1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France explained

Tour:	1973
Team:	Australia
Yearstart:	1973
Yearfinish:	1973
Destination:	England France
Manager:	Charles Gibson Albert Bishop
Coach:	Graeme Langlands
Captain:	Graeme Langlands Bob McCarthy Tom Raudonikis Arthur Beetson
Top Point Scorer:	Mick Cronin 77
Top Try Scorer:	Bob Fulton 20
Top Test Point Scorer:	Bob Fulton 15
Top Test Try Scorer:	Bob Fulton 5
Matchplayed:	19
Matchwon:	17
Matchdraw:	0
Matchlost:	2
Testplayed:	5
Testwon:	4
Testdraw:	0
Testlost:	1
Played1:	3
Won1:	2
Draw1:	0
Lost1:	1
Played2:	2
Won2:	2
Draw2:	0
Lost2:	0
Previous:	1967-68
Next:	1978

The 1973 Kangaroo Tour was the thirteenth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play nineteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1967-68 and the next was staged in 1978.

The squad's leadership

The team was captain-coached by Graeme Langlands making his third Kangaroo Tour. Managers of the team were Albert Bishop and Charlie Gibson with Alf Richards as the team trainer.

Touring squad

The following players were in the touring squad.^[1] |- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Player| Club| Position(s)| Tests| Games| Tries| Goals| F/Goals| Points|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Arthur Beetson (vc)| Eastern Suburbs Roosters| | align=right | 5| align=right | 16| align=right | 3| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 9|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Ray Branighan| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 4| align=right | 13| align=right | 7| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 25|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Mick Cronin| Gerringong Lions| | align=right | 2| align=right | 12| align=right | 7| align=right | 28| align=right | 0| align=right | 77|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Graham Eadie| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 2| align=right | 10| align=right | 4| align=right | 9 | align=right | 0| align=right | 30|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Bob Fulton| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 5| align=right | 14| align=right | 20| align=right | 0| align=right | 1| align=right | 61|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Ted Goodwin| St George Dragons| | align=right | 3| align=right | 10| align=right | 7| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 21|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Bill Hamilton| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 0| align=right | 8| align=right | 1| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 3|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| John Lang| Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Qld)| | align=right | 1| align=right | 7| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 6|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Graeme Langlands (c)| St George Dragons| | align=right | 1| align=right | 8| align=right | 4| align=right | 27| align=right | 0| align=right | 66|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Ken Maddison| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks| | align=right | 4| align=right | 13| align=right | 6| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 18|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Bob McCarthy (vc)| South Sydney Rabbitohs| | align=right | 2| align=right | 8| align=right | 4| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 12 |-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| John O'Neill| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 1| align=right | 6| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 0|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Bob O'Reilly| Parramatta Eels| | align=right | 4| align=right | 13| align=right | 0| align=right | 0 | align=right | 0| align=right | 0|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Warren Orr| Wests Panthers (Qld)| | align=right | 0| align=right | 6| align=right | 4| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 12|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Tim Pickup| North Sydney Bears| | align=right | 4| align=right | 12| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 6|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Greg Pierce| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks| | align=right | 1| align=right | 8| align=right | 1| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 3|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Terry Randall| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles| | align=right | 0| align=right | 5| align=right | 1| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 3|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Tom Raudonikis (vc)| Western Suburbs Magpies| | align=right | 4| align=right | 10| align=right | 3| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 9|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Steve Rogers| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks| | align=right | 0| align=right | 7| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 6|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Paul Sait| South Sydney Rabbitohs| | align=right | 4| align=right | 13| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 6|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Geoff Starling| Balmain Tigers| | align=right | 5| align=right | 13| align=right | 8| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 24|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Gary Stevens| South Sydney Rabbitohs| | align=right | 3| align=right | 8| align=right | 1| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 3|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| David Waite| Wests Wollongong| | align=right | 4| align=right | 12| align=right | 4| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 12|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Elwyn Walters| South Sydney Rabbitohs| | align=right | 4| align=right | 15| align=right | 2| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 6|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Dennis Ward| Western Suburbs Rosellas| | align=right | 0| align=right | 8| align=right | 1| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 3|-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| Lionel Williamson| Newtown Bluebags| | align=right | 3| align=right | 9| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 0| align=right | 0|-1973 NSWRFL Premiers Manly-Warringah provided a record 6 players to the Kangaroos.

