1970 Rugby League World Cup

1970 Rugby League World Cup was the fifth World Cup for men's National rugby league teams. Held between 27 October and 7 November and hosted in England. It was won by Australia who defeated Great Britain in the final.

After winning the tournament, the Australian team put the World Cup trophy on display in the Midland Hotel in Bradford. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Squads

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Venues

Headingley in Leeds hosted a group game between Great Britain and Australia and also hosted the World Cup final.

Leeds	Wigan	Bradford
Headingley	Central Park	Odsal Stadium
Capacity: 30,000	Capacity: 40,000	Capacity: 40,000
Swinton	Hull	Castleford
Station Road	The Boulevard	Wheldon Road
Capacity: 35,000	Capacity: 16,000	Capacity: 15,000

Results

Template:Rugbybox Australia beat the Kiwis easily at Wigan in the opening fixture with Eric Simms repeating his form of the 1968 tourney by landing a record ten goals.

---

Template:Rugbybox Britain came from 0–4 behind to defeat Australia 11–4 at Headingley with Syd Hynes scoring the game's only try.

---

The try of the tournament was scored by the sensational French winger Serge Marsolan against New Zealand in a mud-bath at Hull. Marsolan ran from behind his own line for a try fit to win any match but the lackadaisical French lost 15–16.

---

The French put up a great fight against Britain in vile conditions, only to lose 0–6 at Castleford to three penalties from Ray Dutton.

---

Template:Rugbybox Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

---

Template:RugbyboxThis incredibly exciting game has been described as the tournament's piece de resistance. Aussie centre Bobby Fulton scored a try within seconds of the kick-off – probably the quickest ever in international matches. However, with ten minutes to go and the scores level at 15–15, the French stole the game when stand-off half Jean Capdouze dropped a monster goal. The Kangaroos' loss to France meant it was Australia's superior points differential (on the back of their pointsfest in the opening game against New Zealand) alone that got them into the final with the undefeated Great Britain team.

Table

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL |show_positions=n|res_col_header=Q |for_against_style=points|winpoints=2

|team1=GBR|name_GBR=Template:Rl |team2=AUS|name_AUS=Template:Rl |team3=FRA|name_FRA=Template:Rl |team4=NZL|name_NZL=Template:Rl |win_GBR=3|draw_GBR=0|loss_GBR=0|pf_GBR=44|pa_GBR=21 |win_AUS=1|draw_AUS=0|loss_AUS=2|pf_AUS=66|pa_AUS=39 |win_FRA=1|draw_FRA=0|loss_FRA=2|pf_FRA=32|pa_FRA=37 |win_NZL=1|draw_NZL=0|loss_NZL=2|pf_NZL=44|pa_NZL=89 |result1=A|result2=A |col_A=green2|text_A=Qualified for the World Cup final |update=complete|source= }}

Final

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

FB 1 Ray Dutton RW 2 Alan Smith RC 3 Syd Hynes LC 4 Frank Myler (c) LW 5 John Atkinson SO 6 Mick Shoebottom SH 7 Keith Hepworth PR 8 Dennis Hartley HK 9 Tony Fisher PR 10 Cliff Watson SR 11 Jimmy Thompson SR 12 Doug Laughton LF 13 Mal Reilly Substitutions: IC 14 Chris Hesketh IC 15 Bob Haigh Coach: Template:Flagicon Johnny Whiteley

FB 1 Eric Simms RW 2 Lionel Williamson RC 3 John Cootes LC 4 Paul Sait LW 5 Mark Harris FE 6 Bob Fulton HB 7 Billy Smith PR 8 John O'Neill HK 9 Ron Turner PR 10 Bob O'Reilly SR 11 Bob McCarthy SR 12 Ron Costello LK 13 Ron Coote (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Ray Branighan IC 15 Elwyn Walters Coach: Template:Flagicon Harry Bath

Having retained the Ashes, Great Britain were favourites to win the final,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingley'<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> due to its brutality. However it went completely against expectations as Britain failed to play any decent football despite overwhelming possession. The Kangaroos led 5–4 at half-time with a try to Australian three-quarter, Father John Cootes. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12–7 victors. The game itself was violent, although it was not until the final minute that Billy Smith of Australia, who had earlier kicked out at a scrum, and Syd Hynes of Great Britain were sent off.

Try scorers

5

• Template:Flagicon John Cootes

4

• Template:Flagicon Serge Marsolan

2

• Template:Flagicon Bob Fulton
• Template:Flagicon John Atkinson
• Template:Flagicon Syd Hynes
• Template:Flagicon Garry Smith

1

• Template:Flagicon Ray Branighan
• Template:Flagicon Ron Coote
• Template:Flagicon Bob McCarthy
• Template:Flagicon Eric Simms
• Template:Flagicon Billy Smith
• Template:Flagicon Ron Turner
• Template:Flagicon Lionel Williamson
• Template:Flagicon Élie Bonal
• Template:Flagicon Jean Capdouze
• Template:Flagicon Chris Hesketh
• Template:Flagicon Doug Laughton
• Template:Flagicon Cliff Watson
• Template:Flagicon Mocky Brereton
• Template:Flagicon Roy Christian
• Template:Flagicon Graeme Cooksley
• Template:Flagicon Tony Kriletich

External links

• 1970 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk
• 1970 World Cup at rlwc2008.com
• 1970 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com
• 1970 World Cup final at eraofthebiff.com
• 1970 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
• 1970 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk