1959–60 Kangaroo tour
The 1959–60 Kangaroo tour was the tenth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team traveled to Europe and played thirty-seven matches against British, French and Italian teams, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, two Test matches against the French and an additional two non-Test matches against an Italian representative team. It followed the tour of 1956-57 and the next was staged in 1963-64.
| 1959–60 Kangaroo tour | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Jack Argent Ern Keffer | ||||
| Coach(es) | Clive Churchill | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Keith Barnes | ||||
| Top point scorer(s) | Keith Barnes 202 | ||||
| Top try scorer(s) | Eddie Lumsden 25 | ||||
| Top test point scorer(s) | Keith Barnes 62 | ||||
| Top test try scorer(s) | Eddie Lumsden 8 | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Great Britain |
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 France |
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 Italy |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Previous tour | 1956-57 | ||||
| Next tour | 1963-64 | ||||
The squad's leadership
The team was coached by Clive Churchill. The team captain was Balmain Tigers Fullback Keith Barnes while the vice-captain was Manly-Warringah's dual rugby international forward Rex Mossop. Tour co-managers were Jack Argent and Ern Keffer.
In the five matches in which neither Barnes nor Mossop played, the Kangaroos were captained by five different players: Harry Wells (against Leigh), Brian Hambly (combined Workington and Whitehaven), Brian Clay (Bradford Northern), Brian Carlson (Swinton) and Billy Wilson (Huddersfield).
Touring squad
The Rugby League News published a photo and details of the touring team including the players' ages and weights.[1]
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring.[2]
Beattie, Boden, Kelly, Muir, Parcell, Paterson and Rasmussen were selected from Queensland clubs. Chapman, Hambly, Parish and Walsh were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1959 season.
| Player | Position | Age | Weight | Club | Tests on Tour |
Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Barnes (c) | Fullback | 24 | 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) |  Balmain | 8 | 22 | 0 | 101 | 0 | 202 |
| Dud Beattie | Prop | 23 | 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) |  Ipswich Railways | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Boden | Wing, Centre | 21 | 12 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) |  Toowoomba Valleys | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Tony Brown | Five-eighth | 23 | 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) |  Newtown | 2 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Bob Bugden | Halfback | 23 | 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) |  St George | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Burke | Halfback | 25 | 11 st. 2 lb. (71 kg) |  Manly-Warringah | 1 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Brian Carlson | Utility Back | 26 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | North Sydney | 4 | 23 | 19 | 49 | 0 | 155 |
| Darrel Chapman | Fullback | 21 | 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) | Kempsey | 1 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Brian Clay | Five-eighth, Lock | 25 | 13 st. 3 lb. (84 kg) | St George | 6 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Bill Delamare | Prop | 23 | 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) | Manly-Warringah | 2 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Reg Gasnier | Centre | 20 | 12 st. 5 lb. (78 kg) | St George | 6 | 19 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Brian Hambly | Prop, Second-row | 22 | 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) |  Wagga Magpies | 8 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 29 |
| Ken Irvine | Wing | 19 | 11 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) | North Sydney | 3 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 51 |
| Noel Kelly | Prop, Hooker | 23 | 13 st. 9 lb. (87 kg) |  Ipswich Brothers | 1 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Eddie Lumsden | Wing | 22 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | St George | 8 | 27 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| Rex Mossop (vc) | Prop, Second-row | 30 | 14 st. 5 lb. (91 kg) | Manly-Warringah | 5 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Barry Muir | Halfback | 21 | 10 st. 11 lb. (68 kg) |  Brisbane Western Suburbs | 7 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gary Parcell | Prop | 26 | 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) | Ipswich Brothers | 5 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Don Parish | Wing | 21 | 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) |  Dubbo Macquarie | 0 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 53 |
| Jim Paterson | Prop, Second-row | 23 | 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) |  Townsville Souths | 3 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Johnny Raper | Five-eighth, Lock | 20 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | St George | 4 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Elton Rasmussen | Prop, Second-row | 22 | 15 st. 5 lb. (98 kg) |  Toowoomba All Whites | 3 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Johnny Riley | Centre | 20 | 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) | St George | 2 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Ian Walsh | Hooker | 25 | 13 st. 4 lb. (84 kg) |  Eugowra | 8 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Harry Wells | Centre | 27 | 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) |  Western Suburbs | 7 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
| Billy Wilson | Prop | 30 | 14 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) | St George | 6 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Great Britain
The largest non-test attendance of the tour was 29,156 when the Kangaroos defeated St. Helens at Knowsley Road.
Test Venues
The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
| Swinton | Leeds | Wigan |
|---|---|---|
| Station Road | Headingley | Central Park |
| Capacity: 40,000 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 40,000 |
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| Saturday, 12 September | Leeds  |
20 – 44 |  Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| Attendance: 14,629 |
| Tuesday, 15 September | Rochdale Hornets  |
14 – 27 | Australia |
Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | |
| Attendance: 10,155 |
| Wednesday, 18 September | Warrington  |
24 – 30 | Australia |
Wilderspool, Warrington | |
| Attendance: 17,112 |
| Wednesday, 23 September | Lancashire  |
30 – 22 | Australia |
Knowsley Road, St. Helens | |
| Attendance: 15,743 |
| Saturday, 26 September | Salford  |
20 – 22 | Australia |
The Willows, Salford | |
| Attendance: 11,008 |
| Monday, 28 September | Yorkshire  |
47 – 15 | Australia |
Clarence Street, York | |
| Attendance: 7,338 |
| Thursday, 1 October | Widnes  |
15 – 45 | Australia |
Naughton Park, Widnes | |
| Attendance: 9,381 |
| Saturday, 3 October | Oldham  |
14 – 25 | Australia |
Watersheddings, Oldham | |
| Attendance: 17,630 |
| Wednesday, 7 October | Leigh  |
18 – 17 | Australia |
Hilton Park, Leigh | |
| Attendance: 11,932 |
| Saturday, 10 October | St. Helens  |
2 – 15 | Australia |
Knowsley Road, St. Helens | |
| Attendance: 29,156 |
The Ashes series
The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 91,604 attending the Test series. The largest attendance of the tour came during the Kangaroos 22-14 first test win over Great Britain at Station Road in Swinton with 35,224 in attendance.
First Test
The first Ashes series test was played at Station Road, Swinton and drew the tours largest attendance of 35,224. Australia won the first test 22-14 with Reg Gasnier playing in his first ever test match against Great Britain named as the man of the match with 3 tries.
Saturday, 17 October |
| Great Britain |
14 – 22 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Billy Boston Derek Turner Goals: Eric Fraser (4) |
[3] | Tries: Reg Gasnier (3) Harry Wells Goals: Keith Barnes (5) |
| Thursday, 22 October | Whitehaven / Workington Town XIII  |
8 – 13 | Australia |
Recreation Ground, Whitehaven | |
| Attendance: 7,463 |
| Saturday, 24 October | Barrow  |
12 – 9 | Australia |
Craven Park, Barrow | |
| Attendance: 8,488 |
| Monday, 26 October | Hull F.C. / Hull Kingston Rovers XIII  |
9 – 29 | Australia |
The Boulevard, Hull | |
| Attendance: 15,944 |
| Wednesday, 4 November | Bradford Northern  |
8 – 29 | Australia |
Odsal, Bradford | |
| Attendance: 4,126 |
5 days prior to the match against Bradford Northern, the Kangaroos played the first test against France.
| Saturday, 7 November | Halifax |
5 – 17 | Australia |
Thrum Hall, Halifax | |
| Attendance: 8,274 |
| Wednesday, 11 November | Featherstone Rovers  |
23 – 15 | Australia |
Post Office Road, Featherstone | |
| Attendance: 7,671 |
| Saturday, 14 November | Wigan  |
16 – 9 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| Attendance: 24,466 |
Second Test
The Kangaroos went within one penalty goal of becoming the first All-Australian team to win The Ashes on British soil and the first touring side to win The Ashes since 1911-12. However, the Lions survived and the series would go on to a deciding 3rd test.
Saturday, 21 November |
| Great Britain |
11 – 10 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Neil Fox Don Robinson Johnny Whiteley Goals: Neil Fox (1) |
[4] | Tries: Brian Carlson (2) Goals: Keith Barnes (1) Brian Carlson (1) |
| Wednesday, 25 November | Swinton  |
24 – 25 | Australia |
Station Road, Swinton | |
| Attendance: 5,021 |
| Saturday, 28 November | Wakefield Trinity  |
20 – 10 | Australia |
Belle Vue, Wakefield | |
| Attendance: 17,615 |
| Wednesday, 2 December | Huddersfield  |
7 – 21 | Australia |
Fartown, Huddersfield | |
| Attendance: 2,349 |
| Saturday, 5 December | Hunslet  |
11 – 12 | Australia |
Parkside, Hunslet | |
| Attendance: 8,061 |
Third Test
This would be the final time that Great Britain (or England) would win the Ashes on home soil (as of 2017).
Saturday, 12 December |
| Great Britain |
18 – 12 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Neil Fox Ike Southward Goals: Neil Fox (6) |
[5] | Tries: Brian Carlson Johnny Raper Goals: Keith Barnes (3) |
France
The first two games of the French leg of the tour were actually played while The Kangaroos were still completing the British leg.
First Test
Australia won the first test against the French at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Kangaroos winger Eddie Lumsden crossed for 3 tries while legendary winger Ken Irvine made the first of 33 test appearances for Australia.
