1972 Rugby League World Cup


The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia were the holders, while New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were on their home soil. Great Britain won the title and levelled the score of World titles with the Australians at 3-3.
The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.
This was the last World Cup to be played under the four-tackle rule.

Squads

Venues


MarseilleParisToulouse
Stade VélodromeParc des PrincesStadium Municipal
Capacity: 55,000Capacity: 48,712Capacity: 37,000
PerpignanPauGrenoble
Stade Gilbert BrutusStade du HameauStade Lesdiguières
Capacity: 13,000Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 12,000

Final Venue


Lyon
Stade de Gerland
Capacity: 45,000

Results

Group stage

Final

The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as just over 4,200 spectators turned up. The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored", later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau. Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup. Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But 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.

Try scorers

;5
  • Bob Fulton
;4
;3
;2
;1
After the World Championship, Australia and New Zealand arranged short three-game tours against English clubs.
Australia
DateOpponentsScoreVenueAttendance
15 NovemberSt Helensstyle="text-align: center;" St Helens9,311
17 NovemberWiganstyle="text-align: center;" Wigan6,300
19 NovemberBradford Northernstyle="text-align: center;" Bradford2,820

New Zealand
DateOpponentsScoreVenueAttendance
15 NovemberLeedsstyle="text-align: center;" Leeds
17 NovemberHuddersfieldstyle="text-align: center;" Huddersfield
19 NovemberSalfordstyle="text-align: center;" Salford