1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

The 1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France was the twelfth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play twenty-one matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and three Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1963-64 and the next was staged in 1973.

Squad leadership The team was captain-coached by Reg Gasnier making his third and ultimately final Kangaroo Tour. Gasnier broke his leg during the first test at Headingley and sat out the remainder of the English leg. He returned to the field in France, but in a minor game against Les Espoirs in Avignon, he suffered a further break. This would ultimately cause him to announce his retirement from playing at the age of 28. He later said in an interview that he never regretted his decision to retire, saying that he had been playing rugby league virtually non-stop including juniors, junior representative games, the Sydney premiership, interstate games and international tours since the early 1950s, and wanted to devote more time to his family.

Having led the team in four tour matches in England, Johnny Raper was appointed captain for the Third Test Match against Great Britain. Raper captained the side in each of the three Test Matches in France.

Peter Gallagher led the team in three successive matches in England, culminating in the Second Test Match against Great Britain. He also was captain against Barrow, Bradford Northern and France B.

Noel Kelly captained the Kangaroos in five matches, against Cumbria, Oldham, Widnes, Swinton and Pyrenees. Graeme Langlands led the team in two matches (Castleford and Catalans). Elton Rasmussen was captain in one match, against St Helens.

The Kangaroo tourists were co-managed by Jack Drewes (New South Wales) and Harry Schmidt (Queensland). Alf Richards accompanied the team as masseur.

Touring squad 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, along with each player's age, height and weight. The Rugby League News published a summary of the Kangaroos' point scorers.

Noel Gallagher, Peter Gallagher, John Gleeson, Dennis Manteit and John McDonald were selected from Queensland clubs. Tony Branson and Allan Thomson were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1967 season.

Player Age Weightst.lb (kg) Club TestsonTour Games Tries Goals FG Points Tony Branson 20 12.12 (82) Nowra 5 17 3 0 0 9 Ron Coote , 22 13.7 (86) South Sydney 5 18 7 0 0 21 Noel Gallagher 22 14.7 (92) Bundaberg 2 14 0 0 0 0 Peter Gallagher (vc) 30 15.10 (100) Brisbane Brothers 6 16 1 0 0 3 Reg Gasnier (ca/co) 28 12.12 (82) St George 2 6 1 0 0 3 John Gleeson , 24 11.12 (75) Brisbane Brothers 3 11 2 0 1 8 Kevin Goldspink 24 15.0 (95) Canterbury 0 13 2 0 0 6 Johnny Greaves , 24 13.7 (86) Canterbury 5 14 6 0 0 18 Les Hanigan , 22 11.4 (72) Manly-Warringah 0 11 6 0 0 18 Ken Irvine 27 11.12 (75) North Sydney 1 14 8 5 0 34 Les Johns 25 11.12 (75) Canterbury 6 16 2 4 3 20 Kevin Junee 23 11.8 (73) Eastern Suburbs 0 10 4 0 1 14 Noel Kelly , 30 14.2 (90) Western Suburbs 5 17 0 0 0 0 Johnny King 24 12.6 (79) St George 6 18 9 0 0 27 Graeme Langlands , 25 13.0 (83) St George 6 19 5 43 0 101 Ron Lynch , 27 14.6 (92) Parramatta 4 15 2 0 0 6 Dennis Manteit , 24 14.7 (92) Brisbane Brothers 3 14 4 0 0 12 John McDonald , 23 12.10 (81) Toowoomba Valleys 5 17 5 13 0 41 Brian Moore 23 14.12 (94) Newtown 0 11 10 0 0 30 Johnny Raper (vc) 28 13.9 (87) St George 5 12 0 0 0 0 Elton Rasmussen , 29 15.4 (97) St George 6 18 0 0 0 0 Ron Saddler , 25 13.6 (85) Eastern Suburbs 0 12 0 0 0 0 John Sattler 24 14.8 (93) South Sydney 0 9 0 0 0 0 Billy Smith 24 11.7 (73) St George 5 15 3 0 3 15 Allan Thomson 24 14.3 (90) Lakes United 1 14 2 0 0 6 Elwyn Walters 23 13.11 (88) South Sydney 0 8 2 0 0 6

Great Britain The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 53,353 attending the Test series. The largest attendance of the tour came during the Kangaroos 6-12 loss to Wigan in front of 22,770 fans at Central Park on 13 October.

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

Leeds London Swinton Headingley White City Stadium Station Road Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 40,000

The Ashes series

First Test The first Ashes series test was played at Headingley, Leeds. Kangaroos captain-coach Reg Gasnier suffered a broken leg which would keep him out of the rest of the English leg of the tour while lock forward Johnny Raper would play most of the game with a fractured cheek bone.1967 Ashes series - Game 1

FB 1 Arthur KeeganRW 2 Chris YoungCE 3 Ian BrookeCE 4 Malcolm PriceLW 5 Bill BurgessSO 6 Roger MillwardSH 7 Tommy BishopPR 8 Bill Holliday (c)HK 9 Peter FlanaganPR 10 Cliff WatsonSR 11 John MantleSR 12 Bob IrvingLF 13 Dave RobinsonSubstitutions:IC 14G. JordanIC 15G. ReesCoach: FB 2 Les JohnsRW 8 John McDonaldCE 1 Graeme LanglandsCE 7 Reg Gasnier (c)LW 4 Johnny KingFE 11 John GleesonHB 13 Billy SmithPR 23 Dennis ManteitHK 22 Noel KellyPR 21 Peter GallagherSR 17 Ron LynchSR 19 Elton RasmussenLK 15 Johnny RaperSubstitutions:IC Tony BransonIC Elwyn Walters Coach: Reg Gasnier