Saturday, 31 October |
| France |
19 – 20 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Aldo Quaglio Goals: Andre Lacaze (6) Field Goals: Andre Lacaze (2) |
[6] | Tries: Eddie Lumsden (3) Harry Wells Goals: Keith Barnes (4) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| André Lacaze | FB | Keith Barnes (c) |
| Maurice Voron | WG | Eddie Lumsden |
| Jacques Merquey (c) | CE | Harry Wells |
| Antoine Jimenez | CE | Reg Gasnier |
| André Savonne | WG | Ken Irvine |
| Gilbert Benausse | SO | Tony Brown |
| Georges Fages | SH | Barry Muir |
| Jean Panno | PR | Gary Parcell |
| Antranick Appelian | HK | Ian Walsh |
| Aldo Quaglio | PR | Dud Beattie |
| Robert Eramouspé | SR | Jim Paterson |
| Jean Aubert | SR | Rex Mossop |
| Serge Tonus | LF | Brian Hambly |
| Coach | Clive Churchill |
| Tuesday, 8 December | French Army XIII  |
2 – 15 | Australia |
Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes | |
| Attendance: 993 |
The game against the French Army XIII was played 4 days before the third Ashes test against Great Britain
Second Test
Sunday, 20 December |
| France |
2 – 17 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Raymond Gruppi G. Velvaud Goals Claude Mantoulan (1) |
[7] | Tries: Brian Carlson Johnny Raper Harry Wells Goals Keith Barnes (4) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Mantoulan | FB | Keith Barnes (c) |
| Maurice Voron | WG | Brian Carlson |
| Jean Foussat | CE | Harry Wells |
| Antoine Jimenez (c) | CE | Reg Gasnier |
| André Savonne | WG | Eddie Lumsden |
| Robert Moulinas | SO | Johnny Raper |
| Rene Jean | SH | Barry Muir |
| Honoré Conti | PR | Billy Wilson |
| André Casas | HK | Ian Walsh |
| Marcel Bescos | PR | Dud Beattie |
| Robert Eramouspé | SR | Gary Parcell |
| Jean Barthe | SR | Brian Hambly |
| Serge Tonus | LF | Brian Clay |
| Coach | Clive Churchill |
| Thursday, 24 December | Racing Club Albi XIII |
19 – 10 | Australia |
Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi | |
| Attendance: 5,845 |
| Thursday, 31 December | Carcassonne / Lézignan XIII  |
32 – 9 | Australia |
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne | |
| Attendance: 6,364 |
| Friday, 1 January | XIII Catalan  |
8 – 32 | Australia |
Stade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan | |
| Attendance: 6,364 |
| Sunday, 3 January | Montpellier |
13 – 44 | Australia |
Stade Sabathé, Montpellier | |
| Attendance: 3,741 |
| Thursday, 7 January | Racing Club Marseille XIII |
7 – 38 | Australia |
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | |
| Attendance: 1,366 |
| Thursday, 14 January | Avignon / Cavaillon XIII |
5 – 65 | Australia |
Parc des Sports, Avignon | |
| Attendance: 2,806 |
Third Test
Wednesday, 20 January |
| France |
8 – 16 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Raymond Gruppi Gérard Bélivaud Goals André Lacaze (1) |
[8] | Tries: Johnny Raper (2) Reg Gasnier Brian Hambly Goals Keith Barnes (2) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| André Lacaze | FB | Keith Barnes (c) |
| Raymond Gruppi | WG | Eddie Lumsden |
| Jean Foussat | CE | Harry Wells |
| Gérard Bélivaud | CE | Reg Gasnier |
| André Savonne | WG | Brian Carlson |
| Claude Mantoulan | SO | Johnny Raper |
| Bernard Fabre | SH | Barry Muir |
| Honoré Conti | PR | Billy Wilson |
| André Casas | HK | Ian Walsh |
| Marcel Bescos | PR | Elton Rasmussen |
| Pierre Laurent | SR | Jim Paterson |
| Serge Tonus | SR | Brian Hambly |
| Georges Fages | LF | Brian Clay |
| Coach | Clive Churchill |
Italy
To finish the tour, the Kangaroos played two games against an Italian representative team.
| Saturday, 23 January | Italy  |
15 – 37 | Australia |
Stadio Euganeo, Padua | |
| Attendance: 3,500 Referee: R. Somma |
| Sunday, 24 January | Italy |
22 – 67 | Australia |
Stadio Omobono Tenni, Treviso | |
| Attendance: 3,105 Referee: T. Rossi |
Ken Irvine crossed for 6 tries in this game.
References
- New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Australia's Kangaroos—1959-60". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 39 No. 27 (29 August 1960)). nla.obj-630517488. Retrieved 16 Jan 2021 – via Trove.
- E.E.Christensen (1960). "Players' Records in N.Z.". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. Sydney: E.E.Christensen (Vol. 14).
- 1st Ashes Test
- 2nd Ashes Test
- 3rd Ashes Test
- France vs Australia 1st Test
- France vs Australia 2nd Test
- France vs Australia 3rd Test
External links
| Related | |
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