The 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain was the second ever Kangaroo tour and was actually a tour by an " Australasian" squad that included four New Zealand players in addition to 24 Australian representatives. It took place over the British winter of 1911–12 and this time, to help promote the game of

Rugby league in New Zealand Rugby league in New Zealand dates to the beginning of the sport in England. New Zealand played an integral role in the history of rugby league football. Of all rugby league nations New Zealand was second only to England to compete in internat ...

, 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 ra ...

invited a combined Australian and New Zealand team. They became the first tourists to win

the Ashes The Ashes is a Test cricket series played biennially 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, ...

. and the last to do so on British soil for over half a century. The tour was a success in performance and organisation. Matches were well attended, the squad's touring payments were maintained throughout and the players all shared in a bonus at the tour's end.

Touring squad

Prior to the tour a three-way series of matches between

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

was organised as a basis of selection for the tour. The New South Welshmen dominated the touring side, with four New Zealanders and only one Queenslander selected. However counted amongst the New South Welshmen was Con Sullivan, who had moved to Australia from New Zealand a few years before. Due to family and business commitments, rugby league great

Dally Messenger Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger, (12 April 1883 – 24 November 1959) was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player. One of Australasia's first professional rugby footballers, he is recognised as one of the greatest-ever players in eit ...

declined to tour with the 1911–12 Kangaroos. His friend and teammate

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

also chose not to go.

Chris McKivat Christopher Hobart McKivat (alternatively spelled McKivatt, pronounced ; 27 November 1880 − 4 May 1941) was an Australian rugby union and rugby league player – a dual-code rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in over 20 Tests ...

who had captained the 1908 Wallabies to Olympic Gold was at age 32 a natural selection as tour captain. The Heads/Middleton reference describes McKivat as being revered on that tour – a magnificent general, tough, durable and an inspiration to the men around him. It quotes Johnny Quinlan the tour co-manager ''"He always set a splendid example in conduct and training – a natural leader"'' Tour vice-captain was Paddy McCue. Tour managers were Charles H Ford and John Quinlan. The team sailed to England on the ''RMS Orvieto''. The tourists were paid £4/5/ per week and received a bonus of £178 each.

New South Wales

All eight teams of the

New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New Sout ...

were represented in the touring squad. * Bob Stuart, forward for Annandale * Bob Craig, forward for Balmain * Charles "Chook" Fraser, fullback for Balmain * Arthur "Pony" Halloway, half for Balmain * Charles McMurtrie, forward for Balmain * Dan Frawley, three-quarter for Eastern Suburbs * Bob Williams, forward for Eastern Suburbs * Peter Burge, forward for Glebe * (c)

, half for Glebe *

Billy Farnsworth Andrew William Farnsworth (14 January 1887 – 30 October 1966) was an Australian pioneer rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s whose club career was played in Sydney with Newtown. He represented at state level for both New South Wa ...

, half for Newtown * Viv Farnsworth, three-quarter for Newtown * Paddy McCue, forward for Newtown * Joe Murray, forward for Newtown *

Webby Neill William "Webby" Neill (1884–1964) was a pioneer Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s, who later became a leading referee in the New South Wales Rugby Football League. Playing career Neill played for South ...

, fullback for Newtown * Bill Noble, forward for Newtown * Charlie Russell, three-quarter for Newtown * Tom Berecry, North Sydney * Albert Broomham, North Sydney * Con Sullivan, forward for North Sydney * W. A. Cann, forward for South Sydney * Steve Darmody, South Sydney * Herb Gilbert, three-quarter for South Sydney * Howard Hallett, fullback for South Sydney * Tedda Courtney, forward for Western Suburbs

New Zealand

The New Zealand players that accompanied the Australians on tour have been listed in the

Australian Rugby League The Australian Rugby League Commission Limited (ARL), formerly the Australian Rugby Football League Limited known as the Australian Rugby League is an Australian rugby league football competition operator. It was founded in 1986 as the Australi ...

's Kangaroos players register. * George A. Gillett (forward) * Arthur Francis (forward) * Charlie Savory (forward) * Frank Woodward (half)

Queensland

Robert "Harold" Nicholson of Queensland was also selected for the tour but withdrew.

Tour schedule

Played: 35 Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Ashes: Australia 2–0

Test matches

First Ashes Test

Test No. 12 1911 Kangaroos

In this match, Australia's Charles Fraser became Australia's youngest Test player at 18 years and 301 days, a record which would stand until 2007.

Second Ashes Test

Test No. 13 McKivat lead the way for Australia dominating the rucks and scoring a vital try. Renowned Australian journalist Claude Corbett was acting as one of the touch judges and referee Renton, over-ruled his goal decision on one of the Australian conversion attempts.Alan Whiticker, ''Captaining the Kangaroos'' (2004) New Holland p44

Third Ashes Test

Test No. 14 Great Britain only needed to win the third Test to tie the series and keep the Ashes but were reduced to 12 men early in the encounter after an injury to Dick Ramsdale. Great Britain led 8–0 early but had no answer to the Australian attack as they ran in nine tries. This would be the first (and final) time the Kangaroos would win The Ashes on British soil until the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour.

References

External links

*
Ashes series 1911 at ''rugbyleagueproject.org''
{{DEFAULTSORT:1911-12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Australia national rugby league team tours Rugby league tours of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain Kangaroo tour of Great Britain

1911 Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are added to the Commonwealth of Australia. * January 3 ** 1911 Kebin earthquake: An earthquake of 7.7 m ...