1954 Rugby League World Cup final

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup final was the conclusive game of the 1954 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between France and Great Britain on 13 November 1954 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France.

1954 (1954) Rugby League World Cup final  ()
12 Total
FRA 48 12
GBR 88 16
Date13 November 1954
StadiumParc des Princes
LocationParis, France
Man of the MatchDon Robinson (Great Britain)
RefereeCharles Appleton (Great Britain)
Attendance30,368
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
  • BBC (United Kingdom)
Commentators
1968 →

Background

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Parc des Princes, the venue of the inaugural Rugby League World Cup final

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup was the inaugural staging of the Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in France from 30 October, culminating in the final between France and Great Britain on 13 November.

France

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Scores and results list France's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage
  New Zealand 22 13 30 October Parc des Princes, Paris 13,240 Group Stage
  Great Britain 13 13 7 November Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37,471 Group Stage
  Australia 15 5 11 November Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes 13,000 Group Stage

Great Britain

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Scores and results list Great Britain's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage
  Australia 28 13 31 October Stade de Gerland, Lyon 10,250 Group Stage
  France 13 13 7 November Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37,471 Group Stage
  New Zealand 26 6 11 November Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux 14,000 Group Stage

Match details

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13 November 1954
France   12–16   Great Britain
Try:
Raymond Contrastin
Vincent Cantoni

Goals:
Puig Aubert (3)
[1]
Try:
Gordon Brown (2)
Gerry Helme
David Rose
Goals:
Jimmy Ledgard (2)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 30,368
Referee: Charles Appleton (Great Britain)
Player of the Match: Don Robinson (Great Britain)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
France
 
 
 
 
 
 
Great Britain
FB 1   Puig Aubert (c)
RW 2   Vincent Cantoni
RC 3   Claude Teisseire
LC 4   Jacques Merquey
LW 5   Raymond Contrastin
SO 6   Antoine Jimenez
SH 7   Joseph Crespo
PR 8   Joseph Krawzyck
HK 9   Jean Audoubert
PR 10   François Rinaldi
SR 11   Armand Save
SR 12   Jean Pambrun
LF 13   Gilbert Verdié
Coach:
  Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort
FB 1   Jimmy Ledgard
RW 2   David Rose
RC 3   Phil Jackson
LC 4   Albert Naughton
LW 5   Mick Sullivan
SO 6   Gordon Brown
SH 7   Gerry Helme
PR 8   John Thorley
HK 9   Sam Smith
PR 10   Bob Coverdale
SR 11   Basil Watts
SR 12   Don Robinson
LF 13   Dave Valentine (c)
Coach:
  Gideon Shaw

The BBC broadcast the whole match live in the UK via the Television Continental Exchange – a rare novelty for the time. France opened the scoring with a penalty Puig-Aubert kick from 45 yards out and played well early in the match, leading early in the second half thanks to a brilliant try from Cantoni. However Great Britain did not waver, with credit for the win given to a starring role by centre Phil Jackson[2] and the play of their forward pack, as well as the tough match France had played against Australia in Nantes two days earlier.[3] Great Britain defeated France 16–12 and became the first team to lift the World Cup.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Report
  2. ^ Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived 2012-10-05 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail
  3. ^ AAP (15 November 1954). "World Cup to England". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  4. ^ "The History of Rugby League". Rugby League Information. napit.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2014.