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 Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

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 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 Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

squad was assembled by the

Northern Rugby Football Union Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ...

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 Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

football was in its seventh year since splitting away from

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

in 1908. the tourists ventured to

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line r ...

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 Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

and

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

. The Australian team was captained in all three Ashes

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.

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, Frank Williams, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra,

James Clampitt James "Jim" Lamb Clampitt (third ¼ 1881 – first ¼ 1934) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Cumberland, and at club level fo ...

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,

Dave Holland David “Dave” Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for over 40 years. His extensive discography r ...

Percy Coldrick Albert Percival "Percy" Coldrick (born 1 November 1888 – 26 December 1953) was a Welsh dual code rugby player who played rugby union for Newport and rugby league for Wigan. He represented Wales under the union code and Wales and Great Brita ...

, John Smales ---- Metropolis: Howard Hallett,

Harold Horder Harold Norman Horder (23 February 1894 – 21 August 1978) was an Australian rugby league player. He was a national and state representative player whose club career was with South Sydney and North Sydney between 1912 and 1924. Regarded as on ...

, Sid Deane (c), Bill Kelly,

Wally Messenger Walter Messenger (July 1890 – 1961) was the youngest son of Charles A. Messenger and Annie (née Atkinson). He was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and into the 1920s. He was a state and national representative e ...

, Ray Norman, Arthur Halloway,

Jack Watkins Jack Cosgrove "Bluey" Watkins (1893-1974) was an Australian rugby league footballer. Career He played , with seven test matches for his country, including the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. He is listed on the ''Australian Players ...

, Sid Pearce, Con Sullivan, Paddy McCue, Ed Courtney,

Frank Burge Frank Burge (14 August 1894 – 5 July 1958) was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league in Australia. Later Burge became one of the game’s finest coaches. His club career was with Glebe and the St. George Dragons. He repr ...

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Frank Williams, William Davies (c), Bert Jenkins,

Stuart Prosser William Stuart Prosser (1887 – 12 March 1939) was a Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Pontypool RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for G ...

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,

, Walter Roman,

, John Smales ---- NSW: Howard Hallett,

, Sid Deane (c), Bill Kelly,

, Ray Norman, Arthur Halloway,

, Sid Pearce, Con Sullivan, Paddy McCue, Ed Courtney,

. Res – Charles Fraser Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, William Davies,

Harold Wagstaff Harold Wagstaff (9 May 1891 – 19 July 1939), also known by the nickname of "Waggy", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played as a and was nicknamed the ''Prince of Centres''. A c ...

(c), Bert Jenkins,

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,

, Douglas Clark, Arthur Johnson,

, Jack Chilcott ---- 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, bu ...

Walter Bolewski Walter may refer to: People * Walter (name), both a surname and a given name * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–1968) * Gunther (wrestler), Austrian professional wrestler and trainer Walter Hahn (born 1 ...

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, Evan Lewis, Jack Egan, Thomas Dean, Harold Bawden, Charles Scott, William Pritchard, James Adams Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams,

(c), William Davies,

Alfred Francis Alfred "Alf" John Francis (1846 – 1968) was a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain (non-Test matches) and Wales, and at club level for Treherbert R ...

, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, Joseph Guerin, 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, Jack Chilcott ---- Northern Union:

(c), Billy Hall,

, Fred Smith, Arthur Johnson, Joseph Guerin,

, Walter Roman,

, Fred Longstaff ---- Queensland:

(c),

John Birkett John Birkett may refer to: * John Birkett (rugby union), English rugby union player * John Birkett (surgeon), English surgeon See also * John Burkett John David Burkett (born November 28, 1964) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. ...

, 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, Jack Egan, Thomas Dean, Peter Olsen, Charles Scott, William Pritchard, Don Jeffrey Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams,

(c), Bert Jenkins,

, Billy Hall,

, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff,

, Jack Chilcott ---- Newcastle: J. Maloney (c), P. Scully, W. Coleman, E. Brien, G. Johns, J. Coleman, F. Bell, F. Grahame, H. Williams, Stan Carpenter, J. Quinn, Arthur Baber, C. Perkins Northern Union: Alf Wood,

(c), William Davies,

, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, Walter Roman,

, Joseph Guerin,

, John Smales, Arthur Johnson ----

First test

Future

Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame The Australian Rugby LeaguHall of Fame'' honours players who have shown exceptional skill at rugby league, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game who are Australian. It was officially established in 2002, ...

inductee

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 The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The term originated in a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper, ''The Sporting Times'', immediately after Australia's 1882 victory at The Oval, its first Te ...

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 ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

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,

, Walter Roman,

, Joseph Guerin, John Smales,

, Arthur Johnson ----

Third test

The third and deciding Ashes test had originally been scheduled for Melbourne in August, but the

New South Wales Rugby Football League The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was ...

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, Arthur Halloway (c),

Bob Williams Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bob or Bobby Williams may refer to: Entertainment Film * Robert Williams (actor, born 1894) (1894–1931), American stage and film actor * Robert B. Williams (actor) (1904–1978), American film actor * R. J. Williams (born ...

, Sid Pearce, 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 ...

. Res – Northern Union: Alf Wood,

(c), Bert Jenkins, William Davies, Billy Hall,

, Fred Longstaff, Jack Chilcott, Arthur Johnson This game was played on the return leg from

----

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 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 ...

, Billy Hall, William Davies, Jack O'Garra,

, Fred Smith, Joseph Guerin,

, Jack Chilcott, John Smales, Walter Roman,

---- ---- ---- Auckland: Tom Cross, Charles Woolley,

Karl Ifwersen Karl Donald Ifwersen (1893–1967) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in both rugby league and rugby union. Early years Karl Donald Ifwersen was born on January 6 in Auckland, New Zealand. His parents were Char ...

, 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, Charlie Savory, Joe Bennett,

Stan Walters Stanley Peter Walters Jr. (born May 27, 1948) is a former professional American football offensive tackle. After playing college football for Syracuse, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the ninth round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He spent t ...

, 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, Bert Jenkins, William Davies,

, Fred Smith,

, Arthur Johnson, Jack Chilcott, Fred Longstaff,

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,

(c), Bert Jenkins, William Davies, Jack O'Garra,

, Joseph Guerin,

, Fred Longstaff,

, Walter Roman ---- New Zealand lost the sole Test match 13–16. Billy Wilson scored two tries, Vic Banks scored one and

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