1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

The 1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France was the twelfth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play twenty-one matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and three Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1963-64 and the next was staged in 1973.

1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
ManagerJack Drewes
Harry Schmidt
Coach(es)Reg Gasnier
Tour captain(s)Reg Gasnier
Johnny Raper
Top point scorer(s)Graeme Langlands 101
Top try scorer(s)Brian Moore 10
Top test point scorer(s)Graeme Langlands 31
Top test try scorer(s)Johnny Greaves 3
Graeme Langlands 3
Summary
P W D L
Total
27 16 02 09
Test match
06 02 01 03
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 2 0 1
 France
3 0 1 2
Tour chronology
Previous tour1963-64
Next tour1973

The 1967-68 Kangaroo tour became infamously known as the "Bowler Hat Tour". Legend had it that a Kangaroos forward had walked through the West Yorkshire town of Ilkley one night wearing nothing but a bowler hat. Although Johnny Raper often jokingly claimed it was him, in 1988 on Brisbane television, Dennis Manteit claimed that he was in fact the man in the bowler hat. At the time, Kangaroo touring teams were housed in the Ilkley Moors Hotel located approximately 25 km west of Leeds in an effort to not only keep down costs but also to keep players out of trouble by being located in a small town rather than a larger city.

The squad's leadership

The team was captain-coached by Reg Gasnier making his third and ultimately final Kangaroo Tour. Gasnier broke his leg during the first test at Headingley that saw him sit out the remainder of the English leg. He returned to the field in France but in a minor game against Les Espoirs in Avignon, he suffered a further break. This would ultimately cause him to announce his retirement from playing at the age of just 28. He later told in an interview that he never regretted his decision to retire, explaining that he had been playing rugby league virtually non-stop including juniors, junior representative games, the Sydney premiership, interstate games and international tours since the early 1950s, and felt it was about time that he started devoting more time to his family.[1]

Having led the team in four tour matches in England, Johnny Raper was appointed captain for the Third Test Match against Great Britain. Raper captained the side in each of the three Test Matches in France.

Peter Gallagher led the team in three successive matches in England, culminating in the Second Test Match against Great Britain. He also was captain against Barrow, Bradford Northern and France B.

Noel Kelly captained the Kangaroos in five matches, against Cumbria, Oldham, Widnes, Swinton and Pyrenees. Graeme Langlands led the team in two matches (Castleford and Catalans). Elton Rasmussen was captain in one match, against St Helens.

The Kangaroo tourists were co-managed by Jack Drewes (NSW) and Harry Schmidt (Queensland).[2] Alf Richards accompanied the team as masseur.

Touring squad

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, along with each player's age, height and weight.[3]
The Rugby League News published a summary of the Kanagroos' point scorers.

Noel Gallagher, Peter Gallagher, John Gleeson, Dennis Manteit and John McDonald were selected from Queensland clubs. Tony Branson and Allan Thomson were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1967 season.

Player Position Age Weight
st.lb (kg)
Club Tests
on
Tour
Games Tries Goals FG Points
Tony BransonFive-eighth2012.12 (82) Nowra5173009
Ron CooteLock, Second-row2213.7 (86) South Sydney51870021
Noel GallagherHooker2214.7 (92) Bundaberg2140000
Peter Gallagher (vc)Prop3015.10 (100) Brisbane Brothers6161003
Reg Gasnier (ca/co)Centre2812.12 (82) St George261003
John GleesonFive-eighth, Halfback2411.12 (75) Brisbane Brothers3112018
Kevin GoldspinkSecond-row2415.0 (95) Canterbury0132006
Johnny GreavesWing, Centre2413.7 (86) Canterbury51460018
Les HaniganWing, Centre2211.4 (72) Manly-Warringah01160018
Ken IrvineWing2711.12 (75) North Sydney11485034
Les JohnsFullback2511.12 (75) Canterbury61624320
Kevin JuneeHalfback2311.8 (73) Eastern Suburbs01040114
Noel KellyProp, Hooker3014.2 (90) Western Suburbs5170000
Johnny KingWing2412.6 (79) St George61890027
Graeme LanglandsFullback, Centre2513.0 (83) St George6195430101
Ron LynchLock, Second-row2714.6 (92) Parramatta4152006
Dennis ManteitProp, Second-row2414.7 (92) Brisbane Brothers31440012
John McDonaldWing, Centre2312.10 (81) Toowoomba Valleys517513041
Brian MooreCentre2314.12 (94) Newtown011100030
Johnny Raper (vc)Lock2813.9 (87) St George5120000
Elton RasmussenProp, Second-row2915.4 (97) St George6180000
Ron SaddlerWing, Centre2513.6 (85) Eastern Suburbs0110000
John SattlerProp2414.8 (93) South Sydney090000
Billy SmithHalfback2411.7 (73) St George51530315
Allan ThomsonSecond-row2414.3 (90) Lakes United1142006
Elwyn WaltersHooker2313.11 (88) South Sydney082006

Great Britain

The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 53,353 attending the Test series. The largest attendance of the tour came during the Kangaroos 6-12 loss to Wigan in front of 22,770 fans at Central Park on 13 October.

