1959–60 Kangaroo tour

The 1959–60 Kangaroo tour was the tenth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team traveled to Europe and played thirty-seven matches against British, French and Italian teams, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, two Test matches against the French and an additional two non-Test matches against an Italian representative team. It followed the tour of 1956-57 and the next was staged in 1963-64.

1959–60 Kangaroo tour
ManagerJack Argent
Ern Keffer
Coach(es)Clive Churchill
Tour captain(s)Keith Barnes
Top point scorer(s)Keith Barnes 202
Top try scorer(s)Eddie Lumsden 25
Top test point scorer(s)Keith Barnes 62
Top test try scorer(s)Eddie Lumsden 8
Summary
P W D L
Total
37 26 00 11
Test match
08 06 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 1 0 2
 France
3 3 0 0
 Italy
2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour1956-57
Next tour1963-64

The squad's leadership

The team was coached by Clive Churchill. The team captain was Balmain Tigers Fullback Keith Barnes while the vice-captain was Manly-Warringah's dual rugby international forward Rex Mossop. Tour co-managers were Jack Argent and Ern Keffer.
In the five matches in which neither Barnes nor Mossop played, the Kangaroos were captained by five different players: Harry Wells (against Leigh), Brian Hambly (combined Workington and Whitehaven), Brian Clay (Bradford Northern), Brian Carlson (Swinton) and Billy Wilson (Huddersfield).

Touring squad

The Rugby League News published a photo and details of the touring team including the players' ages and weights.[1]
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring.[2]
Beattie, Boden, Kelly, Muir, Parcell, Paterson and Rasmussen were selected from Queensland clubs. Chapman, Hambly, Parish and Walsh were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1959 season.

Player Position Age Weight Club Tests
on
Tour		 Games Tries Goals FG Points
Keith Barnes (c)Fullback2411 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) Balmain82201010202
Dud BeattieProp2315 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Ipswich Railways4200000
Ron BodenWing, Centre2112 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) Toowoomba Valleys01450015
Tony BrownFive-eighth2312 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Newtown2940012
Bob BugdenHalfback2311 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) St George0540012
Peter BurkeHalfback2511 st. 2 lb. (71 kg) Manly-Warringah11390027
Brian CarlsonUtility Back2613 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) North Sydney42319490155
Darrel ChapmanFullback2111 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) Kempsey1183009
Brian ClayFive-eighth, Lock2513 st. 3 lb. (84 kg) St George62041014
Bill DelamareProp2315 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Manly-Warringah21950015
Reg GasnierCentre2012 st. 5 lb. (78 kg) St George619200060
Brian HamblyProp, Second-row2214 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Wagga Magpies82191029
Ken IrvineWing1911 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) North Sydney321170051
Noel KellyProp, Hooker2313 st. 9 lb. (87 kg) Ipswich Brothers1142108
Eddie LumsdenWing2213 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) St George827250075
Rex Mossop (vc)Prop, Second-row3014 st. 5 lb. (91 kg) Manly-Warringah5262006
Barry MuirHalfback2110 st. 11 lb. (68 kg) Brisbane Western Suburbs7211003
Gary ParcellProp2614 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Ipswich Brothers5202006
Don ParishWing2111 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) Dubbo Macquarie012716053
Jim PatersonProp, Second-row2314 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Townsville Souths32240012
Johnny RaperFive-eighth, Lock2013 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) St George417140042
Elton RasmussenProp, Second-row2215 st. 5 lb. (98 kg) Toowoomba All Whites32041014
Johnny RileyCentre2012 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) St George2152006
Ian WalshHooker2513 st. 4 lb. (84 kg) Eugowra82331011
Harry WellsCentre2714 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) Western Suburbs722110033
Billy WilsonProp3014 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) St George6192006

Great Britain

The largest non-test attendance of the tour was 29,156 when the Kangaroos defeated St. Helens at Knowsley Road.

