The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia were the holders, while New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were on their home soil. Great Britain won the title and levelled the score of World titles with the Australians at 3-3.
The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.
This was the last World Cup to be played under the four-tackle rule.
Squads
Venues
Marseille Paris Toulouse Stade Vélodrome Parc des Princes Stadium Municipal Capacity: 55,000 Capacity: 48,712 Capacity: 37,000 Perpignan Pau Grenoble Stade Gilbert Brutus Stade du Hameau Stade Lesdiguières Capacity: 13,000 Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 12,000
Final Venue Lyon Stade de Gerland Capacity: 45,000
Results
Group stage
28 October 197220 – 9Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
29 October 197227 – 21Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpingnan
1 November 19724 – 13Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble
1 November 19729 – 5Parc des Princes, Paris
4 November 197253 – 19Stade du Hameau, Pau
5 November 19729 – 31Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Final
FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)RC 3 Chris HeskethLC 4 John WalshLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 John HolmesSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Mike StephensonPR 10 David JeanesSR 11 Phil LoweSR 12 Brian LockwoodLF 13 George NichollsSubstitutions:IC 14 Bob IrvingIC 15Coach: Jim Challinor FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)RW 2 John GrantRC 3 Mark HarrisLC 4 Geoff StarlingLW 5 Ray BranighanFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Dennis WardPR 8 John O'NeillHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Bob O'ReillySR 11 Arthur BeetsonSR 12 Gary StevensLK 13 Gary SullivanSubstitutions:IC 14 Fred JonesIC 15Coach: Harry Bath
The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as just over 4,200 spectators turned up. The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance tryPaddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" North West Evening Mail and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored", later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau. Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup. Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But for the first time in the competition's history the scores were level at full-time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.
Try scorers 5
Bob Fulton
4
Clive Sullivan
3
John Atkinson Phil Lowe Mike Stephenson
2
Mark Harris John O'Neill Paul Sait Jean-Marie Bonal Andre Ruiz John Holmes Phillip Orchard John Whittaker
1
Arthur Beetson Tommy Raudonikis Elwyn Walters Dennis Ward Paul Charlton Chris Hesketh David Jeanes Steve Nash George Nicholls Dennis O'Neill Mocky Brereton Bill Burgoyne Tony Coll Murray Eade Dennis Williams
Tour games After the World Championship, Australia and New Zealand arranged short three-game tours against English clubs.
Australia Date Opponents Score Venue Attendance 15 November St Helens style="text-align: center;" St Helens 9,311 17 November Wigan style="text-align: center;" Wigan 6,300 19 November Bradford Northern style="text-align: center;" Bradford 2,820
New Zealand Date Opponents Score Venue Attendance 15 November Leeds style="text-align: center;" Leeds 17 November Huddersfield style="text-align: center;" Huddersfield 19 November Salford style="text-align: center;" Salford
References
External links 1972 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk 1972 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com 1972 World Cup final at eraofthebiff.com When Great Britain won the World Cup at bbc.co.uk 1972 World Cup final at timesonline.co.uk
1972 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk