1926–27 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain

Tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team The 1926–27 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The team lost a series 0–3 against the Lions and also lost a test match against Wales. The tour was marred by player dissatisfaction and a strike involving seven players. Squad The touring party was;John Coffey Strike! The Tour That Died of Shame, Scratching Shed Publishing 2012. Fullbacks: Charles Gregory and Craddock Dufty Wing three-quarters: Lou Brown, George Gardiner, Jim Parkes and Jim Sanders. Centre three-quarters: Ben Davidson and Wally Desmond. Five-eighths: Hec Brisbane, Hector Cole, Jack Kirwan and Stan Webb. Halfbacks: Frank Delgrosso and Wilson Hall. Forwards: Bert Avery (c), Alphonsus Carroll, Bill Devine, Frank Henry, Ernie Herring, Len Mason, Neil Mouat, Lou Petersen, Arthur Singe, Harry Thomas, Jack Wright and Joe Menzies. Henry Vivan was originally named in the forwards but had to withdraw because of a family bereavement. He was replaced by Joe Menzies. Vivian never played for the New Zealand side. The strike The 1926–27 New Zealand tour of Britain involved several skirmishes within the Kiwi party.Baker Andrew 100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era Independent, The independent.co.uk 20 August 1995 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/100-years-of-rugby-league-from-the-great-divide-to-the-super-era-1597130.html 25 September 2009 London Problems began on the boat journey over, with disputes developing about aspects of the trip and a rift developed between tour manager and coach, Australian Ernest Mair, and seven forwards. The disputes continued once the party arrived in Britain, with one of the rebels being involved in a street fight with another member of the tour party after the opening match. In mid-November, following further disturbances which almost led to the tour party being evicted from their Harrogate hotel, it was decided that coach Mair would withdraw from team selection and match tactics for a period of four weeks. The tour, and the costly disputes, continued with the rebels eventually setting sail for home a week earlier than their colleagues. Three months later all seven players were banned for life by the New Zealand authorities. New Zealand did not visit Europe again until 1939. The seven suspended were Singe, Mouat, Wright, Carroll, Devine, Petersen and English-born Henry, who remained in England after the tour and was allowed to play on by the Rugby Football League. Fixtures The New Zealand side played a total of five test matches while on their European tour and one test in New Zealand before leaving. Aftermath The "Auckland All Blacks" lost to Auckland 24–21 at Carlaw Park in April after the teams return. Coffey John Wood Bernie Auckland, 100 Years of Rugby League, 1909-2009 2009 978-1-86969-366-4 References External links 1926/27 Kiwis Tour at Rugby League Project Category:New Zealand national rugby league team tours Great Britain New Zealand rugby league tour New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain Great Britain New Zealand rugby league tour New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain