1959–60 Kangaroo tour

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1959–60 Kangaroo tour
ManagerJack 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
P W D L
Total
37 26 00 11
Test match
08 06 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 1 0 2
 France
3 3 0 0
 Italy
2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour
Next tour1963-64

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 and the next was staged in 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 colours.svg Balmain 8 22 0 101 0 202
Dud Beattie Prop 23 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Parramatta colours.svg Ipswich Railways 4 20 0 0 0 0
Ron Boden Wing, Centre 21 12 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) North Sydney colours.svg Toowoomba Valleys 0 14 5 0 0 15
Tony Brown Five-eighth 23 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Newtown colours.svg Newtown 2 9 4 0 0 12
Bob Bugden Halfback 23 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 0 5 4 0 0 12
Thomas Burke Halfback 25 11 st. 2 lb. (71 kg) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 1 13 9 0 0 27
Brian Carlson Utility Back 26 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 4 23 19 49 0 155
Darrel Chapman Fullback 21 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) St. George colours.svg Kempsey 1 18 3 0 0 9
Brian Clay Five-eighth, Lock 25 13 st. 3 lb. (84 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 6 20 4 1 0 14
Bill Delamare Prop 23 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 2 19 5 0 0 15
Reg Gasnier Centre 20 12 st. 5 lb. (78 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 6 19 20 0 0 60
Brian Hambly Prop, Second-row 22 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Wagga Magpies.png Wagga Magpies 8 21 9 1 0 29
Ken Irvine Wing 19 11 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney 3 21 17 0 0 51
Noel Kelly Prop, Hooker 23 13 st. 9 lb. (87 kg) Brothers Colours.svg Ipswich Brothers 1 14 2 1 0 8
Eddie Lumsden Wing 22 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 8 27 25 0 0 75
Rex Mossop (vc) Prop, Second-row 30 14 st. 5 lb. (91 kg) Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah 5 26 2 0 0 6
Barry Muir Halfback 21 10 st. 11 lb. (68 kg) Wests Panthers Colours.svg Brisbane Western Suburbs 7 21 1 0 0 3
Gary Parcell Prop 26 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Brothers Colours.svg Ipswich Brothers 5 20 2 0 0 6
Don Parish Wing 21 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) Cronulla colours.svg Dubbo Macquarie 0 12 7 16 0 53
Jim Paterson Prop, Second-row 23 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Glebe colours.svg Townsville Souths 3 22 4 0 0 12
Johnny Raper Five-eighth, Lock 20 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 4 17 14 0 0 42
Elton Rasmussen Prop, Second-row 22 15 st. 5 lb. (98 kg) Faxcolours.svg Toowoomba All Whites 3 20 4 1 0 14
Johnny Riley Centre 20 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) St. George colours.svg St George 2 15 2 0 0 6
Ian Walsh Hooker 25 13 st. 4 lb. (84 kg) Wellington colours.svg Eugowra 8 23 3 1 0 11
Harry Wells Centre 27 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs 7 22 11 0 0 33
Billy Wilson Prop 30 14 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) St. George colours.svg 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
GB v AUS 09-11-1963 at Station Road 1.jpg South Stand, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014) 001.JPG Central park kop.jpg
Saturday, 12 September Leeds Rhinoscolours.svg 20 – 44 Australian colours.svg Australia Headingley, Leeds  
[1] Attendance: 14,629

Tuesday, 15 September Rochdale Hornets Rochdale colours.svg 14 – 27 Australian colours.svg Australia Athletic Grounds, Rochdale  
[2] Attendance: 10,155

Wednesday, 18 September Warrington Wolvescolours.svg 24 – 30 Australian colours.svg Australia Wilderspool, Warrington  
[3] Attendance: 17,112

Wednesday, 23 September Lancashire Lancashire 30 – 22 Australian colours.svg Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens  
[4] Attendance: 15,743

Saturday, 26 September Salford Redscolours.svg 20 – 22 Australian colours.svg Australia The Willows, Salford  
[5] Attendance: 11,008

Monday, 28 September Yorkshire Yorkshire 47 – 15 Australian colours.svg Australia Clarence Street, York  
[6] Attendance: 7,338