Great Britain

The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 36,567 attending the Test series

Test Venues

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

London	Leeds	Warrington
Wembley	Headingley	Wilderspool
Capacity: 100,000	Capacity: 30,000	Capacity: 15,000

--------------------------------

The Ashes series

First Test

In the first rugby league international played at Wembley since 1963, the Lions shocked the then unbeaten Australian's 21-12 in front of just 9,874 fans. The match had been moved to Wembley from the Central Park ground in Wigan at the request of the Australian team management.


FB	1	Paul Charlton
RW	2	Clive Sullivan (c)
RC	3	Syd Hynes
LC	4	Chris Hesketh
LW	5	John Atkinson
SO	6	David Topliss
SH	7	Steve Nash
PR	8	Terry Clawson
HK	9	Colin Clarke
PR	10	Brian Lockwood
SR	11	Phil Lowe
SR	12	George Nicholls
LK	13	Ray Batten
Substitutions:
IC	14
IC	15
Coach:
Jim Challinor


FB	1	Graeme Langlands (c)
RW	2	Ray Branighan
RC	3	Bob Fulton
LC	4	Geoff Starling
LW	5	Ted Goodwin
FE	6	Tim Pickup
HB	7	Tommy Raudonikis
PR	8	Bob O'Reilly
HK	9	Elwyn Walters
PR	10	Arthur Beetson
SR	11	Bob McCarthy
SR	12	Ken Maddison
LF	13	Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC	14
IC	15
Coach:
Graeme Langlands

------------------------

Second Test

The second test at Headingley in Leeds saw the Australian's tie the series at one game all with a 14-6 win in front of the tours largest attendance of 16,674.


FB	1	Paul Charlton
RW	2	Clive Sullivan (c)
RC	3	Syd Hynes
LC	4	Chris Hesketh
LW	5	John Atkinson
SO	6	David Topliss
SH	7	Steve Nash
PR	8	Terry Clawson
HK	9	Colin Clarke
PR	10	Brian Lockwood
SR	11	Phil Lowe
SR	12	John Mantle
LK	13	Ray Batten
Substitutions:
IC	14	David Eckersley
IC	15	Colin Dixon
Coach:
Jim Challinor


FB	1	Graham Eadie
RW	2	Lionel Williamson
RC	3	Geoff Starling
LC	4	Ray Branighan
LW	5	Ted Goodwin
FE	6	Bob Fulton
HB	7	Tommy Raudonikis
PR	8	Bob O'Reilly
HK	9	Elwyn Walters
PR	10	Arthur Beetson
SR	11	Bob McCarthy (c)
SR	12	Gary Stevens
LF	13	Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC	14	Ken Maddison
IC	15
Coach:
Graeme Langlands

Kangaroos captain-coach Graeme Langlands was ruled out of the second test with a broken hand. To replace him at fullback, Langlands selected Manly-Warringah's 19 year old dual premiership winning fullback Graham Eadie to make his test debut (Eadie, known affectionately as "Wombat", would turn 20 the next day). Eadie was also handed the goal kicking duties on the day and despite a very strong wind making conditions tricky for kickers, kicked 5 goals which proved vital in the Kangaroos 14-6 win over the Lions to keep The Ashes series alive.

After conceding 4 tries in the first test loss at Wembley, the Kangaroos kept their line intact with the Lions only scores coming from 3 goals by prop forward Terry Clawson.

Third Test

The Kangaroos won back The Ashes with a hard fought 15-5 win in trying conditions at Warrington. The pitch at Wilderspool was frozen which suited the Australians who were used to playing on hard grounds at home.


