1972 Rugby League World Cup

The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November of 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and in the end, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.

Results

rugbybox
date = 1972-10-28
home = rl-rt|France
score = 20–9
away = rl|New Zealand
stadium = Stade Velodrome, Marseille
attendance = 20,748
----rugbybox
date = 1972-10-29
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 21–27
away = rl|Great Britain
stadium = Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
attendance = 6,300
----rugbybox
date = 1972-11-01
home = rl-rt|France
score = 4–13
away = rl|Great Britain
stadium = Grenoble
----rugbybox
date = 1972-11-01
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 9–5
away = rl|New Zealand
stadium = Parc de Princes, Paris
----rugbybox
date = 1972-11-04
home = rl-rt|Great Britain
score = 53–19
away = rl|New Zealand
stadium = Pau
----rugbybox
date = 1972-11-05
home = rl-rt|France
score = 9–31
away = rl|Australia
stadium = Stade Municipal, Toulouse

Final standings

Final

rugbybox
date = 1972-11-11
home = rl-rt|Australia
score = 10–10
away = rl|Great Britain
stadium = Stade de Gerland, Lyon
attendance = 4,231
referee = Georges Jameau (France)

The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as less than 4,500 spectators turned up. For the first time in the competition’s history the scores were level at full time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.

Teams

Great Britain: Paul Charlton; Clive Sullivan (c) [1 try] , Chris Hesketh, John Walsh, John Atkinson; John Holmes, Steve Nash; Terry Clawson [2 goals] , Mick Stephenson [1 try] , David Jeanes, Phil Lowe, Brian Lockwood, George Nicholls; Bob Irving. Coach: Jim Challinor

Australia: Graeme Langlands (c); John Grant, Mark Harris, Geoff Starling, Ray Branighan [2 goals] ; Bob Fulton, Dennis Ward; John O'Neill [1 try] , Elwyn Walters, Bob O'Reilly, Arthur Beetson [1 try] , Gary Stevens, Gary Sullivan.

External links

* [http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/wc1972.htm 1972 World Cup at rlhalloffame.org.uk]
* [http://rugbyleagueproject.com/competitions/World_Cup_1972.html 1972 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com]
* [http://www.eraofthebiff.com/mm12.html 1972 World Cup Final at eraofthebiff.com]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article500970.ece 1972 World Cup Final at timesonline.co.uk]