Thursday, 1 October Widnes Widnes colours.svg 15 – 45 Australian colours.svg Australia Naughton Park, Widnes  
[7] Attendance: 9,381

Saturday, 3 October Oldham Oldhamcolours.svg 14 – 25 Australian colours.svg Australia Watersheddings, Oldham  
[8] Attendance: 17,630

Wednesday, 7 October Leigh Leigh colours.svg 18 – 17 Australian colours.svg Australia Hilton Park, Leigh  
[9] Attendance: 11,932

Saturday, 10 October St. Helens Saintscolours.svg 2 – 15 Australian colours.svg Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens  
[10] 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  Australia
Tries:
Billy Boston
Derek Turner
Goals:
Eric Fraser (4)
[3] Tries:
Reg Gasnier (3)
Harry Wells
Goals:
Keith Barnes (5)
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 35,224
Referee: R. Gelder England
Player of the Match: Reg Gasnier Australian colours.svg
Great Britain Position Australia
Eric Fraser FB Keith Barnes (c)
Billy Boston WG Johnny Riley
Eric Ashton (c) CE Harry Wells
Alan Davies CE Reg Gasnier
Mick Sullivan WG Eddie Lumsden
Dave Bolton SO Brian Clay
Alex Murphy SH Barry Muir
Abe Terry PR Billy Wilson
Tommy Harris HK Ian Walsh
Brian McTigue PR Dud Beattie
Mick Martyn SR Gary Parcell
Dick Huddart SR Rex Mossop
Derek Turner LF Brian Hambly
Jim Challinor Coach Clive Churchill

Thursday, 22 October Whitehaven / Workington Town XIII Aspley Broncos colours.svg 8 – 13 Australian colours.svg Australia Recreation Ground, Whitehaven  
[11] Attendance: 7,463

Saturday, 24 October Barrow Barrowcolours.svg 12 – 9 Australian colours.svg Australia Craven Park, Barrow  
[12] Attendance: 8,488

Monday, 26 October Hull F.C. / Hull Kingston Rovers XIII Canadacolours.png 9 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia The Boulevard, Hull  
[13] Attendance: 15,944

Wednesday, 4 November Bradford Northern Bullscolours.svg 8 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia Odsal, Bradford  
[14] Attendance: 4,126

5 days prior to the match against Bradford Northern, the Kangaroos played the first test against France.


Saturday, 7 November Halifax Faxcolours.svg 5 – 17 Australian colours.svg Australia Thrum Hall, Halifax  
[15] Attendance: 8,274

Wednesday, 11 November Featherstone Rovers Fevcolours.svg 23 – 15 Australian colours.svg Australia Post Office Road, Featherstone  
[16] Attendance: 7,671

Saturday, 14 November Wigan Wigancolours.svg 16 – 9 Australian colours.svg Australia Central Park, Wigan  
[17] 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)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 30,301
Referee: R. Gelder England
Great Britain Position Australia
Frank Dyson FB Keith Barnes (c)
Ike Southward WG Eddie Lumsden
Eric Ashton CE Harry Wells
Neil Fox CE Reg Gasnier
Mick Sullivan WG Brian Carlson
Dave Bolton SO Brian Clay
Jeff Stevenson (c) SH Barry Muir
Don Robinson PR Gary Parcell
Tommy Harris HK Ian Walsh
Abe Terry PR Billy Wilson
Don Vines SR Elton Rasmussen
Brian McTigue SR Rex Mossop
Johnny Whiteley LF Brian Hambly
Jim Challinor Coach Clive Churchill

Wednesday, 25 November Swinton Swintoncolours.svg 24 – 25 Australian colours.svg Australia Station Road, Swinton  
[18] Attendance: 5,021

Saturday, 28 November Wakefield Trinity Wcatscolours.svg 20 – 10 Australian colours.svg Australia Belle Vue, Wakefield  
[19] Attendance: 17,615

Wednesday, 2 December Huddersfield Giantscolours.svg 7 – 21 Australian colours.svg Australia Fartown, Huddersfield  
[20] Attendance: 2,349