Test Venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Swinton Leeds Wigan
Station Road Headingley Central Park
Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 40,000
Saturday, 12 September Leeds 20 – 44 Australia Headingley, Leeds

Attendance: 14,629
Tuesday, 15 September Rochdale Hornets 14 – 27 Australia Athletic Grounds, Rochdale

Attendance: 10,155
Wednesday, 18 September Warrington 24 – 30 Australia Wilderspool, Warrington

Attendance: 17,112
Wednesday, 23 September Lancashire Lancashire 30 – 22 Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens

Attendance: 15,743
Saturday, 26 September Salford 20 – 22 Australia The Willows, Salford

Attendance: 11,008
Monday, 28 September Yorkshire Yorkshire 47 – 15 Australia Clarence Street, York

Attendance: 7,338
Thursday, 1 October Widnes 15 – 45 Australia Naughton Park, Widnes

Attendance: 9,381
Saturday, 3 October Oldham 14 – 25 Australia Watersheddings, Oldham

Attendance: 17,630
Wednesday, 7 October Leigh 18 – 17 Australia Hilton Park, Leigh

Attendance: 11,932
Saturday, 10 October St. Helens 2 – 15 Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens

Attendance: 29,156

The Ashes series

The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 91,604 attending the Test series. The largest attendance of the tour came during the Kangaroos 22-14 first test win over Great Britain at Station Road in Swinton with 35,224 in attendance.

First Test

The first Ashes series test was played at Station Road, Swinton and drew the tours largest attendance of 35,224. Australia won the first test 22-14 with Reg Gasnier playing in his first ever test match against Great Britain named as the man of the match with 3 tries.

Saturday, 17 October
Great Britain  14 – 22  Australia
Tries:
Billy Boston
Derek Turner
Goals:
Eric Fraser (4)		 [3]
 Tries:
Reg Gasnier (3)
Harry Wells
Goals:
Keith Barnes (5)
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 35,224
Referee: R. Gelder England
Player of the Match: Reg Gasnier
Australia Position England
1. Eric FraserFB1. Keith Barnes (c)
2. Billy BostonWG10. Johnny Riley
3. Eric Ashton (c)CE8. Harry Wells
4. Alan DaviesCE7. Reg Gasnier
5. Mick SullivanWG3.Eddie Lumsden
6. Dave BoltonSO16. Brian Clay
7. Alex MurphySH12. Barry Muir
8. Abe TerryPR21. Billy Wilson
9. Tommy HarrisHK26. Ian Walsh
10. Brian McTiguePR24. Dud Beattie
12. Mick MartynSR22. Gary Parcell
11. Dick HuddartSR18. Rex Mossop
13. Derek TurnerLF19. Brian Hambly
Jim ChallinorCoachClive Churchill
Thursday, 22 October Whitehaven / Workington Town XIII 8 – 13 Australia Recreation Ground, Whitehaven

Attendance: 7,463
Saturday, 24 October Barrow 12 – 9 Australia Craven Park, Barrow

Attendance: 8,488
Monday, 26 October Hull F.C. / Hull Kingston Rovers XIII 9 – 29 Australia The Boulevard, Hull

Attendance: 15,944
Wednesday, 4 November Bradford Northern 8 – 29 Australia Odsal, Bradford

Attendance: 4,126

5 days prior to the match against Bradford Northern, the Kangaroos played the first test against France.

Saturday, 7 November Halifax 5 – 17 Australia Thrum Hall, Halifax

Attendance: 8,274
Wednesday, 11 November Featherstone Rovers 23 – 15 Australia Post Office Road, Featherstone

Attendance: 7,671
Saturday, 14 November Wigan 16 – 9 Australia Central Park, Wigan

Attendance: 24,466

Second Test

The Kangaroos went within one penalty goal of becoming the first All-Australian team to win The Ashes on British soil and the first touring side to win The Ashes since 1911-12. However, the Lions survived and the series would go on to a deciding 3rd test.

