The 1950 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1950. The tour involved a schedule of 25 games: 19 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes, and a further 6 in New Zealand including two test matches against New Zealand. A scheduled fixture in Forbes, New South Wales, against a Western Districts team, was abandoned when the chartered plane could not land due to bad weather. Captained by Ernest Ward, the Lions returned home having won 19 and lost 6 of their games. The team won the first test match of the tour but lost the second and third to lose the Ashes Test series to Australia. The team also lost both Test Matches in and against New Zealand. Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.

Squad The touring party departed for Australia on 20 April aboard the SS Himalaya. Tom Spedding was the Team Manager, and George Oldroyd was the Business Manager, of the touring party.

Player Age Weight Club TestsonTour GamesinAus GamesinNZ Tries Goals FG Points Ernie Ashcroft 25 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) Wigan 4 10 4 0 0 12 Tommy Bradshaw 29 10 st. 5 lb. (66 kg) Wigan 4 10 1 0 0 3 Jack Cunliffe 29 11 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) Wigan 2 12 14 9 0 60 Tom Danby 23 13 st. 6 lb. (85 kg) Salford 3 13 34 0 0 102 Arthur Daniels 27 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) Halifax 0 4 5 0 0 15 Joe Egan 31 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Wigan 5 11 3 0 0 9 Jim Featherstone 27 14 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Warrington 2 9 10 0 0 30 Ken Gee 33 15 st. 10 lb. (100 kg) Wigan 5 10 1 9 0 21 Elwyn Gwyther 29 14 st. 7 lb. (92 kg) Belle Vue Rangers 3 12 2 0 0 6 Fred Higgins 29 14 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Widnes 5 11 4 0 0 12 Jack Hilton 29 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) Wigan 4 8 21 0 0 63 Willie Horne 26 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) Barrow 0 5 2 13 0 32 Jimmy Ledgard 27 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) Leigh 3 11 2 37 0 80 Harry Murphy 29 14 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Wakefield Trinity 1 10 2 0 0 6 Danny Naughton 25 15 st. 7 lb. (98 kg) Widnes 0 8 2 0 0 6 Frank Osmond 30 13 st. 7 lb. (86 kg) Swinton 0 8 4 0 0 12 Albert Pepperell 28 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) Workington 1 9 7 0 0 21 Doug Phillips 30 14 st. 12 lb. (94 kg) Belle Vue Rangers 1 8 7 0 0 21 Roy Pollard 22 11 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) Dewsbury 1 5 5 6 0 27 Gordon Ratcliffe 24 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Wigan 2 10 6 0 0 18 Bob Ryan 26 13 st. 5 lb. (85 kg) Warrington 3 10 5 0 0 15 Martin Ryan 26 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) Wigan 1 10 4 1 0 14 Harry Street 22 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Dewsbury 4 12 3 0 0 9 Ken Traill 23 13 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) Bradford Northern 2 10 7 0 0 21 Ernest Ward 29 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Bradford Northern 5 12 8 52 0 128 Dickie Williams 25 10 st. 5 lb. (66 kg) Leeds 4 9 7 0 0 21

Australian leg

Team list:Western Australia: FB: Joe McGuiness ( Fremantle), WG: Tom Myles ( Cottesloe), CE: Terry Sullivan ( Fremantle), CE: George Jannings ( Applecross), WG: T. Boyd ( Fremantle), FE: L. McGann (Perth), HB: S. Saxon ( South Perth), LK: Les Graham ( Cottesloe), SR: R. Patching ( South Perth), SR: G. Voules ( South Perth), PR: R. Slater ( South Perth), HK: P. Neary (Perth), PR: D. Tonkin ( Fremantle), CH: N. Stohlberg.

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Jack Hilton, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Tom Danby, WG: Arthur Daniels, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Murphy, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Doug Phillips, PR: Ken Gee, HK: Frank Osmond, PR: Jim Featherstone.

Team list:Monaro: FB: A. James ( Canberra), WG: D. Stewart ( Bombala), CE: Tom Briggs ( Goulburn), CE: J. Gibson ( North Canberra), WG: P. Conroy | Queanbeyan), FE: Jack McIntosh ( Tathra), HB: Neville Hogan ( North Canberra), LK: William McKell ( Goulburn), SR: B. Davis ( Batemans Bay), SR: Don Penning ( Goulburn), PR: A. Norgrove ( Canberra), HK: Ted Dawson (Bigga), PR: Glen Spence ( Goulburn).

