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 November 13, 1954 at Parc des Princes, Paris, France.

1954 (1954) Rugby League World Cup Final  ()
France
 Great Britain
(FFR XIII) (RFL)
12 16
12 Total
FRA 48 12
GBR 88 16
Date13 November 1954
StadiumParc des Princes
LocationParis, France
Man of the MatchDon Robinson
RefereesCharles Appleton
Attendance30,368
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Background
Main article: 1954 Rugby League World Cup

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

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

France
Scores and results list France's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueAttendanceStage
 New Zealand221330 OctoberParc des Princes, Paris13,240Group Stage
 Great Britain13137 NovemberStadium Municipal, Toulouse37,471Group Stage
 Australia15511 NovemberStade Marcel Saupin, Nantes13,000Group Stage

Great Britain
Scores and results list Great Britain's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueAttendanceStage
 Australia281331 OctoberStade de Gerland, Lyon10,250Group Stage
 France13137 NovemberStadium Municipal, Toulouse37,471Group Stage
 New Zealand26611 NovemberStade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux14,000Group Stage

Match details
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
Man of the Match: Don Robinson
France
Great Britain
FB1 Puig Aubert (c)
RW2 Vincent Cantoni
RC3 Claude Teisseire
LC4 Jacques Merquey
LW5 Raymond Contrastin
SO6 Antoine Jimenez
SH7 Joseph Crespo
PR8 Joseph Krawzyck
HK9 Jean Audoubert
PR10 François Rinaldi
SR11 Armand Save
SR12 Jean Pambrun
LF13 Gilbert Verdié
Coach:
Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort
FB1 Jimmy Ledgard
RW2 David Rose
RC3 Phil Jackson
LC4 Albert Naughton
LW5 Mick Sullivan
SO6 Gordon Brown
SH7 Gerry Helme
PR8 John Thorley
HK9 Sam Smith
PR10 Bob Coverdale
SR11 Basil Watts
SR12 Don Robinson
LF13 Dave Valentine (c)
Coach:
G. 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
  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.
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