1954 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1954 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 1954. Captained by Dickie Williams, the tour involved a schedule of 32 games: 22 in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, with two three-match Test Series against both nations. The tour began inauspiciously, with Great Britain losing four of their first seven matches, including the First Test against Australia in Sydney. Moving into the Queensland leg, the Lions' results improved, and they won all nine of their matches in the state. This included victory in the Second Test in Brisbane. A common feature of many of the tour matches was rough play, punches being throw in and out of tackles. The July 10 match against New South Wales was abandoned by the referee seventeen minutes into the second half due to persistent brawling by the players. One week after the abandoned game, Australia won the Third Test to claim the Ashes by a 2–1 margin. Moving to New Zealand, Great Britain lost the Second Test, but recovered to win the Third Test and the series, by a 2–1 margin. The tour concluded with three matches in five days back in Australia at Sydney, Canberra and Maitland. Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh, two from Scotland and hooker Tom McKinney from Northern Ireland – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.

Squad This was the first Lions tour where the touring party travelled to Australia by air, instead of by ship. Player Age Weight Club TestsonTour GamesinAus GamesinNZ Tries Goals FG Points Ernie Ashcroft 29 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Wigan 5 11 11 0 0 33 Billy Boston 20 13 st. 9 lb. (87 kg) Wigan 5 12 36 0 0 108 Jim Bowden 22 14 st. 5 lb. (91 kg) Huddersfield 3 13 2 0 0 6 Brian Briggs 21 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Huddersfield 1 11 3 0 0 9 Alf Burnell 26 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) Hunslet 1 10 7 0 0 21 Ted Cahill 27 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Rochdale Hornets 8 0 14 0 28 Frank Castle 29 5 st. 9 lb. (36 kg) Barrow 1 4 6 0 0 18 Jack Cunliffe 31 11 st. 9 lb. (74 kg) Wigan 1 10 9 29 0 85 Doug Greenall 26 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) St Helens 1 14 13 0 0 39 Geoff Gunney 20 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) Hunslet 3 10 6 0 0 18 Tommy Harris 25 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) Hull 2 8 2 0 0 6 Gerry Helme 31 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) Warrington 5 12 5 0 0 15 John Henderson 24 14 st. 7 lb. (92 kg) Workington 11 1 0 0 3 Phil Jackson 22 13 st. 10 lb. (87 kg) Barrow 6 12 7 0 0 21 Lewis Jones 23 12 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) Leeds 6 13 8 125 2 278 Tom McKinney 26 14 st. 7 lb. (92 kg) Salford 4 15 2 0 0 6 Terry O'Grady 19 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) Oldham 5 10 28 0 0 84 Charlie Pawsey 29 14 st. 13 lb. (95 kg) Leigh 4 12 3 0 0 9 Alan Prescott 26 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) St Helens 6 13 1 0 0 3 Raymond Price 29 11 st. 11 lb. (75 kg) Warrington 3 12 8 0 0 24 Nat Silcock 24 15 st. 2 lb. (96 kg) Wigan 3 14 6 0 0 18 Ken Traill 28 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Bradford Northern 2 11 1 0 0 3 Andrew Turnbull 23 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) Barrow 2 2 0 0 6 Dave Valentine 27 13 st. 10 lb. (87 kg) Huddersfield 5 13 6 0 0 18 Jack Wilkinson 24 14 st. 8 lb. (93 kg) Halifax 3 14 5 0 0 15 Dickie Williams 29 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) Hunslet 3 12 8 0 0 24

Australian leg

Team list:Western Division: FB: Ron Beaumont ( Canowindra), WG: P. Weldon (Trangie), CE: Joe Cohen ( Wellington), CE: Laurie Burke ( St Patrick's), WG: Peter Marks ( Warren), FE: Peter Bracken ( Parkes), HB: Keith Deacon (Dubbo), LK: R. Harben ( Baradine), SR: Frank Hogan ( St Patrick's), SR: Ron Potter (Our Boys), PR: R. Border (Coonabarabran), HK: Ken Fogarty ( Forbes), PR: Bryan Cameron (Trangie), Coach: Frank Bell (Arms Factory). Great Britain: FB: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Terry O'Grady, CE: Doug Greenall, WG: Lewis Jones, FE: Phil Jackson, HB: Alf Burnell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Brian Briggs, SR: Nat Silcock, PR: Jim Bowden, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: John Henderson.