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Roy Pollard, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, FE: Willie Horne, HB: Albert Pepperell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Bob Ryan, PR: Danny Naughton, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Elwyn Gwyther.

Team list:Newcastle: FB: George Neader (22) ( Waratah Mayfield), WG: William Bunt (24) ( Central Newcastle), CE: Viv Madge (27) ( Kurri Kurri), CE: William Bower (24) ( South Newcastle), WG: Jack Lumsden (20) ( Cessnock), FE: Horrie Banks (27) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Jim Scoular (27) ( Lakes United), LK: Jack Hutchinson (27) ( Northern Suburbs), SR: Bob Alexander (26) ( Cessnock), SR: Jim Evans (21) ( Maitland), PR: Gavin Stevenson (25) ( Cessnock), HK: Bob Crane (27) ( Northern Suburbs), PR: Ramsay Buckley (26) ( Lakes United), CH: Reg Cody.

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Arthur Daniels, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Jack Hilton, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Street, SR: Harry Murphy, SR: Bob Ryan, PR: Elwyn Gwyther, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Ken Gee.

Team list:Riverina: FB: Peter McGrath ( West Wyalong), WG: Stan Larkings ( Junee), CE: Kevin Wallace (age 24) (Boorowa), CE: Keith Tull ( Cootamundra), WG: John Biscaya (Wagga), FE: Roley McDonnel ( Cootamundra), HB: Col Donohue ( Barmedman), LK: Lew Evans ( Temora), SR: Sid Hobson ( Young), SR: Paddy Maloney ( Young), PR: Jim Thomson ( Cowra), HK: Ken McDonald ( Barmedman), PR: Nevyl Hand ( Gundagai), CH: Len Smith.

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Tom Danby, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Roy Pollard, FE: Willie Horne, HB: Albert Pepperell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Doug Phillips, PR: Danny Naughton, HK: Frank Osmond, PR: Elwyn Gwyther.

Team list:New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (age 23) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (23) ( St George), CE: Johnny Hawke (24) ( St George), CE: Doug McRitchie (27) ( St George), WG: Jack Troy (22) ( Newtown), FE: Frank Stanmore (20) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Perce Pritchard (23) ( Manly-Warringah), LK: Les Cowie (25) ( South Sydney), SR: Fred De Belin (28) ( Balmain), SR: Jack Rayner (28) ( South Sydney), PR: Jack Holland (26) ( St George), HK: Kevin Schubert (22) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Roy Bull (20) ( Manly-Warringah), CH: Vic Hey.

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Roy Pollard, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Jack Hilton, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Street, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Bob Ryan, PR: Ken Gee, HK: Joe Egan, 1950: PR: Elwyn Gwyther.

1st Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Clive Churchill (age 23) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (23) ( St George), CE: Doug McRitchie (27) ( St George), CE: Keith Middleton (19) ( North Sydney), WG: Jack Troy (22) ( Newtown), FE: Frank Stanmore (20) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Keith Holman (22) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Les Cowie (25) ( South Sydney), SR: Fred De Belin (28) ( Balmain), SR: Alan Thompson (27) ( Souths), PR: Jack Holland (26) ( St George), HK: Kevin Schubert (22) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Duncan Hall (24) (Home Hill).

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Jack Hilton, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Street, SR: Bob Ryan, SR: Fred Higgins, PR: Ken Gee, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Elwyn Gwyther.

Team list:North Coast: FB: Dudley Jones (Murwillumbah), WG: Johnny Meyers (Lismore), CE: Barry Redding (Camden Haven), CE: Alf Roach ( Kyogle), WG: Wally Williams (Coffs Harbour), FE: Jim Ruge (Kempsey CYM), HB: Stan Ponchard (Kempsey CYM), LK: Kevin Ryan ( Wauchope), SR: Ken Gray (24) ( Grafton), SR: Gordon McCarthy (Taree), PR: Keith Dinsey ( Cudgen), HK: Kevin McKeirnan (18) (Kempsey CYM), PR: Jack Monaghan ( Beechwood). CH: Reg Cody.

