The 2001 Kangaroo Tour was the Australia national rugby league team's nineteenth Kangaroo tour of Great Britain. The truncated tour featured only the three Ashes series Test matches against Great Britain. The 2001 tour was almost abandoned due to military action in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Australia continued its dominance, winning two of the three tests against Great Britain and retaining The Ashes that they have held since 1973.

Background The 2001 Kangaroo tour was initially cancelled by the Australian Rugby League (ARL) but after strong public opinion in both Great Britain and Australia, it went ahead. However, the only games played were the three tests, marking the first Kangaroo Tour to not play against any British club or provincial teams. The 2001 tour was also the first since 1933–34 not to include a Test match against France along with The Ashes series.

Touring Squad The team was coached by Chris Anderson who was making his third Kangaroo Tour, and first as coach, after playing in the 1978 and 1982 tours, the second in 1982 as a member of the famed "Invincibles". Team captain was Brad Fittler, the youngest ever Kangaroo tourist in 1990 at the age of 18, was making his third and last Kangaroo Tour after being part of the successful 1990 and 1994 touring teams. Fittler was also the only member of the squad that had previously taken part in a Kangaroo tour.

Player Club Position(s) Games Tries Goals F/Goals Points Braith Anasta Canterbury Bulldogs 3 1 0 0 4 Trent Barrett St. George Illawarra Dragons 3 2 0 0 8 Nathan Blacklock St. George Illawarra Dragons 1 0 0 0 0 Danny Buderus Newcastle Knights 3 0 0 0 0 Dane Carlaw Brisbane Broncos 3 0 0 0 0 Petero Civoniceva Brisbane Broncos 3 0 0 0 0 Brad Fittler (c) Sydney Roosters 3 1 1 0 6 Mark Gasnier St. George Illawarra Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 Matthew Gidley Newcastle Knights 3 1 0 0 4 Andrew Johns Newcastle Knights 3 3 11 0 34 Robbie Kearns Melbourne Storm 3 0 0 0 0 Ben Kennedy Newcastle Knights 3 1 0 0 4 Darren Lockyer Brisbane Broncos 3 2 0 0 8 Jamie Lyon Parramatta Eels 3 0 0 0 0 Adam MacDougall Newcastle Knights 3 2 0 0 8 Brad Meyers Brisbane Broncos 2 1 0 0 4 Jason Ryles St. George Illawarra Dragons 3 0 0 0 0 Jason Stevens Cronulla Sharks 3 0 0 0 0 Lote Tuqiri Brisbane Broncos 2 0 0 0 0 Michael Vella Parramatta Eels 2 0 0 0 0 Daniel Wagon Parramatta Eels 0 0 0 0 0

Ashes series

Test Venues The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Huddersfield Bolton Wigan Kirklees Stadium Reebok Stadium JJB Stadium Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 28,700 Capacity: 25,138

Results

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF" | Date | Opponent | Score | Ground | Referee | Crowd | Report |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | November 11 | | 20 – 12 | Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield | R. Connolly (GB) | 21,458 | bbc.co.uk |- |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | November 17 | | 12 – 40 | Reebok Stadium, Bolton | B. Harrigan (AUS) | 22,152 | bbc.co.uk |- |- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | November 24 | | 8 – 28 | JJB Stadium, Wigan | B. Harrigan (AUS) | 25,011 | bbc.co.uk

1st Test

Great BritainPositionAustraliaKris RadlinskiFBDarren LockyerLeon PryceWGLote TuqiriGary ConnollyCEMatthew GidleyPaul JohnsonCEJamie LyonKeith SeniorWGAdam MacDougallPaul SculthorpeSOTrent BarrettMike ForshawSHAndrew JohnsTerry O'ConnorPRJason StevensKevin SinfieldHKDanny BuderusBarrie McDermottPRRobbie KearnsChris JoyntSRDane CarlawJamie PeacockSRBen KennedyAndy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)Paul WellensInt.Braith AnastaRichard HorneInt.Michael VellaPaul AndersonInt.Petero CivonicevaStuart FieldenInt.Jason RylesDavid WaiteCoachChris Anderson Great Britain led 12 nil at half time but after the break Australia came back strongly. The home side were able to get the upset in the end.

2nd Test

Great BritainPositionAustraliaKris RadlinskiFBDarren LockyerLeon PryceWGLote TuqiriGary ConnollyCEMatthew GidleyKeith SeniorCEJamie LyonPaul JohnsonWGAdam MacDougallPaul SculthorpeSOTrent BarrettKevin SinfieldSHAndrew JohnsTerry O'ConnorPRJason StevensMike ForshawHKDanny BuderusBarrie McDermottPRRobbie KearnsChris JoyntSRDane CarlawJamie PeacockSRBen KennedyAndy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)Paul WellensInt.Braith AnastaRichard HorneInt.Michael VellaPaul AndersonInt.Petero CivonicevaStuart FieldenInt.Brad MeyersDavid WaiteCoachChris Anderson After trailing 40 nil at half time, Great Britain's two tries in the final ten minutes were too little too late. The main contributors of Australia's victory were scrum half back Andrew Johns, who scored two tries and kicked all but one of the six conversions, and fullback Darren Lockyer.

3rd Test

For the first time since the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France, the Lions and Kangaroos had met in Wigan.

Great BritainPositionAustraliaPaul WellensFBDarren LockyerLeon PryceWGNathan BlacklockGary ConnollyCEMatthew GidleyKeith SeniorCEJamie LyonPaul JohnsonWGAdam MacDougallPaul SculthorpeSOTrent BarrettPaul DeaconSHAndrew JohnsStuart FieldenPRJason StevensMike ForshawHKDanny BuderusBarrie McDermottPRRobbie KearnsChris JoyntSRDane CarlawTerry O'ConnorSRBen KennedyAndy Farrell (c)LFBrad Fittler (c)Kevin SinfieldInt.Braith AnastaDavid HodgsonInt.Brad MeyersPaul AndersonInt.Petero CivonicevaJamie PeacockInt.Jason RylesDavid WaiteCoachChris Anderson Great Britain scored the opening try of the match early in the first half, but by the break trailed 12-6 behind Australia. During the first half of the game, Australia's coach Chris Anderson suffered a heart attack and was taken to hospital.

Statistics Leading Try Scorer 3 by Andrew Johns

Leading Point Scorer 34 by Andrew Johns (3 tries, 11 goals)

Largest Attendance 25,011 - Third test vs Great Britain at JJB Stadium

References

External links 2001 Kangaroo Tour at rugbyleagueproject.org 2001 Kangaroo Tour at rl1908.com