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. Sydney Brisbane Royal Agricultural Showground Brisbane Exhibition Ground Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 35,000 200px 200px Versus New South Wales Before the test series, the British played three matches against New South Wales, losing the first 14 – 28 and the second 20 – 27. 10,000 people saw the match on 29 May whose margin never went beyond more than five points. United Press Association NELSON RUGBY LEAGUE Colonist New Zealand 1 National Library of New Zealand LII 12806 30 May 1910 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TC19100530.2.4.3 19 March 2011 11 June New South Wales New South Wales 16 10 – 23 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Jack Hickey, Dally Messenger Goals: Dally Messenger (2) Tries: James Lomas (2), Frank Shugars Goals: James Lomas (4) Jim Leytham (1) Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney 27,000 Wanderer FOOTBALL The Sydney Mail Australia 54 15 June 1910 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=odBaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3996,3544519 20 March 2011 This was the third match and first win of the visitors' series against New South Wales, with their captain, Jim Lomas featuring prominently. NORTHERN UNION TEAM The Evening Post New Zealand 3 National Library of New Zealand 13 June 1910 LXXIX 137 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19100613.2.25 13 March 2011 Ashes series Sydney's Royal Agricultural Showground was the venue for the first Ashes test on Australian soil.McAteer Paddy Pride of Lions lives on North-West Evening Mail UK CN Group 1 February 2010 http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/pride_of_lions_lives_on_1_667046?referrerPath=home dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121006194834/http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/pride_of_lions_lives_on_1_667046?referrerPath=home 6 October 2012 Five former Wallaby teammates made their rugby league test debuts for Australia in this match: Charles Russell, John Barnett, Bob Craig, Jack Hickey, and Chris McKivat. #eeeeee 18 June AUS 20 – 27 GBR Northern Union Tries: John Barnett Jack Hickey Dally Messenger Charlie Woodhead Goals: Dally Messenger (4) Tries: Bill Jukes, (3) Jim Leytham (2) Billy Batten Johnny Thomas Goals: Jim Leytham (1) James Lomas (1) Johnny Thomas (1) Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney 42,000 Tom McMahon Sr. AustraliaPosit.Northern UnionCharles RussellFBJim SharrockCharles WoodheadWGJim LeythamJack HickeyCEJim Lomas (c)Dally Messenger (c)CEBert JenkinsAlbert BroomhamWGBilly BattenBill FarnsworthFE/SOJohnny ThomasChris McKivatHB/SHTommy NewbouldBill NoblePRBilly WardJohn BarnettHKFred WebsterBill SpencePRBill JukesEd CourtneySRDick RamsdaleCon SullivanSREphraim CurzonRobert CraigLFAlbert Avery This day also featured a goal-kicking contest between the two sides' captains, Dally Messenger and Jim Lomas, won 3-2 by Lomas #eeeeee 2 July AUS 17 – 22 GBR Northern Union Tries: John Barnett Dally Messenger Chris McKivat Robert Craig Bob Tubman Goals: Jack Hickey Tries: Jim Leytham (4) Johnny Thomas Herbert Kershaw Goals: James Lomas (2) Johnny Thomas (2) Exhibition Ground, Brisbane 18,000 The Wanderer FOOTBALL The Sydney Mail 62 6 July 1910 Jack Fihelly AustraliaPosit.Northern UnionDoug McGregorFBJim SharrockCharles WoodheadWGBilly BattenJack HickeyCEJim Lomas (c)Herbert MessengerCEJoe RileyBill Heidke (c)WGJim LeythamBill FarnsworthFE/SOFred SmithChris McKivatHB/SHTommy NewbouldHerb BrackenriggPRGeorge RuddickRobert CraigHKHerbert KershawEdward BuckleyPRFred WebsterBob TubmanSRBill JukesJohn BarnettSRBilly WinstanleyHarold NicholsonLFDick Ramsdale This match also featured a goal-kicking contest, between Dally Messenger, Jim Lomas and Herb Brackenrigg, which the latter won. Queensland's Bill Heidke was awarded the captaincy for this match, the first non-New South Welshman to achieve this honour.Lex Marinos Lex Marinos From a Federation Game to a League of Nations 2008 Australian Society for Sports History Australia 7 http://www.tombrock.