Team list:Newcastle: FB: Dave Parkinson (age 31) ( Cessnock), WG: Bill Callinan ( Maitland), CE: Geoff Hawkey (20) ( Centrals), CE: Frank Threlfo (22) ( Maitland), WG: Don Adams (21) ( Maitland), FE: Merv Walters ( Cessnock), HB: Bobby Banks (24) ( Waratah Mayfield), LK: Barry Levido (24) ( Cessnock), SR: Don Schofield (23) ( Cessnock), SR: Doug Chappell (23) ( Kurri), PR: Fred Brown (26) ( Maitland), HK: Bob Crane (30) ( Norths), PR: Doug Hawke (24) ( Norths), Coach: Frank Hawthorne ( Centrals). Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Andrew Turnbull, CE: Doug Greenall, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Frank Castle, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Charlie Pawsey, SR: Brian Briggs, PR: Alan Prescott, HK: Tommy Harris, PR: Jack Wilkinson.

Team list:Riverina: FB: Peter McGrath ( Temora), WG: Johnny Graves ( Cootamundra), CE: Wal Towers ( Gundagai), CE: Gerry Lowe ( Cowra), WG: Jim Denaher (Ungarie), FE: Brian Longhurst ( Gundagai), HB: Doug Cameron ( Young), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Young), SR: Len Henman ( Temora), SR: Kenneth Fitzgerald ( Tarcutta), PR: Nevyl Hand ( Gundagai), HK: Ken Mulrooney ( Kangaroos), PR: G. Robinson ( Young). Albert Paul ( Griffith) and Tom Ryan ( Temora) were selected but withdrew owing to injury. Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Andrew Turnbull, CE: Phil Jackson, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Terry O'Grady, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Alf Burnell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Geoff Gunney, SR: Charlie Pawsey, PR: John Henderson, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: Jim Bowden.

Team list:Sydney: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Ross Kite (22) ( St George), CE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), CE: Merv Lees (21) ( St George), WG: Kevin Hole (21) ( St George), FE: Johnny Dougherty (22) ( Souths), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Roy Bull (24) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Don Evenden (24) ( Norths). Great Britain: FB: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Doug Greenall, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Lewis Jones, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Nat Silcock, SR: Jack Wilkinson, PR: Jim Bowden, HK: Tommy Harris, PR: John Henderson.

Team list:Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell ( Wests), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C.), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), CE: Johnny Rouse ( Nowra), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Wests), FE: Col Donohue ( Corrimal), HB: Noel Hill ( Thirroul), SR: Noel Mulligan (28) ( C.B.C.), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), LK: Jack Quinn ( Gerringong), PR: Austin Lawler ( C.B.C.), HK: Neville Gosson (Bargo), PR: Bruce Noble (21) ( Jamberoo). Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Terry O'Grady, CE: Doug Greenall, CE: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Frank Castle, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Alf Burnell, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Dave Valentine, SR: Charlie Pawsey, PR: Alan Prescott, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: Jack Wilkinson.

Team list:New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Johnny Dougherty (22) ( Souths), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Roy Bull (28) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (24) ( St George), PR: Jim Evans (24) ( Newtown). The following were named as reserves but did not play: Bill Garvin (22) ( Balmain) and Barry Levido (22) ( Cessnock). Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Terry O'Grady, CE: Doug Greenall, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, WG: Frank Castle, FE: Phil Jackson, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Nat Silcock, SR: Charlie Pawsey, PR: Alan Prescott, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: Jack Wilkinson.

