The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the second ever British national rugby league team or 'Lions' tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, as well as several local teams. The tour repeated the promotional and financial success of the

1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team, "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia, and their first as the visiti ...

and became famous for the third and deciding

Ashes Ashes may refer to: *Ash, the solid remnants of fires. Media and entertainment Art * ''Ashes'' (Munch), an 1894 painting by Edvard Munch Film * ''The Ashes'' (film), a 1965 Polish film by director Andrzej Wajda * ''Ashes'' (1922 film), a ...

test, known as the "

Rorke's Drift The Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879), also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the ...

Test" due to a backs-to-the wall British victory against all odds.

Touring squad

At the

1913–14 Northern Rugby Football Union season The 1913–14 Rugby Football League, Northern Rugby Football Union season was the 19th season of Rugby league, rugby league football. Season summary Salford Red Devils, Salford won the play-off final 5-3 against Huddersfield Giants, Huddersfield ...

's conclusion, the following Great Britain squad was assembled by the Northern Rugby Football Union to represent it on the tour of Australasia. The Union's tour manager was John Clifford.

Australia

The first leg of the tour was Australia, where the game of rugby league football was in its seventh year since splitting away from rugby union in 1908. the tourists ventured to Adelaide, Melbourne, Ipswich and Bathurst, as well as

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, Brisbane and Newcastle. The Australian team was captained in all three

Tests Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film), ...

by North Sydney skipper

Sid Deane Sid Deane (1885–1967) was a foundation Australian rugby league player. He was a centre for the Australia national team. He played in five Tests between 1908 and 1914. In 1914 he became the ninth Australian national captain and the first fro ...

Test venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. All three tests took place in Sydney.

---- South Australia: J. Lawson, R. Cooksley, O. Howard, E. Dutton, P. Knowles, W. Oldfield, M. Moran, C. Fincham, J. Sorensen, F. Stewart, J. Carr, A. Shuttleworth, P. Jackson. Res – L. Scott Northern Union: Alf Wood (c),

Jack Robinson Jack Robinson may refer to: Sportspeople *Jack Robinson (catcher) (1880–1921), American baseball player *Jack Robinson (footballer, born 1870) (1870–1931), England, Derby County and Southampton football goalkeeper * Jack Robinson (footballer, ...

, William Davies,

Bert Jenkins Thomas Bertie "Bert" Jenkins (first ¼ 1885 – 4 February 1943) was a Welsh rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Troedyrhiw RFC and Mountain ...

, Frank Williams,

Fred Smith Fred, Frederic, or Frederick Smith may refer to: In literature *Frederick Smith, 2nd Earl of Birkenhead (1907–1975), British peer and biographer *Frederick Smith, 3rd Earl of Birkenhead (1936–1985), British peer and author * Frederick E. Smith ...

, Jack O'Garra, James Clampitt,

Billy Jarman Samuel William Jarman (birth registered first ¼ 1887 – 15 August 1916) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, and at club level for Leeds ( ...

Arthur Johnson Arthur Johnson may refer to: Sports *Arthur Johnson (athletic director), athletic director for Temple Owls *Arthur Johnson (boxer) (born 1966), U.S. Olympic boxer * Arthur Johnson (rugby league), Widnes and Great Britain 1908/09 - 1922/23 *Arthur J ...

, Dave Holland, Percy Coldrick, John Smales ---- Metropolis:

Howard Hallett Howard Hallett (1890–1970) was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach for South Sydney of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. Hallett primarily played at . He represented for New South Wales and Australia and is considered ...

, Harold Horder,

(c), Bill Kelly, Wally Messenger,

Ray Norman Ray Norman (1889–1971) was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. A New South Wales state and Australia national representative, his club career was played with Annandale, the South Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs clubs in the NS ...

Arthur Halloway Arthur 'Pony' Halloway (1885–1961), was a pioneering Australian rugby league footballer and coach. Born in Sydney, New South Wales he played for the Glebe Dirty Reds (1908), Balmain Tigers (1909–1911 and 1915–1920) and Eastern Suburbs (191 ...

, Jack Watkins,

Sid Pearce :''Sid Pearce directs here, for his son, the rugby league footballer of the same name, see Joe Pearce'' Sidney Charles Pearce (born 30 May 1883 and died 14 November 1930 Double Bay, New South Wales), better known as Sandy, was a pioneer Austral ...

Con Sullivan Con Sullivan (1886–1964) was a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s for various Australasian representative sides. Playing career Sullivan started his career playing rugby in Wellington where h ...

Paddy McCue Patrick Aloysius McCue (24 June 1883 – 10 September 1962) was an Australian representative rugby union player and pioneer rugby league footballer. He was a dual-code rugby international and an Olympic gold medallist. Rugby union career A for ...