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Tom Danby, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Arthur Daniels, FE: Willie Horne, HB: Albert Pepperell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Doug Phillips, SR: Harry Murphy, PR: Jim Featherstone, HK: Frank Osmond, PR: Danny Naughton

Team list:Queensland: FB: Nev Linde (Tivoli), WG: Denis Flannery (22) (Ipswich CYM), CE: Colin Quinn (22) (Ipswich CYM), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), WG: Pat McMahon (22) (Babinda Trojans), FE: Ned Andrews (28) (Mackay - played for each club in turn), HB: Billy Thompson (26) (Warwick), LK: Harold Crocker (22) ( Souths), SR: Alan Thompson (27) ( Souths), SR: Brian Davies (20) ( Brothers), PR: Duncan Hall (24) (Home Hill), HK: Ron Griffiths (Ipswich CYM), PR: Jack Rooney ( Brothers), CH: Fred Gilbert.

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Jack Hilton, FE: Willie Horne, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Street, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Bob Ryan, PR: Ken Gee, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Jim Featherstone.

Team list:North Queensland: FB: Jack Gayler (Babinda Trojans), WG: Pat McMahon (Babinda Trojans), CE: Jack Horrigan (Ayr), CE: Gordon Farrelly (21) (Home Hill), WG: Bert Sager (25) (Souths), FE: Ned Andrews (27) (Mackay - played for each club in turn), HB: Ron O'Connell (Hughenden), LK: Lionel Armitt (25) ( Brothers), SR: Duncan Hall (22) (Home Hill), SR: Les Renouf (Sarina), PR: Jack Munn (26) (Herbert River), HK: Henry Benton (Centrals), PR: Charlie Montgomery (Carltons).

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Tom Danby, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Albert Pepperell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Doug Phillips, SR: Harry Murphy, PR: Elwyn Gwyther, HK: Frank Osmond, PR: Danny Naughton.

Team list:Central Queensland: FB: Alan Poole ( Brothers), WG: Leo Jeffcoat ( Brothers), CE: K. Roberts ( Brothers), CE: William Cuddy ( Brothers), WG: D. McDonald ( Fitzroys), FE: Dooley Turner ( Brothers), HB: Brad Neven ( Fitzroys), PR: C. Harkin ( Brothers), HK: Graham Lee ( Fitzroys), PR: Stan Petersen ( Fitzroys), SR: Tony Brown ( Brothers), SR: Roy Harris ( Brothers), LK: W. Hick (Blackall).

Great Britain: FB: Martin Ryan, WG: Tom Danby, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, FE: Willie Horne, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Doug Phillips, SR: Fred Higgins, PR: Jim Featherstone, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Ken Gee.

Team list:Wide Bay Burnett: FB: Kev White (Maryborough), WG: Des Dahl (Bundaberg), CE: Rex McGlynn (Bundaberg), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), WG: Ken Gayton (Bundaberg), FE: Ken Kennedy (Wallaroos), HB: Stan Daunt (Gympie), LK: Doug Cozens (Maryborough), SR: Col Wilson (Kingaroy), SR: K. Wise (Bundaberg), FR: Sid Murray (Gympie), HK: Les Sommerville (Bundaberg), FR: Keith Kendrick (Maryborough).

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Jack Cunliffe, CE: Harry Street, WG: Tom Danby, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Albert Pepperell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Bob Ryan, SR: Harry Murphy, PR: Danny Naughton, HK: Frank Osmond, PR: Jim Featherstone.

2nd Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Clive Churchill (23) ( South Sydney), WG: Denis Flannery (21) (Ipswich CYM), CE: Ned Andrews (27) (Mackay), CE: Keith Middleton (18) ( North Sydney), WG: Johnny Graves (23) ( South Sydney), FE: Frank Stanmore (20) ( Western Suburbs), HB: Keith Holman (22) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Les Cowie (25) ( South Sydney), SR: Fred De Belin (28) ( Balmain), SR: Harold Crocker (22) ( Souths), FR: Jack Holland (26) ( St George), HK: Kevin Schubert (22) ( Manly-Warringah), FR: Alan Thompson (26) ( Souths).

Great Britain: FB: Jimmy Ledgard, WG: Gordon Ratcliffe, CE: Ernest Ward, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Tom Danby, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Tommy Bradshaw, LK: Harry Street, SR: Fred Higgins, SR: Harry Murphy, PR: Ken Gee, HK: Joe Egan, PR: Elwyn Gwyther.

Team list:Toowoomba: FB: William Sullivan ( All Whites), WG: Des McGovern (22) ( All Whites), CE: Bill Callinan ( Newtown), CE: Roy Teys ( Valleys), WG: Bevan Hoyle ( Newtown), FE: L. Winkle (Warwick), LK: William Curtis ( ), SR: Allen Bell (Warwick), SR: M. Smith ( ), FR: M. Krog ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( ), FR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), CH: Duncan Thompson (55).