1995 Rugby League World Cup squads explained

See main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

The 1995 Rugby League World Cup squads were made up of players from the national rugby league football teams of ten countries: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and Western Samoa.

Australia

Due to the Super League war, the Australian Rugby League did not select any player who had signed with Super League. As 100% of Australia's squad was sourced from Australian Rugby League-aligned players, several test players from the successful 1994 Kangaroo Tour were not selected for the World Cup, though a number of the team had played in the 3-0 Trans-Tasman Test series win over New Zealand earlier in the year.

Super League aligned Canberra Raiders players, including Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart took the ARL to court during 1995 in a bid to be able to play in the World Cup. The court found in their favour and ordered the ARL to consider all players for selection regardless of who they were aligned to. However, as one unnamed ARL official was quoted as saying, the ARL were only forced to consider Super League players, not select them. Just how many, if any, Super League players were considered for selection remains unknown and speculation remains that behind closed doors no Super League player was considered.

Coach: Bob Fulton
Manager: Geoff Carr^[1]

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	2	-	-	-	-		St. George Dragons
	5	4	-	-	16		Sydney Tigers
	5	–	–	–	–		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	4	2	–	–	8		St. George Dragons
	4	3	–	–	12		Sydney Bulldogs
	7	2	–	–	8		Sydney Bulldogs
Brad Fittler (c)	4	1	–	–	4		Penrith Panthers
	1	–	–	–	–		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Paul Harragon	2	–	–	–	–		Newcastle Knights
	4	3	–	–	12		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	2	3	–	–	12		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	4	2	27	–	62		Newcastle Knights
	4	–	–	–	–		Newcastle Knights
	3	1	–	–	4		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Gary Larson	3	1	–	–	4		North Sydney Bears
	2	2	–	–	8		Illawarra Steelers
	4	6	–	–	24		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	1	–	–	–	–		North Sydney Bears
	1	2	–	–	8		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	1	–	–	–	–		Newcastle Knights
	3	5	–	–	20		Newcastle Knights
	4	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs
	1	1	–	–	4		Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
	5	1	–	–	4		Sydney Bulldogs
	4	–	–	–	–		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	3	1	2	–	8		Illawarra Steelers

*Gary Larson originally declined selection citing personal reasons. When Paul Harragon was injured he answered Bob Fulton's call to join the squad and ended up playing in the final at Wembley.

England

Long time Wigan, Great Britain and England back rower Denis Betts, playing for the Auckland Warriors in the Australian Rugby League premiership, made history by becoming the first player selected to captain England while not playing for a British club.

Coach: Phil Larder

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	3	1	–	–	4		Halifax Blue Sox
Denis Betts (c)	4	1	–	–	4		Auckland Warriors
	2	2	–	–	8		Sheffield Eagles
	4	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	4	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	1	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	2	–	–	–	–		Leeds Rhinos
	1	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	4	2	7	–	22		Wigan Warriors
	4	1	13	1	31		St Helens
	4	–	–	–	–		Hull Sharks
	4	2	–	–	8		Wigan Warriors
	4	–	–	–	–		Sheffield Eagles
	3	1	–	–	4		St Helens
	2	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	1	–	–	–	–		Widnes Vikings
	4	4	–	–	16		St Helens
	3	2	–	–	8		Wigan Warriors
	3	2	–	–	8		Keighley Cougars
	4	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	2	–	–	–	–		Sheffield Eagles
	5	2	–	–	8		Wigan Warriors
	4	3	–	–	12		Wigan Warriors
	3	1	–	–	4		Castleford Tigers
	4	2	–	–	8		Castleford Tigers

Fiji

Coach: Graham Murray

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	1	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs
	3	1	–	–	4		Penrith Panthers
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–		Sheffield Eagles
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–
	2	1	–	–	4
	3	1	–	–	4		Canberra Raiders
	3	1	–	–	4		Parramatta Eels
	3	–	–	–	–
Livai Nalagilagi (c)	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	3	–	6
	3	1	–	–	4
	1	–	–	–	–
	3	2	–	–	8		South Queensland Crushers
	3	2	–	–	8
	3	1	3	–	10
	2	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–

France

Coach: Ivan Grésèque

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	1	–	–	–	–		Limoux Grizzlies
	2	–	2	–	4		Sheffield Eagles
	1	–	–	–	–		Carpentras XIII
	1	–	–	–	–		AS Saint Estève
	2	1	–	–	4		XIII Catalan
	2	1	–	–	4		AS Saint Estève
	2	–	–	–	–		XIII Catalan
	1	–	–	–	–		Lézignan Sangliers
Patrick Entat (c)	2	–	–	–	–		Leeds
	2	–	–	–	–		Pia Donkeys
	1	–	–	–	–		Workington Town
	2	–	–	–	–		AS Saint Estève
	1	–	–	–	–		AS Carcassonne
	2	–	–	–	–		Pia Donkeys
	2	–	–	–	–		XIII Catalan
	1	–	–	–	–		AS Carcassonne
	1	–	–	–	–		Lézignan Sangliers
	2	–	–	–	–		Limoux Grizzlies
	1	–	–	–	–		AS Carcassonne
	2	1	–	–	4		Pia Donkeys
	2	–	–	–	–		Lézignan Sangliers