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Tom-Brock-No10.pdf In the second test, Australia had gotten off to an early lead over the visitors at 11 nil. Jim Leytham's four tries in this match would remain an unbeaten Ashes record. New trophy will honour Lancaster's rugby great Lancashire Evening Post UK Johnston Publishing Ltd 12 December 2003 http://www.lep.co.uk/news/new_trophy_will_honour_lancaster_s_rugby_great_1_138299?action=logout 20 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120404142734/http://www.lep.co.uk/news/new_trophy_will_honour_lancaster_s_rugby_great_1_138299?action=logout 4 April 2012 dead The British had thus won the series in two tests. Fagan, Sean Sean Fagan Australian Rugby League – Results RL1908.com Australia 2010 http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/tests.htm 13 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20101009103223/http://rl1908.com/Kangaroos/tests.htm 9 October 2010 dead news.bbc.co.uk Ashes battles of the past BBC Sport UK BBC 16 October 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ashes_series/1526730.stm 20 March 2011 thumb|250px|left|The British team in Brisbane. Versus Australasia It was decided that after the Ashes series, a combined "Australasia" team, comprising the best players of Australia and New Zealand would play a series of matches against the touring Britons. The Australian jersey's sky blue with maroon hoops had black hoops added to it for these matches. Fagan, Sean Sean Fagan To Wattle Gold and Gum Green Jerseys RL1908.com Australia 2009 http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/arl-colours.htm 20 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110514024646/http://rl1908.com/Kangaroos/arl-colours.htm 14 May 2011 dead 9 July Australasia 13 – 13 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: V Farnsworth, E Courtney, C McKivattGoals: H Messenger (2) Tries: J Leytham, A Avery, B WinstanleyGoals: J Lomas, J Thomas Royal Agricultural Society Showground, Sydney 45,000NORTHERN LEAGUE The Evening Post New Zealand 4 National Library of New Zealand 11 July 1910 LXXX 9 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19100711.2.29 13 March 2011 Tom McMahon Sr. The British team were conveyed on to the ground by a group of "Jack tars" in port at Sydney who took the place of the horses that were to pull the drag coach. Wanderer Football The Sydney Mail Australia 55 13 July 1910 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XUsQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6794,669347 13 March 2011 The first points came from an individual effort from Viv Farnsworth that led to him scoring in the corner. Great Britain replied with a penalty goal through Jim Lomas. Courtney got the next try, which Brackenrigg failed to convert. Then it was the visitors' turn to score, with a try to Leytham out wide. Lomas missed the kick, so Australasia were leading 8 – 5 at the half time break. They extended their lead to 13 – 5 before The British made a strong comeback to level the scores with a late try before full-time. The Meeting of the Giants Fagan Sean Sean Fagan 2009 RL1908.com Australia http://www.rl1908.com/articles/australasia.htm 19 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20061021075837/http://www.rl1908.com/articles/australasia.htm 21 October 2006 dead 13 July Australasia 32 – 15 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries:V Farnsworth, H Messenger, H Brackenrigg, B SpenceGoals:H Messenger (5), H Brackenrigg (3), C McKivat (2) Tries: Riley (2), B WinstanleyGoals:J Thomas (3) Wentworth Park, Sydney 15,000 Wanderer Football The Sydney Mail Australia 55 20 July 1910 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XksQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6704,1013822 19 March 2011 At one stage Great Britain were leading 15 – 5 but at half time were trailing 15 – 17. Press Association Football Poverty Bay Herald New Zealand 7 natlib.govt.nz XXXVII 12198 14 July 1910 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19100714.2.60 20 March 2011 They scored no more points in the second half, as Australasia overran them. In the evening following the match, the touring Britons left for New Zealand on the Maheno. The next time the two sides would meet was during the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. New Zealand leg 1910 New Zealand rugby league season The British team arrived in Auckland on 17 July and were met by officials of the newly formed New Zealand Rugby League before being given a mayoral reception the following morning. Press Association English Team in Auckland Evening Post New Zealand 3 National Library of New Zealand 18 July 1910 LXXX 15 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19100718.2.24 19 March 2011 During the tour the Lions donated the Northern Union Cup which was awarded to Auckland for inter-provincial competition and is still contested today.