Second Test The second test at London's White City Stadium saw the Australian's tie the series at one game all with a 17-11 win in front of 17,445 fans.1968 Ashes series - Game 2

FB 1 Arthur KeeganRW 2 Chris YoungCE 3 Ian BrookeCE 4 Neil FoxLW 5 Bill FrancisSO 6 Roger MillwardSH 7 Tommy BishopPR 8 Bill Holliday (c)HK 9 Peter FlanaganPR 10 Cliff WatsonSR 11 John MantleSR 12 Bob IrvingLF 13 Frank FosterSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: FB 2 Les JohnsRW 6 Johnny GreavesCE 1 Graeme LanglandsCE 8 John McDonaldLW 4 Johnny KingFE 12 Tony BransonHB 11 John GleesonPR 22 Noel KellyHK 25 Noel GallagherPR 21 Peter Gallagher (c)SR 17 Ron LynchSR 19 Elton RasmussenLK 16 Ron CooteSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: Reg Gasnier

Third Test The Kangaroos retained The Ashes with a hard-fought 11-3 win on a frozen ground at Station Road in Swinton. It would be the 10th and last time Station Road would host an Ashes Test and the 18th and last test match played at the ground.1967 Ashes series - Game 3

FB 1 Arthur KeeganRW 2 Chris YoungCE 3 Ian BrookeCE 4 Malcolm PriceLW 5 Gary JordanSO 6 Roger MillwardSH 7 Tommy BishopPR 8 Bill Holliday (c)HK 9 Peter FlanaganPR 10 Cliff WatsonSR 11 Bob IrvingSR 12 Bob ValentineLF 13 Dave RobinsonSubstitutions:IC 14 Alan BurwellIC 15 Charlie RenilsonCoach: FB 2 Les JohnsLW 4 Johnny KingCE 6 Johnny GreavesCE 1 Graeme LanglandsRW 8 John McDonaldFE 11 John GleesonHB 13 Billy SmithPR 21 Peter GallagherHK 22 Noel KellyPR 23 Dennis ManteitSR 19 Elton RasmussenSR 16 Ron CooteLF 15 Johnny Raper (c)Substitutions:IC 12 Tony BransonIC 15Coach: Reg Gasnier

According to stand-in Kangaroos captain and man of the match Johnny Raper, the Kangaroos had a psychological advantage in the third test after he heard Lions halves Roger Millward and Tommy Bishop say after walking around the Station Road ground pre-match that they did not want to play on the frozen ground. The Kangaroos, used to playing on hard Australian grounds, were in their element against a timid Lions outfit.

France During the game against Les Espoirs in Avignon, Kangaroos captain coach Reg Gasnier re-broke the leg he had broken during the first Ashes Test at Headingley. Ultimately this would prove to be Gasnier's last game of top grade football and he subsequently announced his retirement from playing at the age of 28.

First test

FrancePositionAustraliaAndré LacazeFBLes JohnsDaniel PellerinWGJohnny KingGuy AndrieuCEGraeme LanglandsJean-Pierre LecompteCEJohnny GreavesYves RaynaudWGKen IrvineClaude MantoulanSOTony BransonRoger GarnungSHBilly SmithChristian SabatiéPRDennis ManteitYves BégouHKNoel KellyGuy RibotPRPeter GallagherGeorges Ailleres (c)SRElton RasmussenAdolphe AlésinaSRRon CooteGeorges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)Jean CapdouzeInt.Ron LynchJep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

Legendary Australian winger Ken Irvine broke his leg during this game. It was to be his 33rd and final test appearance for the Kangaroos.

Second Test

FrancePositionAustraliaAndré LacazeFBLes JohnsDaniel PellerinWGJohnny KingGuy AndrieuCEJohnny GreavesRoger GarrigueCEGraeme LanglandsPierre SurreWGJohn McDonaldJean CapdouzeSOTony BransonRoger GarnungSHBilly SmithChristian SabatiéPRPeter GallagherYves BégouHKNoel GallagherPierre DubiéPRElton RasmussenGeorges Ailleres (c)SRRon LynchFrancis de NadaïSRRon CooteGeorges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)Jacques FabreInt.Adolphe AlésinaInt.Jep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

Third Test

FrancePositionAustraliaClaude MantoulanFBLes JohnsPierre SurreWGJohnny KingMichel MolinierCEJohnny GreavesGuy AndrieuCEGraeme LanglandsDaniel PellerinWGJohn McDonaldJean CapdouzeSOTony BransonRoger GarnungSHBilly SmithChristian SabatiéPRPeter GallagherYves BégouHKNoel KellyPierre DubiéPRElton RasmussenFrancis de NadaïSRAllan ThomsonGeorges Ailleres (c)SRRon CooteGeorges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)Jep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

References

External links 1967-68 Kangaroo Tour at Rugby League Project

1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

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