Test Venues

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

Leeds London Swinton
Headingley White City Stadium Station Road
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 93,000 Capacity: 40,000






First Test

The first Ashes series test was played at Headingley, Leeds. Kangaroos captain-coach Reg Gasnier suffered a broken leg which would keep him out of the rest of the English leg of the tour while lock forward Johnny Raper would play most of the game with a fractured cheek bone.[4]

Saturday 21 October
Great Britain  16 – 11  Australia
Tries:
Roger Millward
Chris Young
Goals:
Roger Millward (3)
Bill Holliday (1)
Drop Goals:
Tommy Bishop
[5] Tries:
Graeme Langlands

Goals:
Graeme Langlands (4)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 22,293
Referee: Fred Lindop
Great Britain
Australia
FB1 Arthur Keegan
RW2 Chris Young
CE3 Ian Brooke
CE4 Malcolm Price
LW5 Bill Burgess
SO6 Roger Millward
SH7 Tommy Bishop
PR8 Bill Holliday (c)
HK9 Peter Flanagan
PR10 Cliff Watson
SR11 John Mantle
SR12 Bob Irving
LF13 Dave Robinson
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
FB1 Les Johns
RW2 John McDonald
CE3 Graeme Langlands
CE4 Reg Gasnier (c)
LW5 Johnny King
FE6 John Gleeson
HB7 Billy Smith
PR8 Dennis Manteit
HK9 Noel Kelly
PR10 Peter Gallagher
SR11 Ron Lynch
SR12 Elton Rasmussen
LK13 Johnny Raper
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Reg Gasnier



Second Test

The second test at London's White City Stadium saw the Australian's tie the series at one game all with a 17-11 win in front of 17,445 fans.[6]

Friday 3 November
Great Britain  11 – 17  Australia
Tries:
Tommy Bishop


Goals:
Neil Fox (3)
Field Goals:
Tommy Bishop
[7] Tries:
Ron Coote
Johnny King
Graeme Langlands
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (4)
White City Stadium, London
Attendance: 17,445
Referee: Fred Lindop
Great Britain
Australia
FB1 Arthur Keegan
RW2 Chris Young
CE3 Ian Brooke
CE4 Neil Fox
LW5 Bill Francis
SO6 Roger Millward
SH7 Tommy Bishop
PR8 Bill Holliday (c)
HK9 Peter Flanagan
PR10 Cliff Watson
SR11 John Mantle
SR12 Bob Irving
LF13 Frank Foster
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
FB1 Les Johns
RW2 Johnny Greaves
CE3 Graeme Langlands
CE4 John McDonald
LW5 Johnny King
FE6 Tony Branson
HB7 John Gleeson
PR8 Noel Kelly
HK9 Noel Gallagher
PR10 Peter Gallagher (c)
SR11 Ron Lynch
SR12 Elton Rasmussen
LK13 Ron Coote
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Reg Gasnier










Third Test

The Kangaroos retained The Ashes with a hard-fought 11-3 win on a frozen ground at Station Road in Swinton. It would be the 10th and last time Station Road would host an Ashes Test and the 18th and last test match played at the ground.[8]

Saturday 9 December
Great Britain  3 – 11  Australia
Tries:
Malcolm Price


Goals:
[9] Tries:
Tony Branson
Ron Coote
Johnny King
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (1)
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 13,615
Referee: Fred Lindop
Man of the Match: Johnny Raper
Great Britain
Australia
FB1 Arthur Keegan
RW2 Chris Young
CE3 Ian Brooke
CE4 Malcolm Price
LW5 Gary Jordan
SO6 Roger Millward
SH7 Tommy Bishop
PR8 Bill Holliday (c)
HK9 Peter Flanagan
PR10 Cliff Watson
SR11 Bob Irving
SR12 Bob Valentine
LF13 Dave Robinson
Substitutions:
IC14 Alan Burwell
IC15 Charlie Renilson
Coach:
FB1 Les Johns
LW2 Johnny King
CE3 Johnny Greaves
CE4 Graeme Langlands
RW5 John McDonald
FE6 John Gleeson
HB7 Billy Smith
PR8 Peter Gallagher
HK9 Noel Kelly
PR10 Dennis Manteit
SR11 Elton Rasmussen
SR12 Ron Coote
LF13 Johnny Raper (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Tony Branson
IC15
Coach:
Reg Gasnier

According to stand-in Kangaroos captain and man of the match Johnny Raper, the Kangaroos had a psychological advantage in the third test after he heard Lions halves Roger Millward and Tommy Bishop say after walking around the Station Road ground pre-match that they did not want to play on the frozen ground. The Kangaroos, used to playing on hard Australian grounds, were in their element against a timid Lions outfit.

