Kangaroo Tour Explained

Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australia national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one-off tour to Papua New Guinea (1991). The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain (sometimes called Northern Union or The Lions) and a number of tour matches. The 1911/12 and 1921/22 tours were by the Australasian Kangaroos as both teams included New Zealand players. Some Kangaroo tours to Great Britain and France also included international friendly matches against Wales, though these games were not given test match status.

The last full Kangaroo Tour was in 1994, although shortened Kangaroo Tours took place in 2001 and again in 2003.

Since 1954, the Kangaroos have also made a number of overseas tours for multi-team tournaments such as the World Cup, Tri-Nations and Four Nations, however these are not classed as Kangaroo tours.

Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

1908/09 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

Northern Union vs. Australia

Northern Union 22–22 Australia Northern Union 15–5 Australia Northern Union 6–5 Australia

Played: 45
Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 22
Ashes: Great Britain 2–0

1911/12 Kangaroo Tour

Northern Union vs. Australasia

See main article: 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

First Test Northern Union 10–19 Australasia
Second Test Northern Union 11–11 Australasia
Third Test Northern Union 8–33 Australasia

Played: 35
Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5
Ashes: Australasia 2–0

1921/22 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

Great Britain vs. Australasia

First Test Great Britain 6–5 Australasia
Second Test Great Britain 2–16 Australasia
Third Test Great Britain 6–0 Australasia

Played: 36
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1929/30 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

The Lions vs. Australia

First Test The Lions 8–31 Australia
Second Test The Lions 9–3 Australia
Third Test The Lions 0–0 Australia
Fourth Test The Lions 3–0 Australia

Played: 35
Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1933/34 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

The Lions vs. Australia

First Test The Lions 4–0 Australia
Second Test The Lions 7–5 Australia
Third Test The Lions 19–16 Australia^[1]

Played: 37
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0

1937/38 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1937–38 Kangaroo tour.

The Lions vs. Australia

First Test The Lions 5–4 Australia
Second Test The Lions 13–3 Australia
Third Test The Lions 3–13 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 6–35 Australia
Second Test: France 11–16 Australia

Played: 35
Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1948/49 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 23–21 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 16–7 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 23–9 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 10–29 Australia
Second Test: France 0–10 Australia

Played: 37
Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0

1952/53 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1952–53 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 16–9 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 21–5 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 7–27 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 12–16 Australia
Second Test: France 5–0 Australia
Third Test: France 13–5 Australia

Played: 40
Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1956/57 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour.^[2]

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 21–10 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 9–22 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 19–0 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 8–15 Australia
Second Test: France 6–10 Australia
Third Test: France 21–25 Australia

Played: 28
Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1959/60 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1959–60 Kangaroo tour.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 14–22 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 11–10 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 18–12 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 19–20 Australia
Second Test: France 2–17 Australia
Third Test: France 8–16 Australia

Played: 24
Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1963/64 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1963–64 Kangaroo tour.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 2–28 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 12–50 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 16–5 Australia

The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil.^[3]

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 8–5 Australia
Second Test: France 9–21 Australia
Third Test: France 8–16 Australia

Played: 36
Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1967/68 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 16–11 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 11–17 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 3–11 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 7–7 Australia
Second Test: France 10–3 Australia
Third Test: France 16–13 Australia

Played: 27
Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1973 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 21–12 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 6–14 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 5–15 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 11–21 Australia
Second Test: France 3–14 Australia

Played: 19
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1978 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 9–15 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 18–14 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 6–23 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 13–10 Australia
Second Test: France 11–10 Australia

Played: 22
Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1982 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 4–40 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 6–27 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 8–32 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 4–15 Australia
Second Test: France 9–23 Australia

Played: 22
Won: 22 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0

The 1982 Kangaroos became the first team to go through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Invincibles.

1986 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 16–38 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 4–34 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 15–24 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 2–44 Australia
Second Test: France 0–52 Australia

Played: 20
Won: 20 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0

Emulating the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the 1986 Kangaroos went through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Unbeatables.

1990 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 19–12 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 10–14 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 0–14 Australia

France vs. Australia

First Test: France 4–60 Australia
Second Test: France 10–34 Australia

Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1994 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test: Great Britain 8–4 Australia
Second Test: Great Britain 8–38 Australia
Third Test: Great Britain 4–23 Australia

France vs. Australia

One-off Test: France 0–74 Australia

Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

2001 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 2001 Kangaroo tour.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 20–12 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 12–40 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 8–28 Australia

Played: 3
Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

2003 Kangaroo Tour

See main article: 2003 Kangaroo tour.

Great Britain vs. Australia

First Test Great Britain 18–22 Australia
Second Test Great Britain 20–23 Australia
Third Test Great Britain 12–18 Australia

Played: 6
Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0

Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

1919

See main article: 1919 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 21–44 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 26–10 Australia
Third Test New Zealand 23–34 Australia
Fourth Test New Zealand 2–32 Australia

Played: 9
Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–1

1935

See main article: 1935 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 22–14 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 8–29 Australia
Third Test New Zealand 8–31 Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1

1949

See main article: 1949 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 26–21 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 10–13 Australia

Played: 10
Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1953

See main article: 1953 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 25–5 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 12–11 Australia
Third Test New Zealand 16–18 Australia

Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2–1

1961

See main article: 1961 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 12–10 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 8–10 Australia

Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1965

See main article: 1965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 8–13 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 7–5 Australia

Played: 8
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1969

See main article: 1969 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 10–20 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 18–14 Australia

Played: 6
Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1971

See main article: 1971 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 24–3 Australia

Played: 3
Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1–0

1980

See main article: 1980 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 6–27 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 6–15 Australia

Played: 7
Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–0

1985

See main article: 1985 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test Australia 26–20 New Zealand (Brisbane)
Second Test New Zealand 6–10 Australia
Third Test New Zealand 18–0 Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1

1989

See main article: 1989 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand vs. Australia

First Test New Zealand 6–26 Australia
Second Test New Zealand 0–8 Australia
Third Test New Zealand 14–22 Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–0

Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea

1991

See main article: 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea vs. Australia

First Test Papua New Guinea 2–58 Australia
Second Test Papua New Guinea 6–40 Australia

Played: 5
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Test series: Australia 2–0

External links

Kangaroo Legs

Notes and References

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1160155 England snatches victory in last two minutes (1934-01-15) the Courier-Mail
News: John MacDonald and Ian Arnold . Kangaroos fly the Maroon flag . . Australia . 50 . 29 June 1989 . 21 February 2011.
Web site: 1963 Kangaroos Team | Sport Australia Hall of Fame.