FB	1	Paul Charlton
RW	2	Alan Smith
RC	3	Syd Hynes
LC	4	Chris Hesketh
LW	5	Clive Sullivan (c)
SO	6	David Eckersley
SH	7	Roger Millward
PR	8	Terry Clawson
HK	9	Colin Clarke
PR	10	Mick Harrison
SR	11	George Nicholls
SR	12	Phil Lowe
LK	13	Doug Laughton
Substitutions:
IC	14	David Watkins
IC	15	Colin Dixon
Coach:
Jim Challinor


FB	1	Graham Eadie
RW	2	Lionel Williamson
RC	3	Geoff Starling
LC	4	Ray Branighan
LW	5	David Waite
FE	6	Bob Fulton
HB	7	Tommy Raudonikis (c)
PR	8	Bob O'Reilly
HK	9	Elwyn Walters
PR	10	Arthur Beetson
SR	11	Ken Maddison
SR	12	Gary Stevens
LF	13	Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC	14	Tim Pickup
IC	15
Coach:
Graeme Langlands

With coach Graeme Langlands still out with a broken hand and looking on from the sidelines, the Kangaroos wrapped up the Ashes with a 15-5 win on the frozen ground at Wilderspool. Man of the match Ken Maddison crossed for two tries while Warrington born Bob Fulton, centre Geoff Starling and hooker Elwyn Walters also crossed for tries. For the Lions, their only score came from a try and goal from Hull Kingston Rovers halfback Roger Millward.

France

|- bgcolor="#CCCCFF"| Date| Opponent| Score| Ground| Referee| Crowd| Report|- bgcolor=pink| 9 December| France| 9 – 21| Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan| G. Jameau (FRA)| 5,109||-|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"| 12 December| France XIII| 12 – 24| Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux|| 2,523||-|- bgcolor=pink| 16 December| France| 3 – 14| Stade des Minimes, Toulouse| M. Caillol (FRA)| 7,060||-

French Tests

First test


FB	1	Maurice de Matos
RW	2	Serge Marsolan
RC	3	Michel Molinier
LC	4	André Ruiz
LW	5	Jean-Claude Marty
SO	6	Patrick Rives
SH	7	Roger Garrigue (c)
PR	8	Christian Carré
HK	9	Jacques Franc
PR	10	Charles Thénégal
SR	11	Jean-Jacques Cologni
SR	12	Jean-Paul Sauret
LK	13	Georges Bonet
Substitutions:
IC	14	Marius Frattini
IC	15	Serge Gleyzes
Coach:


FB	1	Ray Branighan
RW	2	Lionel Williamson
RC	3	Bob Fulton
LC	4	Michael Cronin
LW	5	David Waite
FE	6	Tim Pickup
HB	7	Tommy Raudonikis (c)
PR	8	Arthur Beetson
HK	9	John Lang
PR	10	John O'Neill
SR	11	Greg Pierce
SR	12	Elwyn Walters
LF	13	Geoff Starling
Substitutions:
IC	14	Ted Goodwin
IC	15
Coach:
Graeme Langlands

Second Test

Arthur Beetson became the first aboriginal player to captain Australia in a rugby league Test match.


FB	1	José Calle
RW	2	Serge Marsolan
RC	3	Michel Molinier
LC	4	André Ruiz
LW	5	Jean-Claude Marty
SO	6	Michel Mazaré
SH	7	Roger Garrigue (c)
PR	8	Victor Serrano
HK	9	Jacques Franc
PR	10	Christian Carré
SR	11	Jean-Paul Sauret
SR	12	Jean-Jacques Cologni
LK	13	Serge Gleyzes
Substitutions:
IC	14	Georges Bonet
IC	15	Lambert Brunet
Coach:


FB	1	Ray Branighan
RW	2	Ted Goodwin
RC	3	Michael Cronin
LC	4	Geoff Starling
LW	5	David Waite
FE	6	Bob Fulton
HB	7	Tim Pickup
PR	8	Bob O'Reilly
HK	9	Elwyn Walters
PR	10	Arthur Beetson (c)
SR	11	Ken Maddison
SR	12	Gary Stevens
LF	13	Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC	14
IC	15
Coach:
Graeme Langlands

External links

1973 Kangaroo Tour at Rugby League Project

Notes and References

Book: Christensen, E.E. . 1974 . E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book 1974 . State Library of NSW, Sydney . New South Wales Rugby League . 46.