1957 Rugby League World Cup

1957 (1957) World Cup ()
1957 World Cup
Number of teams	4
Host country	Australia
Winner	Australia (1st title)
Matches played	6
Attendance	214,918 (35,820 per match)
Points scored	204 (34 per match)
Top scorer	Brian Carlson (28)
Top try scorers	Mick Sullivan (3); Ian Moir (3); Kel O'Shea (3)
	Tournaments < 1954 1960 >

The 1957 Rugby League World Cup was the second World Cup held for men’s national rugby league teams and was held between 15 and 25 June and hosted by Australia. Table toppers Australia were the winners as there was no Final at this World Cup.^[1]

1957 marked the 50th anniversary of rugby league in Australia but the hosts were not confident of their ability to lift the trophy, having capitulated in the Ashes series in England barely seven months previously. Great Britain, under Alan Prescott, and boasting world-class backs such as Billy Boston, Mick Sullivan, Jeff Stevenson and Lewis Jones, and a formidable pack, were expected to win with Jacques Merquey's French side a dark horse.

Best and fairest awards were made to individual nations, the recipients being Gilbert Benausse (France), Brian Carlson (Australia), Phil Jackson (Great Britain) and Bill Sorensen (New Zealand).

Squads

Referees

Referee Vic Belsham from New Zealand controlled three matches at the World Cup, including controlling one of New Zealand's matches. New Zealand included his brother Sel at halfback.^[2]

Venues

Sydney	Brisbane
Sydney Cricket Ground	The Gabba
Capacity: 70,000	Capacity: 48,000

Results

Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Result
Australia	3	3	0	82	20	+62	6	World Cup Winners
Great Britain	3	1	2	50	65	−15	2
New Zealand	3	1	2	44	60	−16	2
France	3	1	2	28	59	−31	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

15 June

Australia	25 – 5	New Zealand

The Gabba, Brisbane
Attendance: 29,636

15 June

France	5 – 23	Great Britain
	Program

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 50,077

17 June

Australia	31 – 6	Great Britain
	Program Report^[3]

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 58,655^[4]

17 June

France	14 – 10	New Zealand

The Gabba, Brisbane
Attendance: 22,142

22 June

Australia	26 – 9	France
	Program

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 35,158

25 June

Great Britain	21 – 29	New Zealand
	Program Report^[5]

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 14,263

Try scorers

3

2

1

References

^ Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail
^ Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue^{[dead link]} Sunday Star-Times, 30 November 2008
^ "Australia In Runover World Cup Game Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 June 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ "Australia in Rugby Cup Win". The Age. 18 June 1957. p. 14. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
^ "New Zealand Defeats U.K. World Cup Team". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 26 June 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

External links

[1] Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail

[2] Neutral refs have always been a sticky issue^{[dead link]} Sunday Star-Times, 30 November 2008

[3] "Australia In Runover World Cup Game Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 June 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

[4] "Australia in Rugby Cup Win". The Age. 18 June 1957. p. 14. Retrieved 6 October 2009.

[5] "New Zealand Defeats U.K. World Cup Team". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 26 June 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

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