View source for 1970 Rugby League World Cup

{{Short description|Fifth Rugby League World Cup tournament}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby league international tournament
| year = 1970
| title = World Cup
| image = 
| imagesize =  
| finalists = 4
| country = United Kingdom
| winners = Australia
| count = 3
| matches = 7
| attendance = 68710
| points = 205
| tries = 
| topscorer-flag = AUS
| topscorer = [[Eric Simms (rugby league)|Eric Simms]] (37)
| top try scorer-flag = AUS
| top try scorer = [[John Cootes]] (5)
| tournaments = Rugby League World Cup
| last = [[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]]
| next = [[1972 Rugby League World Cup|1972]]
}}

'''1970 Rugby League World Cup'''  was the fifth [[Rugby League World Cup|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, Bradford|Midland Hotel]] in [[Bradford]]. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years.<ref>{{cite news 
  | title = Trophy back home – after 20 years
  | work = [[The Sun-Herald]]
  | page = 90
  | publisher = Fairfax Digital
  | date = 2 June 1990
  | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news900602_0095_0566
  | access-date = 7 October 2009}}</ref>

== Squads ==
{{main|1970 Rugby League World Cup squads}}

== Venues ==
Headingley in Leeds hosted a group game between Great Britain and Australia and also hosted the World Cup final.
<div style="text-align: center;">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! '''[[Leeds]]'''
! [[Wigan]]
! [[Bradford]]
|-
| '''[[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]]'''
| [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]]
| [[Odsal Stadium]]
|-
| Capacity: '''30,000'''
| Capacity: '''40,000'''
| Capacity: '''40,000'''
|-
| [[File:South Stand, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014) 001.JPG|200px]]
| [[File:Central park kop.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Odsal Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 60082.jpg|200px]]
|-
! [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]]
! [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]]
! [[Castleford]]
|-
| [[Station Road, Swinton|Station Road]]
| [[The Boulevard (stadium)|The Boulevard]]
| [[The Jungle (Wheldon Road)|Wheldon Road]]
|-
| Capacity: '''35,000'''
| Capacity: '''16,000'''
| Capacity: '''15,000'''
|-
| [[File:GB v AUS 09-11-1963 at Station Road 1.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:The Boulevard rugby league ground Hull.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Wheldonroadmainstand.jpg|200px]]
|}</div>

== Results ==

{{Rugbybox |
date = 21 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|AUS}} |
score = 47 – 11 |
away = {{Rl|NZL}} |
stadium = [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] |
attendance = 9,805 |
}}
Australia beat the Kiwis easily at Wigan in the opening fixture with [[Eric Simms (rugby league)|Eric Simms]] repeating his form of the 1968 tourney by landing a record ten goals.
----

{{Rugbybox |
date = 24 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|GBR}} |
score = 11 – 4 |
away = {{Rl|AUS}} |
stadium = [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]] |
attendance = 15,084 |
}}
Britain came from 0–4 behind to defeat Australia 11–4 at Headingley with [[Syd Hynes]] scoring the game's only try.
----

{{Rugbybox |
date = 25 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|FRA}} |
score = 15 – 16 |
away = {{Rl|NZL}} |
stadium = [[The Boulevard (stadium)|The Boulevard]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] |
attendance = 3,824 |
}}

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.
----

{{Rugbybox |
date = 28 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|GBR}} |
score = 6 – 0 |
away = {{Rl|FRA}} |
stadium = [[The Jungle (Wheldon Road)|Wheldon Road]], [[Castleford]] |
attendance = 8,958 |
}}

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]].
----

{{Rugbybox |
date = 31 October |
home = {{Rl-rt|GBR}} |
score = 27 – 17 |
away = {{Rl|NZL}} |
stadium = [[Station Road, Swinton|Station Road]], [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]] |
attendance = 5,609 |
}}
Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.<ref>{{cite news 
  | last = AAP
  |author2= Reuter
  | title = Britain has easy Cup win
  | newspaper = [[The Age]]
  | page = 18
  | date = 2 November 1970
  | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2WIQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4541,102738
  | access-date = 6 October 2009}}</ref>
----