1st Test

Team list:Australia: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), CE: Ken McCaffery (22) ( Toowoomba Souths), CE: Alex Watson (24) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Bob Banks (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Kel O'Shea (20) (Ayr), PR: Roy Bull (28) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs). The following were named as reserves but did not play: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong) and Brian Davies (23) ( Booval Swifts). Great Britain: FB: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Lewis Jones, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, CE: Phil Jackson, WG: Frank Castle, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Ken Traill, SR: Dave Valentine, SR: Nat Silcock, PR: Alan Prescott, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: Jack Wilkinson.

Team list:Brisbane: FB: Norm Pope (22) ( Valleys), WG: Wally McDonald (27) ( Valleys), CE: Noel Hurley ( Valleys), CE: Alex Watson (22) ( Wests), WG: Garry Barnett ( Valleys), FE: Keith Brown ( Wynnum), HB: Ken Booth ( Easts), LK: Jack Jones ( Valleys), SR: Stan Hassum ( Norths), SR: Norm McFadden ( Valleys), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Wests), HK: Johnny Flynn ( Wests), PR: Don Davey ( Norths). Leo Johnson ( Souths) was selected in the Brisbane team but did not play owing to injury. Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Phil Jackson, CE: Lewis Jones, WG: Terry O'Grady, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Brian Briggs, SR: Charlie Pawsey, PR: Jim Bowden, HK: Tommy Harris, PR: John Henderson.

Team list:Queensland: FB: Norm Pope (age 22) ( Valleys), WG: Bob Buckley (23) (Ayr), CE: Alex Watson (22) ( Wests), CE: Ken McCaffery (24) ( Toowoomba Souths), WG: Denis Flannery (26) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Bob Banks (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( Toowoomba Newtown), LK: Kel O'Shea (20) (Ayr), SR: Brian Davies (24) ( Booval Swifts), SR: Bernie Drew (25) ( Ipswich Railways), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Wests), HK: Alan Hornery (28) ( Booval Swifts), PR: Jack Rooney (27) ( Toowoomba All Whites). Great Britain: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Phil Jackson, CE: Lewis Jones, WG: Terry O'Grady, FE: Dickie Williams, HB: Gerry Helme, LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Brian Briggs, SR: Charlie Pawsey, PR: Jim Bowden, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: John Henderson.

Team list:Wide Bay: FB: Angie Venardos (North Coast), WG: Jim Gowdie (Gympie), CE: Cec Cooper (Bundaberg), CE: Noel Hawthorne (North Coast), WG: B. Jamieson (Gympie), FE: Ted Barnes (Bundaberg), HB: D. Nixon (Bundaberg), LK: M. Ziebath (Lower South Burnett), SR: Don Bowes (Rovers), SR: H. Symonds (Bundaberg), PR: P. Iszlaub (Lower South Burnett), HK: Keith Weston (Western Suburbs), PR: WP. Hegerty ( Cherbourg). Great Britain: FB: Jack Cunliffe, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Doug Greenall, CE: Dickie Williams, WG: Terry O'Grady, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Alf Burnell, LK: Geoff Gunney, SR: Charlie Pawsey, SR: Jack Wilkinson, PR: John Henderson, HK: Tommy Harris, PR: Jim Bowden.

Team list:North Queensland Southern Districts/Zone: FB: Lou Della-Vedova ( Magpies), WG: Bill Rasmussen ( Bucas), CE: Ike Sturgeon ( Marian), CE: Ron O'Brien ( Bucas), WG: Brian Dimmock ( Collinsville), FE: Les Kieseker ( Magpies), HB: Doug Shew ( Marian), LK: Hume Ronald ( Carltons), SR: Kevin Elliott ( Magpies), SR: Charlie Ogilvie ( Magpies), PR: Ross Ryan ( Bucas), HK: Don McKenzie ( Magpies), PR: Ross Primrose ( Carltons). Great Britain: FB: Lewis Jones, WG: Billy Boston, CE: Ernie Ashcroft, CE: Doug Greenall, WG: Nat Silcock, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Alf Burnell, LK: Geoff Gunney, SR: Brian Briggs, SR: Jack Wilkinson, PR: Jim Bowden, HK: Tom McKinney, PR: Tommy Harris.