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. 978-1-86969-366-4, p.39. 20 July New Zealand Māori 0 – 29 Northern Union Tries:B Jenkins (4), J Lomas, F SmithGoals:J Lomas (4) Victoria Park, Auckland 6,000 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908–2008 John Coffey Bernie Wood 2008 Huia Publishers New Zealand 978-1-86969-331-2 61 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC Mr Sharrock The first match was played in weather described as atrocious against a New Zealand Māori team captained by Whiri Winiata and featuring Albert Asher who had played with the victorious Australasia team back in Australia. The first international try scored on New Zealand soil was by Halifax winger, Joe RileySeptember 2016 and this was followed by a hat-trick of tries by Wigan centre Bert Jenkins. Great Britain led 23 – 0 at half-time. In the second half, Fred Smith scored a fourth try for the visitors. 23 July Auckland Aucklandnzrl 16 9 – 52 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Seagar, A Asher, GriffinGoals:Jackson 0/2 Tries: Jenkins, Jukes (2), Avery, Riley (3), Leytham (2), Kershaw, Lomas, WinstanleyGoals:Lomas 8/11, Leytham 1/1 Victoria Park, Auckland 10,000 FOOTBALL Evening Post New Zealand 11 natlib.govt.nz 25 July 1910 LXXX 21 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19100725.2.110 15 March 2011 Jack Stanaway The Auckland side was; Alf Chorley, L Nolan, G Smith, Albert Asher, Alf Jackson, Ronald MacDonald, Len Farrant, Fred Jackson (c), Charles Dunning, Jim Griffin, Alex Stanaway, H Fricker, George Seagar. Emergencies; Syd Riley, Arthur Carlaw, J Bennett, Jim Rukutai, Bob Mitchell.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. 978-1-86969-366-4. 26 July Rotorua 18 – 54 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Nirai McRaeJohn Coffey Bernie Wood 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008 Huia Publishers 2008 40 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC 978-1-86969-331-2 Rotorua Versus New Zealand New Zealand wore the colours of Red and Yellow with Black bands for the Test match. It was the only time that they wore these colours.John Coffey and Bernie Wood, The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League, Hodder Moa, Auckland, 2007, p. 39. #eeeeee 30 July NZL 20 – 52 GBR Northern Union Tries: Ernie Buckland Ned Hughes Ronald MacDonald George Seagar Goals: Fred Jackson (4) Tries: Albert Avery (3) Bert Jenkins (2) Herbert Kershaw (2) Jim Leytham (2) Jim Lomas Fred Smith Johnny Thomas Goals: Jim Lomas (6) Johnny Thomas (1) Field Goals: Jim Sharrock (1) Domain Cricket Ground, Auckland 16,000 Jack Stanaway New ZealandPosit.Northern UnionAlf ChorleyFBJim SharrockErnie BucklandWGJim LeythamAlbert AsherCEJim Lomas (c)Ernie AsherCEBert JenkinsCharles JamesWGBilly BattenFrank WoodwardSOJohnny ThomasRonald MacDonaldSHFred SmithCharles Dunning (c)PRFred WebsterPat HanniganHKBilly WinstanleyNed HughesPRHerbert KershawFred JacksonSRBill JukesGeorge SeagarSRFrank ShugarsJim GriffenLFAlbert Avery The touring British side had been invited to play another match in Australia, so left Auckland for Sydney on 1 August on the SS Maheno after a hearty send-off. Press Association The British Northern Team Poverty Bay Herald New Zealand 7 National Library of New Zealand XXXVII 12214 2 August 1910 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=PBH19100802.2.78 20 March 2011 Return leg On their way back to England, a portion of the touring Britons stopped in Sydney for one more game against a New South Wales second XIII, as there was already a New South Wales team playing against Queensland in Brisbane. 6 August New South Wales 2nd XIII New South Wales 16 12 – 50 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Sydney 20,000 Wanderer FOOTBALL The Sydney Mail Australia 63 10 August 1910 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YUsQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6800,2025193 20 March 2011 References External links Ashes Series 1910 at rugbyleagueproject.org Category:Great Britain national rugby league team tours Category:Rugby league tours of Australia Category:Rugby league tours of New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand 1910 1910