The 1971 New Zealand rugby league tour was a series of matches played between September and November by the New Zealand national rugby league team in England and France. The team played a three-game series against Great Britain, and won the series 2–1, becoming the first New Zealand team to win a series on British soil since the inaugural 1907–08 All Golds Tour. The team also defeated France 2–0.
Touring party A 26-man touring squad was selected in August 1971, with Roy Christian named as captain.
Lory Blanchard was the coach, and Bill O'Callaghan and Jack Williams were the team co-managers.
Name Position Club/District Fullback Auckland Fullback Wellington Three-quarter Canterbury Three-quarter Auckland Three-quarter Bay of Plenty Three-quarter Wellington (c) Three-quarter Auckland Three-quarter Auckland Three-quarter Auckland Three-quarter Auckland Halves Auckland Halves Canterbury Halves Auckland Halves Auckland Prop Auckland Prop Auckland Prop Canterbury Prop Auckland Hooker Auckland Hooker Canterbury Second-row Wellington (vc) Second-row Auckland Second-row Auckland Second-row Waikato Loose forward Auckland Loose forward Auckland
Schedule and results A 25-match tour itinerary was announced in July 1971, with the tourists later agreeing to an additional fixture against Oldham. Prior to the main tour, New Zealand also played two warm-up games against amateur sides in London on 29 and 30 August. Date Opponents Score (NZ first) Venue Attendance Notes 4 September Rochdale Hornets align="center" Rochdale 2,374 6 September St Helens align="center" St Helens 8,169 8 September Hull Kingston Rovers align="center" Hull 5,746 12 September Widnes align="center" Widnes 5,787 15 September Castleford align="center" Castleford 5,889 18 September Warrington align="center" Warrington 6,295 25 September align="center" Salford 3,764 30 September Barrow align="center" Barrow-in-Furness 4,839 2 October Whitehaven align="center" Whitehaven 3,105 8 October Swinton align="center" Swinton 3,280 10 October Wigan align="center" Wigan 11,987 16 October align="center" Castleford 4,108 17 October Huddersfield align="center" Huddersfield 3,495 20 October Leigh align="center" Leigh 3,819 22 October Salford align="center" Salford 7,127 24 October Wakefield Trinity align="center" Wakefield 5,367 27 October Oldham align="center" Oldham 1,882 30 October Bradford Northern align="center" Bradford 6,277 31 October York align="center" York 2,803 6 November align="center" Leeds 5,479 11 November align="center" Perpignan 3,581 14 November Littoral Province align="center" Avignon 18 November Racing Club Albi XIII align="center" Albi 21 November align="center" Carcassonne 7,200 24 November Bordeaux Selection align="center" Bordeaux 28 November align="center" Toulouse 5,000
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