Saturday, 5 December Hunslet Hunsletcolours.svg 11 – 12 Australian colours.svg Australia Parkside, Hunslet  
[21] 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)
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 26,089
Referee: Eric Clay England
Great Britain Position Australia
Gerry Round FB Keith Barnes (c)
Ike Southward WG Eddie Lumsden
Eric Ashton CE Harry Wells
Neil Fox CE Reg Gasnier
Mick Sullivan WG Brian Carlson
Dave Bolton SO Brian Clay
Jeff Stevenson (c) SH Barry Muir
Jack Wilkinson PR Billy Wilson
Tommy Harris HK Ian Walsh
Abe Terry PR Dud Beattie
Don Robinson SR Brian Hambly
Brian McTigue SR Rex Mossop
Johnny Whiteley LF Johnny Raper
Jim Challinor Coach Clive Churchill

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:
(6)
Field Goals:
Andre Lacaze (2)
[6] Tries:
Eddie Lumsden (3)
Harry Wells
Goals:
Keith Barnes (4)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 9,864
Referee: France
Player of the Match: Eddie Lumsden Australian colours.svg
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
WG Ken Irvine
Gilbert Benausse SO Tony Brown
SH Barry Muir
PR Gary Parcell
HK Ian Walsh
Aldo Quaglio PR Dud Beattie
Robert Eramouspé SR Jim Paterson
SR Rex Mossop
LF Brian Hambly
Coach Clive Churchill

Tuesday, 8 December French Army XIII France colours.svg 2 – 15 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes  
[22] 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)
Stade Municipal, Bordeaux
Attendance: 8,848
Referee: A. Cassan France
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
WG Eddie Lumsden
SO Johnny Raper
SH Barry Muir
PR Billy Wilson
HK Ian Walsh
PR Dud Beattie
Robert Eramouspé SR Gary Parcell
Jean Barthe SR Brian Hambly
LF Brian Clay
Coach Clive Churchill

Thursday, 24 December Racing Club Albi XIII Balmain colours.svg 19 – 10 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi  
[23] Attendance: 5,845

Thursday, 31 December Carcassonne / Lézignan XIII Sunshine Coast Colours.svg 32 – 9 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne  
[24] Attendance: 6,364

Friday, 1 January XIII Catalan Catalanscolours.svg 8 – 32 Australian colours.svg Australia , Perpignan  
[25] Attendance: 6,364

Sunday, 3 January Montpellier St. George colours.svg 13 – 44 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Sabathé, Montpellier  
[26] Attendance: 3,741

Thursday, 7 January Racing Club Marseille XIII Cronulla colours.svg 7 – 38 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Vélodrome, Marseille  
[27] Attendance: 1,366

Thursday, 14 January Avignon / Cavaillon XIII France colours.svg 5 – 65 Australian colours.svg Australia Parc des Sports, Avignon  
[28] Attendance: 2,806

Third Test[]

Wednesday, 20 January
France  8 – 16  Australia
Tries:
Raymond Gruppi


Goals
André Lacaze (1)
[8] Tries:
Johnny Raper (2)
Reg Gasnier
Brian Hambly
Goals
Keith Barnes (2)
, Roanne
Attendance: 6,932
Referee: France
France Position Australia
André Lacaze FB Keith Barnes (c)
Raymond Gruppi WG Eddie Lumsden
Jean Foussat CE Harry Wells
CE Reg Gasnier
WG Brian Carlson
Claude Mantoulan SO Johnny Raper
SH Barry Muir
PR Billy Wilson
HK Ian Walsh
PR Elton Rasmussen
SR Jim Paterson
SR Brian Hambly
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 Italy colours.svg 15 – 37 Australian colours.svg Australia Stadio Euganeo, Padua  
[29] Attendance: 3,500
Referee: R. Somma

Sunday, 24 January Italy Italy colours.svg 22 – 67 Australian colours.svg Australia Stadio Omobono Tenni, Treviso  
[30] Attendance: 3,105
Referee: T. Rossi

Ken Irvine crossed for 6 tries in this game.


References[]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ E.E.Christensen (1960). "Players' Records in N.Z.". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. Sydney: E.E.Christensen (Vol. 14).
  3. ^ 1st Ashes Test
  4. ^ 2nd Ashes Test
  5. ^ 3rd Ashes Test
  6. ^ France vs Australia 1st Test
  7. ^ France vs Australia 2nd Test
  8. ^ France vs Australia 3rd Test

External links[]

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