The second

Rugby League World Cup The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league tournament contested by the top national men's representative teams. The tournament is administered by the International Rugby League and was first held in France in 1954, which was ...

was held in Australia in 1957. As before a group stage was held first, with matches being held at locations in Sydney and Brisbane. The 1957 World Cup marked the 50th anniversary of rugby league in Australia but the hosts were not confident of their ability to lift the trophy, having capitulated in the Ashes series in England barely seven months previously. Great Britain, under

Alan Prescott George Alan Prescott (17 June 1927 – 20 September 1998) was an English rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and coached in the 1960s. He played initially at , and then later at or . In 404 matches for St Helens. ...

, and boasting world-class backs such as

Billy Boston William John Boston, MBE (born 6 August 1934) is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer who played as a or . Born in Cardiff, Wales, Boston started his career as a rugby union player before joining Wigan in 1953. He spent the next ...

, Mick Sullivan, Jeff Stevenson and Lewis Jones, and a formidable pack, were expected to win with

Jacques Merquey Jacques Merquey (born 26 September 1929) also known by the nickname of "Jackiew", as a French rugby footballer of the 1950s. A dual-code rugby international, his position was , later in his career this changed to . While Merquey started in unio ...

's French side a dark horse. In the end Australia were dominant, winning all matches and were declared the champions by virtue of finishing top of the group – there was no World Cup Final. Best and fairest awards were made to individual nations, the recipients being

Gilbert Benausse Gilbert Benausse (born 21 January 1932 in Carcassonne – died 24 November 2006 in Carcassonne) was a French rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at the international level for France, and at club level for AS Car ...

(France), Brian Carlson (Australia), Phil Jackson (Great Britain) and

Bill Sorensen William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954, 1957 Rugby League World Cup, 1957 and 1960 Rugby League World Cup, 1960 World ...

(New Zealand).

Squads

Referees

Referee Vic Belsham from New Zealand controlled three matches at the World Cup, including controlling one of New Zealand's matches. New Zealand included his brother Sel at halfback.Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue
''Sunday Star-Times'', 30 November 2008

Venues

Results

Try scorers

;3 *

Ian Moir Ian James Moir (1932–1990) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer, a champion wing three-quarter who played in the 1950s and 1960s for South Sydney and Western Suburbs. He made eight Test appearances for the Australian na ...

* Kel O'Shea * Mick Sullivan ;2 * Brian Carlson * Ken McCaffery * Harry Wells * Jean Foussat * Phil Jackson *

Tom Hadfield Tom Hadfield (born 1982 in Wakefield, England) created Soccernet, a sports Internet company, with his father, Greg Hadfield, when he was 12 years old. Soccernet was later sold to ESPN for $40 million when he was 17 years old. Two years later, ...

;1 * Brian Clay * Bill Marsh * Dick Poole * Norm Provan *

* Jack Grundy * Lewis Jones *

Sid Little Sidney Devereux Little OBE ( – 27 July 2017) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Cumberland, and at club level for Harlequin F.C., ...

* Jeffrey Stevenson * Cliff Johnson * Bill McLennan * George Menzies *

Jim Riddell Charles James Riddell is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1957 World Cup. Playing career Riddell played in the Auckland Rugby League competition and first represented Auckland in 1953 against the American Al ...

* George Turner

References

External links

1957 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk

1957 World Cup at rlwc2008.com

1957 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk
{{Australia squad 1957 Rugby League World Cup