Saturday, 21 November
Great Britain  11 – 10  Australia
Tries:
Neil Fox
Don Robinson
Johnny Whiteley
Goals:
Neil Fox (1)		 [4]
 Tries:
Brian Carlson (2)


Goals:
Keith Barnes (1)
Brian Carlson (1)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 30,301
Referee: R. Gelder England
Great Britain Position Australia
  1. Frank Dyson
 FB
  1. Keith Barnes (c)
2. Ike SouthwardWG4. Eddie Lumsden
3. Eric AshtonCE8. Harry Wells
4. Neil FoxCE7. Reg Gasnier
5. Mick SullivanWG3. Brian Carlson
6. Dave BoltonSO16. Brian Clay
7. Jeff Stevenson (c)SH12. Barry Muir
10. Don RobinsonPR22. Gary Parcell
9. Tommy HarrisHK26. Ian Walsh
8. Abe TerryPR21. Billy Wilson
12. Don VinesSR17. Elton Rasmussen
11. Brian McTigueSR18. Rex Mossop
13. Johnny WhiteleyLF19. Brian Hambly
Jim ChallinorCoachClive Churchill
Wednesday, 25 November Swinton 24 – 25 Australia Station Road, Swinton

Attendance: 5,021
Saturday, 28 November Wakefield Trinity 20 – 10 Australia Belle Vue, Wakefield

Attendance: 17,615
Wednesday, 2 December Huddersfield 7 – 21 Australia Fartown, Huddersfield

Attendance: 2,349
Saturday, 5 December Hunslet 11 – 12 Australia Parkside, Hunslet

Attendance: 8,061

Third Test

This would be the final time that Great Britain (or England) would win the Ashes on home soil (as of 2017).

Saturday, 12 December
Great Britain  18 – 12  Australia
Tries:
Neil Fox
Ike Southward
Goals:
Neil Fox (6)		 [5]
 Tries:
Brian Carlson
Johnny Raper
Goals:
Keith Barnes (3)
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 26,089
Referee: Eric Clay England
Great Britain Position Australia
Gerry RoundFBKeith Barnes (c)
Ike SouthwardWGEddie Lumsden
Eric AshtonCEHarry Wells
Neil FoxCEReg Gasnier
Mick SullivanWGBrian Carlson
Dave BoltonSOBrian Clay
Jeff Stevenson (c)SHBarry Muir
Jack WilkinsonPRBilly Wilson
Tommy HarrisHKIan Walsh
Abe TerryPRDud Beattie
Don RobinsonSRBrian Hambly
Brian McTigueSRRex Mossop
Johnny WhiteleyLFJohnny Raper
Jim ChallinorCoachClive Churchill

France

The first two games of the French leg of the tour were actually played while The Kangaroos were still completing the British leg.

First Test

Australia won the first test against the French at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Kangaroos winger Eddie Lumsden crossed for 3 tries while legendary winger Ken Irvine made the first of 33 test appearances for Australia.

Saturday, 31 October
France  19 – 20  Australia
Tries:
Aldo Quaglio

Goals:
Andre Lacaze (6)
Field Goals:
Andre Lacaze (2)		 [6]
 Tries:
Eddie Lumsden (3)
Harry Wells
Goals:
Keith Barnes (4)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 9,864
Referee: Georges Jameau France
Player of the Match: Eddie Lumsden
France Position Australia
André LacazeFBKeith Barnes (c)
Maurice VoronWGEddie Lumsden
Jacques Merquey (c)CEHarry Wells
Antoine JimenezCEReg Gasnier
André SavonneWGKen Irvine
Gilbert BenausseSOTony Brown
Georges FagesSHBarry Muir
Jean PannoPRGary Parcell
Antranick AppelianHKIan Walsh
Aldo QuaglioPRDud Beattie
Robert EramouspéSRJim Paterson
Jean AubertSRRex Mossop
Serge TonusLFBrian Hambly
CoachClive Churchill
Tuesday, 8 December French Army XIII 2 – 15 Australia Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes

Attendance: 993

The game against the French Army XIII was played 4 days before the third Ashes test against Great Britain

Second Test
Sunday, 20 December
France  2 – 17  Australia
Tries:
Raymond Gruppi
G. Velvaud

Goals
Claude Mantoulan (1)		 [7]
 Tries:
Brian Carlson
Johnny Raper
Harry Wells
Goals
Keith Barnes (4)
Stade Municipal, Bordeaux
Attendance: 8,848
Referee: A. Cassan France
France Position Australia
Claude MantoulanFBKeith Barnes (c)
Maurice VoronWGBrian Carlson
Jean FoussatCEHarry Wells
Antoine Jimenez (c)CEReg Gasnier
André SavonneWGEddie Lumsden
Robert MoulinasSOJohnny Raper
Rene JeanSHBarry Muir
Honoré ContiPRBilly Wilson
André CasasHKIan Walsh
Marcel BescosPRDud Beattie
Robert EramouspéSRGary Parcell
Jean BartheSRBrian Hambly
Serge TonusLFBrian Clay
CoachClive Churchill
Thursday, 24 December Racing Club Albi XIII 19 – 10 Australia Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi

Attendance: 5,845
Thursday, 31 December Carcassonne / Lézignan XIII 32 – 9 Australia Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne

Attendance: 6,364
Friday, 1 January XIII Catalan 8 – 32 Australia Stade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan

Attendance: 6,364
Sunday, 3 January Montpellier 13 – 44 Australia Stade Sabathé, Montpellier

Attendance: 3,741
Thursday, 7 January Racing Club Marseille XIII 7 – 38 Australia Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Attendance: 1,366
Thursday, 14 January Avignon / Cavaillon XIII 5 – 65 Australia Parc des Sports, Avignon

Attendance: 2,806

Third Test
Wednesday, 20 January
France  8 – 16  Australia
Tries:
Raymond Gruppi
Gérard Bélivaud

Goals
André Lacaze (1)		 [8]
 Tries:
Johnny Raper (2)
Reg Gasnier
Brian Hambly
Goals
Keith Barnes (2)
Parc des Sports, Roanne
Attendance: 6,932
Referee: Georges Jameau France
France Position Australia
André LacazeFBKeith Barnes (c)
Raymond GruppiWGEddie Lumsden
Jean FoussatCEHarry Wells
Gérard BélivaudCEReg Gasnier
André SavonneWGBrian Carlson
Claude MantoulanSOJohnny Raper
Bernard FabreSHBarry Muir
Honoré ContiPRBilly Wilson
André CasasHKIan Walsh
Marcel BescosPRElton Rasmussen
Pierre LaurentSRJim Paterson
Serge TonusSRBrian Hambly
Georges FagesLFBrian Clay
CoachClive Churchill

Italy

To finish the tour, the Kangaroos played two games against an Italian representative team.

Saturday, 23 January Italy 15 – 37 Australia Stadio Euganeo, Padua

Attendance: 3,500
Referee: R. Somma
Sunday, 24 January Italy 22 – 67 Australia Stadio Omobono Tenni, Treviso

Attendance: 3,105
Referee: T. Rossi

Ken Irvine crossed for 6 tries in this game.

References
  1. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Australia's Kangaroos—1959-60". The Rugby League News. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 39 No. 27 (29 August 1960)). nla.obj-630517488. Retrieved 16 Jan 2021 – via Trove.
  2. E.E.Christensen (1960). "Players' Records in N.Z.". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. Sydney: E.E.Christensen (Vol. 14).
  3. 1st Ashes Test
  4. 2nd Ashes Test
  5. 3rd Ashes Test
  6. France vs Australia 1st Test
  7. France vs Australia 2nd Test
  8. France vs Australia 3rd Test
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