, Ed Courtney, Frank Burge Northern Union: Alf Wood, Frank Williams, William Davies (c),

, Stuart Prosser,

Johnny Rogers John Bernard Rogers Bakker (born December 30, 1963) is a Spanish-American former professional basketball player. Rogers played college basketball at Stanford University and at the University of California, Irvine. Listed at a height of 6'10" and ...

Joseph Guerin Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

, James Clampitt, Walter Roman,

, Dave Holland, John Smales ---- NSW:

, Harold Horder,

(c), Bill Kelly, Wally Messenger,

, Jack Watkins,

, Ed Courtney, Frank Burge. Res – Charles Fraser Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, William Davies, Harold Wagstaff (c),

Stan Moorhouse Stanley Moorhouse (fourth ¼ – 23 April 1951) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Huddersfield a ...

, Billy Hall,

, Percy Coldrick, Douglas Clark,

, Dave Holland,

Jack Chilcott John Chilcott (19 August 1885 – 1 July 1973) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. As a Northern Union international he played in the sensational Test Match against Australia on 2 July 191 ...

---- Queensland:

Mick Bolewski Michael Patrick Bolewski (; 1888–1974) was a pioneering Australian international representative rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He, along with his three brothers, Henry, Alec and Walter, became a pioneering Queensla ...

(c),

Herbert McCabe Herbert John Ignatius McCabe (2 August 192628 June 2001) was a Dominican priest, theologian and philosopher. Life Herbert McCabe was born in Middlesbrough in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He studied chemistry at Manchester University, but i ...

, Walter Bolewski,

Henry Bolewski Henry 'Harry' Bolewski (; 1890−1976) was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the early 20th century. A Queensland state and Australia national representative goal-kicking back-line player, he played his club football in Brisbane ...

, William Beavis,

Daniel Rowley Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength ...

, Evan Lewis,

Jack Egan Jack Egan may refer to: * Jack Egan (boxer) (1878–1950), American boxer * Johnny Egan (Australian footballer) (born 1898), Australian footballer * Jack Egan (Cork hurler) (1904–1984), Irish hurler * Jack Egan (Kilkenny hurler) (1921–1994), Ir ...

Thomas Dean Thomas or Tom(my) Dean or Deen may refer to: *Thomas Dean (cricketer, born 1920) (1920–2004), English cricketer *Tom Dean (Gloucestershire cricketer) (1881–1964), cricketer who played once for Gloucestershire in 1908 *Tom Dean (artist), Canadian ...

, Harold Bawden, Charles Scott, William Pritchard, James Adams Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams, Harold Wagstaff (c), William Davies, Alfred Francis,

, Jack O'Garra,

, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff,

Dick Ramsdale Richard Ramsdale (birth registered second ¼ 1885 – 8 June 1933) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at ...

, John Smales,

---- Northern Union:

, Harold Wagstaff (c), Billy Hall, Alfred Francis, Stuart Prosser,

, James Clampitt, Walter Roman, Percy Coldrick, Fred Longstaff ---- Queensland:

(c),

, John Birkett,

, William Beavis,

Thomas Hennessy Thomas Hennessy was an Irish Cumann na nGaedheal politician and medical practitioner. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election on 11 March 1925 for the Dublin South constituency, after the resignation of the Cumann na nGaedhe ...

, Evan Lewis,

, Peter Olsen, Charles Scott, William Pritchard,

Don Jeffrey Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin *Don, Dang, a vill ...

Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams, Harold Wagstaff (c),

, Billy Hall,

, Percy Coldrick, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff,

---- Newcastle: J. Maloney (c), P. Scully, W. Coleman, E. Brien, G. Johns, J. Coleman, F. Bell, F. Grahame, H. Williams,

Stan Carpenter Stan or STAN may refer to: People * Stan (given name), a list of people with the given name ** Stan Laurel (1890–1965), English comic actor, part of duo Laurel and Hardy * Stan (surname), a Romanian surname * Stan! (born 1964), American author, ...

, J. Quinn, Arthur Baber, C. Perkins Northern Union: Alf Wood, Alfred Francis, Harold Wagstaff (c), William Davies,

, Jack O'Garra, Walter Roman, James Clampitt,

, Dave Holland, John Smales,

----

First test

Future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee Harold Horder was selected to make his Test debut for this match. On the other wing was the only Queenslander selected in the home side,

. Also selected to debut for his adopted country was New Zealander, Bill Kelly, after whom the trophy contested in the ANZAC Test would be named. The first test of the 1914 Ashes series was played in

before a crowd of around 40,000. Leeds forward Billy Jarman, making his debut for Great Britain missed a conversion attempt from in front of the posts. Henry Bolewski was the only Queensland player selected in the Australian side. ----

Second test

After being humiliated in the first Test, the Australians bounced back to narrowly win the second 12–7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Charles Fraser and Frank Burge scoring and Wally Messenger kicking 3 goals. ---- Western Districts: E. Hawke, A. Bassett, A. Dawson, H. Gunn, E. Lockhard, R. Trefrey, Edward Coyne, D. Gander, Arch Moncreiff (c), D. Reece, P. Smith, R. Murphy, D. Haynes Northern Union: Alf Wood (c), Frank Williams, Billy Hall, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser,

