1971 New Zealand rugby league tour

January 2026 January 2026 1971 Kiwis tour 4 September 1971 – 28 November 1971 Bill O'Callaghan Jack Williams Lory Blanchard Roy Christian Henry Tatana (145)Tatana tops 4 lists https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19711201.2.190 The Press 1 December 1971 Christchurch 30 Phil Orchard (27) 26 15 1 10 6 4 1 1 GBR 3 2 0 1 FRA 3 2 1 0 1967 1972 The 1971 New Zealand rugby league tour was a series of matches played between September and November by the New Zealand national rugby league team in England and France. The team played a three-game series against Great Britain, and won the series 2–1, becoming the first New Zealand team to win a series on British soil since the inaugural 1907–08 All Golds Tour. The team also defeated France 2–0. Touring party A 26-man touring squad was selected in August 1971, with Roy Christian named as captain.Kiwis to tour https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19710809.2.201 The Press 9 August 1971 Christchurch 24 Lory Blanchard was the coach, and Bill O'Callaghan and Jack Williams were the team co-managers. Name Position Club/DistrictMike McClennan Fullback NZL AucklandJohn O'Sullivan John O'Sullivan (rugby league) Fullback NZL WellingtonMocky Brereton Three-quarter NZL CanterburyBob McGuinn Three-quarter NZL AucklandPhil Orchard Three-quarter NZL Bay of PlentyJohn Whittaker John Whittaker (rugby league) Three-quarter NZL WellingtonRoy Christian (c) Three-quarter NZL AucklandBernie Lowther Three-quarter NZL AucklandDennis Williams Dennis Williams (rugby league) Three-quarter NZL AucklandDave Sorensen Three-quarter NZL AucklandGary Woollard Halves NZL AucklandGraeme Cooksley Halves NZL CanterburyKen Stirling Halves NZL AucklandShane Dowsett Halves NZL AucklandRobert Orchard Robert Orchard (rugby league) Prop NZL AucklandHenry Tatana Prop NZL AucklandJohn Greengrass Prop NZL CanterburyDoug Gailey Prop NZL AucklandBill Burgoyne Hooker NZL AucklandJim Fisher Jim Fisher (rugby league) Hooker NZL CanterburyGarry Smith Garry Smith (rugby league) Second-row NZL WellingtonTony Kriletich (vc) Second-row NZL AucklandDon Mann Second-row NZL AucklandBill Deacon Second-row NZL WaikatoMurray Eade Loose forward NZL AucklandRay Williams Ray Williams (rugby league) Loose forward NZL Auckland Schedule and results A 25-match tour itinerary was announced in July 1971,Kiwis' tour itinerary https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19710715.2.138 The Press 15 July 1971 Christchurch 12 with the tourists later agreeing to an additional fixture against Oldham. Prior to the main tour, New Zealand also played two warm-up games against amateur sides in London on 29 and 30 August. Date Opponents Score (NZ first) Venue Attendance Notes 4 September Rochdale Hornets align="center" 23–8 Rochdale 2,374 6 September St Helens align="center" 8–18 St Helens 8,169 8 September Hull Kingston Rovers align="center" 10–12 Hull 5,746 12 September Widnes align="center" 18–15 Widnes 5,787 15 September Castleford align="center" 8–25 Castleford 5,889 18 September Warrington align="center" 2–13 Warrington 6,295 25 September GBR align="center" 18–13 Salford 3,764 30 September Barrow align="center" 25–15 Barrow-in-Furness 4,839 2 October Whitehaven align="center" 21–8 Whitehaven 3,105 8 October Swinton align="center" 15–26 Swinton 3,280 10 October Wigan align="center" 24–10 Wigan 11,987 16 October GBR align="center" 17–14 Castleford 4,108 17 October Huddersfield align="center" 10–11 Huddersfield 3,495 20 October Leigh align="center" 5–10 Leigh 3,819 22 October Salford align="center" 30–31 Salford 7,127 24 October Wakefield Trinity align="center" 23–12 Wakefield 5,367 27 October Oldham align="center" 24–13 Oldham 1,882 30 October Bradford Northern align="center" 30–23 Bradford 6,277 31 October York align="center" 5–11 York 2,803 6 November GBR align="center" 3–12 Leeds 5,479 11 November FRA align="center" 27–11 Perpignan 3,581 14 November Littoral Province align="center" 14–9 Avignon 18 November Racing Club Albi XIII align="center" 29–9 Albi 21 November FRA align="center" 24–2 Carcassonne 7,200 24 November Bordeaux Selection align="center" 20–9 Bordeaux 28 November FRA align="center" 3–3 Toulouse 5,000 Notes 40em References Kiwis Tour 1971 https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/kiwis-tour-1971/summary.html Rugby League Project Saxton Irvin History of Rugby League: No.77 1971–1972 League Publications Fifty years on: Celebrating 1971 Kiwis' historic odyssey https://nzrl.co.nz/news/fifty-years-on-celebrating-1971-kiwis-historic-odyssey New Zealand Rugby League 30 January 2026 6 September 2021 Category:New Zealand national rugby league team tours Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain Category:Rugby league tours of France Tour New Zealand tour