France

During the game against Les Espoirs in Avignon, Kangaroos captain coach Reg Gasnier re-broke the leg he had broken during the first Ashes Test at Headingley. Ultimately this would prove to be Gasnier's last game of top grade football and he subsequently announced his retirement from playing at the age of 28.

Date Opponent Score Ground Referee Crowd Report
17 December 1967 France 7 – 7 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille G. Jameau (FRA) 5,193
21 December 1967 Les Espoirs (Colts) 7 – 17 Parc des Sports, Avignon 1,116
24 December 1967 France 10 – 3 Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne A. Breysse (FRA) 4,193
21 December 1967 XIII Catalan 7 – 37 Stade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan 3,000
31 December 1967 France XIII 6 – 13 Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi 2,949
4 January 1968 South West France 0 – 15 Stade Jules Ribet, Saint-Gaudens 1,205
7 January 1968 France 16 – 13 Stade des Minimes, Toulouse G. Jameau (FRA) 5,000

First test

17 December 1967
France  7 – 7  Australia
Tries:
Georges Bonet
Goals
Andre Lacaze (2)
Tries:
Les Johns
Goals
Les Johns (1)
Graeme Langlands (1)
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 5,193
Referee: Georges Jameau
France Position Australia
André LacazeFBLes Johns
Daniel PellerinWGJohnny King
Guy AndrieuCEGraeme Langlands
Jean LecompteCEJohnny Greaves
Yves RaynaudWGKen Irvine
Claude MantoulanSOTony Branson
Roger GarnungSHBilly Smith
Christian SabatiéPRDennis Manteit
Yves BégouHKNoel Kelly
Guy RibotPRPeter Gallagher
Georges Ailleres (c)SRElton Rasmussen
Adolphe AlésinaSRRon Coote
Georges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)
Jean CapdouzeInt.Ron Lynch
Jep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

Legendary Australian winger Ken Irvine broke his leg during this game. It was to be his 33rd and final test appearance for the Kangaroos.

Second Test

24 December 1967
France  10 – 3  Australia
Tries:

Goals
Jean Capdouze (5)
Tries:
Johnny Greaves
Goals
Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 4,193
Referee: Andre Breysse
France Position Australia
André LacazeFBLes Johns
Daniel PellerinWGJohnny King
Guy AndrieuCEJohnny Greaves
Roger GarrigueCEGraeme Langlands
Pierre SurreWGJohn McDonald
Jean CapdouzeSOTony Branson
Roger GarnungSHBilly Smith
Christian SabatiéPRPeter Gallagher
Yves BégouHKNoel Gallagher
Pierre DubiéPRElton Rasmussen
Georges Ailleres (c)SRRon Lynch
Francis de NadaïSRRon Coote
Georges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)
Jacques FabreInt.
Adolphe AlésinaInt.
Jep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

Third Test

7 January 1968
France  16 – 13  Australia
Tries:
Daniel Pellerin
P Surre
Goals
Jean Capdouze (5)
Tries:
Johnny Greaves (2)
Graeme Langlands
Goals
Les Johns (1)
Graeme Langlands (1)
Stade des Minimes, Toulouse
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Georges Jameau
France Position Australia
Claude MantoulanFBLes Johns
Pierre SurreWGJohnny King
Michel MolinierCEJohnny Greaves
Guy AndrieuCEGraeme Langlands
Daniel PellerinWGJohn McDonald
Jean CapdouzeSOTony Branson
Roger GarnungSHBilly Smith
Christian SabatiéPRPeter Gallagher
Yves BégouHKNoel Kelly
Pierre DubiéPRElton Rasmussen
Francis de NadaïSRAllan Thomson
Georges Ailleres (c)SRRon Coote
Georges BonetLFJohnny Raper (c)
Jep LacosteCoachReg Gasnier

References

  1. Legends of Australian sport: The Inside Story. Australia: University of Queensland Press. 2003. p. 79. ISBN 9780702234101.
  2. New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1920). "Kangaroo Tour Manager". The Rugby League news. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League (Vol. 48 No. 25 (24 June 1967)). nla.obj-761718637. Retrieved 28 Jan 2021 via Trove.
  3. E.E.Christensen (1968). "1967-68 Kangaroo Tour Records". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. Sydney: E.E.Christensen (Vol. 22).
  4. 1967 Ashes series - Game 1
  5. 1st Ashes Test
  6. 1968 Ashes series - Game 2
  7. 2nd Ashes Test
  8. 1967 Ashes series - Game 3
  9. 3rd Ashes Test
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