Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australia national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one-off tour to Papua New Guinea (1991). The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain (sometimes called Northern Union or The Lions) and a number of tour matches. The 1911/12 and 1921/22 tours were by the Australasian Kangaroos as both teams included New Zealand players. Some Kangaroo tours to Great Britain and France also included international friendly matches against Wales, though these games were not given test match status.
The last full Kangaroo Tour was in 1994, although shortened Kangaroo Tours took place in 2001 and again in 2003.
Since 1954, the Kangaroos have also made a number of overseas tours for multi-team tournaments such as the World Cup, Tri-Nations and Four Nations, however these are not classed as Kangaroo tours.
Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France 1908/09 Kangaroo Tour
Northern Union vs. Australia Northern Union 22–22 Australia Northern Union 15–5 Australia Northern Union 6–5 Australia
Played: 45 Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 22 Ashes: Great Britain 2–0
1911/12 Kangaroo Tour
Northern Union vs. Australasia
First Test Northern Union 10–19 Australasia Second Test Northern Union 11–11 Australasia Third Test Northern Union 8–33 Australasia
Played: 35 Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Ashes: Australasia 2–0
1921/22 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australasia First Test Great Britain 6–5 Australasia Second Test Great Britain 2–16 Australasia Third Test Great Britain 6–0 Australasia
Played: 36 Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1929/30 Kangaroo Tour
The Lions vs. Australia First Test The Lions 8–31 Australia Second Test The Lions 9–3 Australia Third Test The Lions 0–0 Australia Fourth Test The Lions 3–0 Australia
Played: 35 Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1933/34 Kangaroo Tour
The Lions vs. Australia First Test The Lions 4–0 Australia Second Test The Lions 7–5 Australia Third Test The Lions 19–16 AustraliaEngland snatches victory in last two minutes (1934-01-15) the Courier-Mail
Played: 37 Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10 Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
1937/38 Kangaroo Tour
The Lions vs. Australia First Test The Lions 5–4 Australia Second Test The Lions 13–3 Australia Third Test The Lions 3–13 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 6–35 Australia Second Test: France 11–16 Australia
Played: 35 Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1948/49 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 23–21 Australia Second Test Great Britain 16–7 Australia Third Test Great Britain 23–9 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 10–29 Australia Second Test: France 0–10 Australia
Played: 37 Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13 Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
1952/53 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 16–9 Australia Second Test Great Britain 21–5 Australia Third Test Great Britain 7–27 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 12–16 Australia Second Test: France 5–0 Australia Third Test: France 13–5 Australia
Played: 40 Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1956/57 Kangaroo Tour
A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour.
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 21–10 Australia Second Test Great Britain 9–22 Australia Third Test Great Britain 19–0 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 8–15 Australia Second Test: France 6–10 Australia Third Test: France 21–25 Australia
Played: 28 Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1959/60 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 14–22 Australia Second Test Great Britain 11–10 Australia Third Test Great Britain 18–12 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 19–20 Australia Second Test: France 2–17 Australia Third Test: France 8–16 Australia
Played: 24 Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9 Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
1963/64 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 2–28 Australia Second Test Great Britain 12–50 Australia Third Test Great Britain 16–5 Australia The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil.
France vs. Australia First Test: France 8–5 Australia Second Test: France 9–21 Australia Third Test: France 8–16 Australia
Played: 36 Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7 Ashes: Australia 2–1
1967/68 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 16–11 Australia Second Test Great Britain 11–17 Australia Third Test Great Britain 3–11 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 7–7 Australia Second Test: France 10–3 Australia Third Test: France 16–13 Australia
Played: 27 Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9 Ashes: Australia 2–1
1973 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 21–12 Australia Second Test Great Britain 6–14 Australia Third Test Great Britain 5–15 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 11–21 Australia Second Test: France 3–14 Australia
Played: 19 Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Ashes: Australia 2–1
1978 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 9–15 Australia Second Test Great Britain 18–14 Australia Third Test Great Britain 6–23 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 13–10 Australia Second Test: France 11–10 Australia
Played: 22 Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6 Ashes: Australia 2–1
1982 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 4–40 Australia Second Test Great Britain 6–27 Australia Third Test Great Britain 8–32 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 4–15 Australia Second Test: France 9–23 Australia
Played: 22 Won: 22 Drew: 0 Lost: 0 Ashes: Australia 3–0
The 1982 Kangaroos became the first team to go through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Invincibles.
1986 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 16–38 Australia Second Test Great Britain 4–34 Australia Third Test Great Britain 15–24 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 2–44 Australia Second Test: France 0–52 Australia
Played: 20 Won: 20 Drew: 0 Lost: 0 Ashes: Australia 3–0
Emulating the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the 1986 Kangaroos went through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Unbeatables.
1990 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 19–12 Australia Second Test Great Britain 10–14 Australia Third Test Great Britain 0–14 Australia
France vs. Australia First Test: France 4–60 Australia Second Test: France 10–34 Australia
Played: 18 Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Ashes: Australia 2–1
1994 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test: Great Britain 8–4 Australia Second Test: Great Britain 8–38 Australia Third Test: Great Britain 4–23 Australia
France vs. Australia One-off Test: France 0–74 Australia
Played: 18 Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Ashes: Australia 2–1
2001 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 20–12 Australia Second Test Great Britain 12–40 Australia Third Test Great Britain 8–28 Australia
Played: 3 Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Ashes: Australia 2–1
2003 Kangaroo Tour
Great Britain vs. Australia First Test Great Britain 18–22 Australia Second Test Great Britain 20–23 Australia Third Test Great Britain 12–18 Australia
Played: 6 Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0 Ashes: Australia 3–0
Kangaroo tour of New Zealand 1919
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 21–44 Australia Second Test New Zealand 26–10 Australia Third Test New Zealand 23–34 Australia Fourth Test New Zealand 2–32 Australia
Played: 9 Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–1
1935
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 22–14 Australia Second Test New Zealand 8–29 Australia Third Test New Zealand 8–31 Australia
Played: 6 Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
1949
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 26–21 Australia Second Test New Zealand 10–13 Australia
Played: 10 Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
1953
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 25–5 Australia Second Test New Zealand 12–11 Australia Third Test New Zealand 16–18 Australia
Played: 9 Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2–1
1961
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 12–10 Australia Second Test New Zealand 8–10 Australia
Played: 9 Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
1965
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 8–13 Australia Second Test New Zealand 7–5 Australia
Played: 8 Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
1969
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 10–20 Australia Second Test New Zealand 18–14 Australia
Played: 6 Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
1971
New Zealand vs. Australia
First Test New Zealand 24–3 Australia
Played: 3 Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2 Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1–0
1980
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 6–27 Australia Second Test New Zealand 6–15 Australia
Played: 7 Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–0
1985
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test Australia 26–20 New Zealand (Brisbane) Second Test New Zealand 6–10 Australia Third Test New Zealand 18–0 Australia
Played: 6 Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
1989
New Zealand vs. Australia First Test New Zealand 6–26 Australia Second Test New Zealand 0–8 Australia Third Test New Zealand 14–22 Australia
Played: 6 Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1 Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–0
Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea 1991
Papua New Guinea vs. Australia First Test Papua New Guinea 2–58 Australia Second Test Papua New Guinea 6–40 Australia
Played: 5 Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0 Test series: Australia 2–0
See also The Invincibles (rugby league) Rugby League Ashes Australia national rugby league team Great Britain national rugby league team
References
Further reading
External links Kangaroo Legs