New Zealand

Coach: Frank Endacott

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	2	1	–	–	4		Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
	3	3	–	–	12		Auckland Warriors
	1	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	1	–	–	–	–		Penrith Panthers
	–	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs
	3	2	–	–	8		Auckland Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		Western Suburbs Magpies
	3	1	–	–	4		Leeds Rhinos
	3	1	–	–	4		Sydney City Roosters
	3	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	3	1	–	–	4		South Queensland Crushers
	1	–	–	–	–		Canberra Raiders
	3	–	–	–	–		Sydney City Roosters
	3	–	1	–	2		Auckland Warriors
	3	1	–	–	4		Auckland Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		Wakefield Trinity
	3	–	–	–	–		Canberra Raiders
Matthew Ridge (c)	3	1	10	1	25		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	–	–	–	–	–		Western Suburbs Magpies
	–	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs
	–	–	–	–	–		Western Reds
	3	–	–	–	–		Canberra Raiders
	1	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs

Papua New Guinea

Coach: Joe Tokam

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	1	–	–	4		Port Moresby Vipers
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	1	–	–	4		Goroka Lahanis
	1	–	–	–	–		Goroka Lahanis
	2	1	–	–	4		Lae Bombers
	2	–	–	–	–		Mt. Hagen Eagles
	2	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–
Adrian Lam (c)	2	1	–	–	4		Sydney City Roosters
	2	–	–	–	–		Canberra Raiders
	2	–	–	–	–		Sydney Bulldogs
	2	1	5	–	14		Port Moresby Vipers
	1	–	–	–	–		Lae Bombers
	2	1	–	–	4		Rabaul Gurias
	1	–	–	–	–		Enga Mioks
	2	–	–	–	–		Mt. Hagen Eagles
	2	–	–	–	–		Canberra Raiders
	2	–	–	–	–		Mendi Muruks

South Africa

Coach: Tony Fisher

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	2	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
Jaco Booysen (c)	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–		London Crusaders
	1	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	3	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–
	3	–	4	–	8
	1	–	–	–	–
	3	1	–	–	4
	3	–	–	–	–

Tonga

Coach: Mike McClennan

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	2	–	6	–	12
	2	1	–	–	4		Warrington Wolves
	2	2	–	–	8
	2	–	–	–	–		Widnes Vikings
	2	–	–	–	–		Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
	2	1	–	–	4		Parramatta Eels
	1	–	–	–	–
	1	1	–	–	4		Leigh Centurions
Duane Mann (c)	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	2	–	–	–	–		Leeds Rhinos
	2	–	–	–	–		Illawarra Steelers
	2	2	–	–	–
	1	–	–	–	–
	2	–	–	–	–		Hull Sharks
	2	1	–	–	4
	2	2	–	–	8

Luke Leilua, Angelo Dymock, Mateaki Mafi, Frank Watene and Andrew Tangata-Toa were all named in the squad but did not play a game.
Tonga were hit with the withdrawals of Jim Dymock and John Hopoate, who were both included in the Australian squad, and Gorden Tallis and Albert Fulivai, who both withdrew due to injury.^[2]

Wales

Coach: Clive Griffiths

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	1	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		Warrington Wolves
	–	–	–	–	–		St Helens
	1	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		St Helens
Jonathan Davies (c)	3	–	10	1	21		Warrington Wolves
	3	1	–	–	4		Widnes Vikings
	3	1	–	–	4		Workington Town
	3	–	–	–	–		Leeds Rhinos
	–	–	–	–	–		Salford City Reds
	2	–	–	–	–		St Helens
	–	–	–	–	–		St Helens
	2	–	–	–	4		Widnes Vikings
	3	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	3	2	1	1	11		Warrington Wolves
	2	–	–	–	–		Warrington Wolves
	3	–	–	–	–		Halifax Blue Sox
	1	–	–	–	–		Halifax Blue Sox
	3	1	–	–	4		Warrington Wolves
	2	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	3	–	–	–	–		Wigan Warriors
	–	–	–	–	–		Castleford Tigers
	3	4	–	–	16		St Helens
	–	–	–	–	–		Salford City Reds
	3	–	–	–	–		Salford City Reds

Western Samoa

Coach: Graham Lowe

width=10%	Player	width=5%	Games	width=5%	Tries	width=5%	Goals	width=5%	Field Goals	width=5%	Points	width=10%	Position(s)	width=15%	Club
	2	–	–	–	–		Penrith Panthers
	2	–	–	–	–		Racing Club Albi XIII
	1	–	–	–	–		Narrandera Lizards
	2	1	–	–	4		Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
	1	–	–	–	–		Hunslet Hawks
	–	–	–	–	–		Counties Manukau Heroes
	2	3	–	–	12		St Helens
	2	–	–	–	–		Salford City Reds
	2	1	–	–	4		St Helens
	–	–	–	–	–		North Queensland Cowboys
	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
John Schuster (c)	2	–	11	–	22		Halifax Blue Sox
	–	–	–	–	–		North Harbour Sea Eagles
	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	–	–	–	–	–		Sydney City Roosters
	2	1	–	–	4		Auckland Warriors
	2	2	–	–	8		Auckland Warriors
	–	–	–	–	–		Narrandera Lizards
	2	2	–	–	8		Wigan Warriors
	2	1	–	–	4		North Harbour Sea Eagles
	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	–	–	–	–	–		Wellington City Dukes
	2	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors
	–	–	–	–	–		Auckland Warriors

External links

1995 Rugby League World Cup Squads rugbyleagueproject.org
1995 Rugby League World Cup Squads The Vault

Notes and References

News: Masters. Roy. Roos on top of the world. 4 January 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 October 1995.
Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League