{{Rugbybox |
date = 1 November |
home = {{Rl-rt|AUS}} |
score = 15 – 17 |
away = {{Rl|FRA}} |
stadium = [[Odsal Stadium]], [[Bradford]] |
attendance = 6,654 |
}}This 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 ===
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL
|show_positions=n|res_col_header=Q
|for_against_style=points|winpoints=2

|team1=GBR|name_GBR={{Rl|GBR}}
|team2=AUS|name_AUS={{Rl|AUS}}
|team3=FRA|name_FRA={{Rl|FRA}}
|team4=NZL|name_NZL={{Rl|NZL}}
|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=
}}</onlyinclude>

=== Final ===
{{main|1970 Rugby League World Cup final}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox 
|bg         = #eeeeee
|date       = 7 November 1970
|team1      = {{rl-rt|GBR}}
|score      = 7–12
|team2      = {{rl|AUS}}
|points1    = '''Tries:''' <br> [[John Atkinson (rugby league)|John Atkinson]] <br><br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Ray Dutton]] (1) <br> '''Field Goal:''' <br> [[Syd Hynes]]
|points2    = '''Tries:''' <br> [[John Cootes]] <br> [[Lionel Williamson]] <br> '''Goals:''' <br> [[Eric Simms (rugby league)|Eric Simms]] (2) <br> '''Field Goal:''' <br> Eric Simms
|stadium    = [[Headingley Carnegie Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]]
|attendance = 18,776
|referee    = [[Fred Lindop]] {{flagicon|GBR}}
|manofmatch = 
|report     =<ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/world-cup-1970/final/australia-vs-great-britain.html Report]</ref>
}}
{| width=92%
|-
|{{Football kit
 |pattern_la = _GBRL
 |pattern_b  = _GBR1
 |pattern_ra = _blue_stripes2
 |pattern_sh = _red_stripes2
 |pattern_so = _britishlions12
 |leftarm    = FFFFFF
 |body       = FFFFFF
 |rightarm   = FFFFFF
 |shorts     = FFFFFF
 |socks      = FFFFFF
 |title      = Great Britain
}}
|{{Football kit
 |pattern_la = _kangaroos
 |pattern_b  = _kangaroos1992
 |pattern_ra = _kangaroos
 |pattern_sh = _thingoldsides
 |pattern_so = _hoops_gold
 |leftarm    = 023E00
 |body       = 023E00
 |rightarm   = 023E00
 |shorts     = 023E00
 |socks      = 023E00
 |title      = Australia
}}
|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''1'''|| [[Ray Dutton]]
|-
|RW ||'''2'''|| [[Alan Smith (rugby league, born 1944)|Alan Smith]]
|-
|RC ||'''3'''|| [[Syd Hynes]]
|-
|LC ||'''4'''|| [[Frank Myler]] ([[Captain (sports)|c]])
|-
|LW ||'''5'''|| [[John Atkinson (rugby league)|John Atkinson]]
|-
|SO ||'''6'''|| [[Mick Shoebottom]]
|-
|SH ||'''7'''|| [[Keith Hepworth]]
|-
|PR ||'''8'''|| [[Dennis Hartley]]
|-
|HK ||'''9'''|| [[Tony Fisher (rugby)|Tony Fisher]]
|-
|PR ||'''10'''|| [[Cliff Watson]]
|-
|SR ||'''11'''|| [[Jimmy Thompson (rugby league)|Jimmy Thompson]]
|-
|SR ||'''12'''|| [[Doug Laughton]]
|-
|LF ||'''13'''|| [[Mal Reilly]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|IC ||'''14'''|| [[Chris Hesketh]]
|-
|IC ||'''15'''|| [[Bob Haigh]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Coach:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Johnny Whiteley]]
|}
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|FB ||'''1'''|| [[Eric Simms (rugby league)|Eric Simms]]
|-
|RW ||'''2'''|| [[Lionel Williamson]]
|-
|RC ||'''3'''|| [[John Cootes]]
|-
|LC ||'''4'''|| [[Paul Sait]]
|-
|LW ||'''5'''|| [[Mark Harris (rugby league)|Mark Harris]]
|-
|FE ||'''6'''|| [[Bob Fulton]]
|-
|HB ||'''7'''|| [[Billy Smith (rugby league, born 1942)|Billy Smith]]
|-
|PR ||'''8'''|| [[John O'Neill (rugby league)|John O'Neill]]
|-
|HK ||'''9'''|| [[Ron Turner (rugby league)|Ron Turner]]
|-
|PR ||'''10'''|| [[Bob O'Reilly]]
|-
|SR ||'''11'''|| [[Bob McCarthy]]
|-
|SR ||'''12'''|| [[Ron Costello]]
|-
|LK ||'''13'''|| [[Ron Coote]] ([[Captain (sports)|c]])
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|IC ||'''14'''|| [[Ray Branighan]]
|-
|IC ||'''15'''|| [[Elwyn Walters]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Coach:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Harry Bath]]
|}
|}

