1971 New Zealand rugby league tour

1971 Kiwis tour
Date4 September 1971 – 28 November 1971
ManagerBill O'Callaghan
Jack Williams
CoachLory Blanchard
Tour captainRoy Christian
Top point scorerHenry Tatana (145)[1]
Top try scorerPhil Orchard (27)[1]
Summary
P W D L
Total
26 15 1 10
Test match
6 4 1 1
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 2 0 1
 France
3 2 1 0
Tour chronology

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.[2]

Lory Blanchard was the coach, and Bill O'Callaghan and Jack Williams were the team co-managers.

Name Position Club/District
Mike McClennan Fullback Auckland
John O'Sullivan Fullback Wellington
Mocky Brereton Three-quarter Canterbury
Bob McGuinn Three-quarter Auckland
Phil Orchard Three-quarter Bay of Plenty
John Whittaker Three-quarter Wellington
Roy Christian (c) Three-quarter Auckland
Bernie Lowther Three-quarter Auckland
Dennis Williams Three-quarter Auckland
Dave Sorensen Three-quarter Auckland
Gary Woollard Halves Auckland
Graeme Cooksley Halves Canterbury
Ken Stirling Halves Auckland
Shane Dowsett Halves Auckland
Robert Orchard Prop Auckland
Henry Tatana Prop Auckland
John Greengrass Prop Canterbury
Doug Gailey Prop Auckland
Bill Burgoyne Hooker Auckland
Jim Fisher Hooker Canterbury
Garry Smith Second-row Wellington
Tony Kriletich (vc) Second-row Auckland
Don Mann Second-row Auckland
Bill Deacon Second-row Waikato
Murray Eade Loose forward Auckland
Ray Williams Loose forward Auckland

Schedule and results

A 25-match tour itinerary was announced in July 1971,[3] 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 23–8 Rochdale 2,374
6 September St Helens 8–18 St Helens 8,169
8 September Hull Kingston Rovers 10–12 Hull 5,746
12 September Widnes 18–15 Widnes 5,787
15 September Castleford 8–25 Castleford 5,889
18 September Warrington 2–13 Warrington 6,295
25 September  Great Britain 18–13 Salford 3,764
30 September Barrow 25–15 Barrow-in-Furness 4,839
2 October Whitehaven 21–8 Whitehaven 3,105
8 October Swinton 15–26 Swinton 3,280
10 October Wigan 24–10 Wigan 11,987
16 October  Great Britain 17–14 Castleford 4,108
17 October Huddersfield 10–11 Huddersfield 3,495
20 October Leigh 5–10 Leigh 3,819
22 October Salford 30–31 Salford 7,127
24 October Wakefield Trinity 23–12 Wakefield 5,367
27 October Oldham 24–13 Oldham 1,882
30 October Bradford Northern 30–23 Bradford 6,277
31 October York 5–11 York 2,803
6 November  Great Britain 3–12 Leeds 5,479
11 November  France 27–11 Perpignan 3,581
14 November Littoral Province 14–9 Avignon
18 November Racing Club Albi XIII 29–9 Albi
21 November  France 24–2 Carcassonne 7,200
24 November Bordeaux Selection 20–9 Bordeaux
28 November  France 3–3 Toulouse 5,000

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Tatana tops 4 lists". The Press. Christchurch. 1 December 1971. p. 30.
  2. ^ "Kiwis to tour". The Press. Christchurch. 9 August 1971. p. 24.
  3. ^ "Kiwis' tour itinerary". The Press. Christchurch. 15 July 1971. p. 12.

References

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