, Walter Roman, James Clampitt,

, John Smales,

----

Third test

The third and deciding Ashes test had originally been scheduled for Melbourne in August, but the New South Wales Rugby Football League unilaterally rescheduled it for Sydney on 4 July to maximise profits. Melbourne had to wait another 78 years until they hosted their first test, in the Ashes Series of 1992. The British protested that it would be their third test match in seven days and several of their first team were out with injuries, but the NSWRFL got its way. The tourists were instructed by the Northern Union officials to play and do their duty for England. Within the first minutes of the match, Great Britain were down a man due to an injury to Frank Williams. Forward Arthur 'Chick' Johnson, the Widnes club's first international representative, was shifted to the wing to take Williams' place. At half time the British were leading 9–3. Ten minutes into the second half, they had lost Douglas Clark and Billy Hall to injuries so were reduced to ten men. 'Chick' Johnson, playing out of position on the wing, then used the unorthodox method of dribbling the ball ahead with his feet to score a try. This lifted his teammates in defence and the British managed to win 14–6. ---- NSW: George Challis, Tom Leggo,

Bob Tidyman Bob Tidyman (1891–1916) was an Australian rugby league player and soldier who fell in World War I. A national representative winger, his short club career was played with Sydney's Eastern Suburbs club in the years 1912–15. In 1912 he play ...

, Charles Fraser, George Bain,

Les Cubitt Les Cubitt (31 October 1892 – 10 November 1968) was an Australian representative rugby league player, a , or whose club career was with Eastern Suburbs and the Glebe. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th centur ...

(c), Bob Williams,

, Ed Courtney, Bob Craig,

Albert Burge Albert Bentley "Son" Burge (4 June 1889 – 4 January 1943) was an Australian rugby union lock who played with the Souths rugby union club in Sydney and at the age of nineteen was selected for the Australian national team in two Tests against Ne ...

, Frank Burge. Res – Northern Union: Alf Wood,

, Harold Wagstaff (c),

, William Davies, Billy Hall,

, Percy Coldrick, James Clampitt,

, Fred Longstaff,

This game was played on the return leg from New Zealand ----

New Zealand

Originally scheduled to take place during the Ashes series, the New Zealand leg was postponed until afterwards. Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Joseph Houghton, Billy Hall, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser,

, John Smales, Walter Roman, James Clampitt ---- ---- ---- Auckland: Tom Cross, Charles Woolley, Karl Ifwersen, Edward Fox,

Thomas McClymont Thomas Allen "Scotty" McClymont (5 January 1892 – 18 December 1974) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s, and coached in the 1920s through to the 1950s. He represented New Zealand. Early years Thomas Mc ...

Arthur Hardgrave Arthur Hardgrave (1882-1953) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand. His son Roy Hardgrave also played for New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand as well as a very ...

Charles Webb Charles or Charlie Webb may refer to: *The Somerton Man, who has supposedly been identified as a man going by this name *Charles Webb (author) (1939–2020), American author *Charles Webb (architect) (1821–1898), architect working in Victoria, Au ...

, Charlie Savory, Joe Bennett, Stan Walters, Bob Mitchell,

Harold Hayward Harold "Circus" Owen Hayward (1883–1970) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league. His brother, Morgan, also represented New Zealand in rugby league. Rugby union career Growing ...

Jim Clark James Clark Jr. OBE (4 March 1936 – 7 April 1968) was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. A versatile driver, he competed in sports cars, touring cars and in the Indianapol ...

Northern Union: Alf Wood,

, Billy Hall,

, William Davies,

, Fred Longstaff, Percy Coldrick, Dave Holland Northern Union defeated Auckland 34–12 in front of 13,000 fans. The gate earned the

Auckland Rugby League The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fi ...

NZ£ The pound (symbol £, £NZ. for distinction) was the currency of New Zealand from 1840 until 1967, when it was replaced by the New Zealand dollar. Like the pound sterling, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (abbreviation s or /) each of 12 pen ...

650. ---- Northern Union: Alf Wood,

, Harold Wagstaff (c),

, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser,

, James Clampitt, Fred Longstaff, Percy Coldrick, Walter Roman ---- New Zealand lost the sole Test match 13–16. Billy Wilson scored two tries,

Vic Banks William Thomas Victor Banks (9 February 1889 – 12 October 1972) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand ( Heritage № 108), and Hawke's Bay, as a forward ...

scored one and Karl Ifwersen kicked two goals.New Zealand vs England 1914
''rugbyleagueproject.org'' ----

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1914 Great Britain Lions Tour Of Australia And New Zealand Great Britain national rugby league team tours Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Rugby league tours of Australia Rugby league tours of New Zealand

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as World War I, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip. It als ...