Having retained the [[Ashes series (rugby league)|Ashes]], Great Britain were favourites to win the final,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kdouh|first=Fatima|title=We take a look back at the greatest Rugby League World Cup finals of all time|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/we-take-a-look-back-at-the-greatest-rugby-league-world-cup-finals-of-all-time/story-fni2flhh-1226771460587|access-date=23 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|date=28 November 2013}}</ref> which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingley'<ref>{{Cite news 
  | last = Barnes
  | first = Steve
  | title = Questions & Answers
  | work = [[The Sunday Times]]
  | place = UK
  | publisher = Times Newspapers Ltd
  | date = 13 August 2006
| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article607193.ece
  | access-date = 1 January 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</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 (rugby league, born 1942)|Billy Smith]] of Australia, who had earlier kicked out at a scrum, and [[Syd Hynes]] of Great Britain were sent off.
{{Clear}}

== Try scorers ==
;5
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Cootes]]
{{div col end}}

;4
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Serge Marsolan]]
{{div col end}}

;2
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bob Fulton]]
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[John Atkinson (rugby league)|John Atkinson]]
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Syd Hynes]]
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Garry Smith (rugby league)|Garry Smith]]
{{div col end}}

;1
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ray Branighan]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ron Coote]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bob McCarthy]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Eric Simms (rugby league)|Eric Simms]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Billy Smith (rugby league, born 1942)|Billy Smith]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ron Turner (rugby league)|Ron Turner]]
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Lionel Williamson]]
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Élie Bonal]]
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jean Capdouze]]
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Chris Hesketh]]
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Doug Laughton]]
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Cliff Watson]]
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Mocky Brereton]]
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Roy Christian]]
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Graeme Cooksley]]
* {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Tony Kriletich]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080429211322/http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/wc1970.htm 1970 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080531070835/http://origin-www.rlwc2008.twiihosting.net/about/pastwinners.aspx?article=1970 1970 World Cup at rlwc2008.com]
* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/World_Cup_1970.html 1970 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080807121834/http://www.eraofthebiff.com/mm04.html 1970 World Cup final at eraofthebiff.com]
* [https://archive.today/20070804161455/http://www2.hunterlink.net.au/~maajjs/res/wcup1970.htm 1970 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090807092340/http://www.188-rugby-league.co.uk/content/feedstory/world-cup-1970-0 1970 World Cup at 188-rugby-league.co.uk]

{{Rlwc}}
{{1970 RLWC Venues}}
{{Australia squad - 1970 World Cup champions}}

[[Category:1970 Rugby League World Cup| ]]