1954 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP OVERVIEW
Host Nation – France
Number of Teams – 4
Highest Crowd – 37,471 Toulouse, France (Record crowd for WC game in France)
Average Crowd – 19,761
Total Crowd – 138,329
1954 World Cup Snapshot – The inaugural Rugby League World Cup competition was hosted by France in 1954. That was 33 years earlier then the rival codes tournament.
Games were played all over France with a record crowd of 37,471 turning out in Toulouse to see Great Britain and France draw 13 all. Australia and New Zealand failed to make an impact and missed out on the final.
The final was played in Paris before 30,368 spectators. Great Britain defied the odds with an inexperienced team to win the first ever World Cup, beating France 16 – 12 in the final.
1954 Rugby League World Cup Pool Rounds
Game 1: Oct 30th France 22 – New Zealand 13, Location – Paris, France, Crowd – 13,240
Game 2: Oct 31st Great Britain 28 – Australia 13, Location – Lyon, France, Crowd – 10,250
Game 3: Nov 7th Australia 34 – New Zealand 15, Location – Marseille, France, Crowd – 20,000
Game 4: Nov 7th Great Britain 13 – France 13, Location – Toulouse, France, Crowd – 37,471 (Record crowd for WC game in France)
Game 5: Nov 11th France 15 – Australia 5, Location – Nantes, France, Crowd – 13,000
Game 6: Nov 11th Great Britain 26 – New Zealand 6, Location – Bordeaux, France, Crowd – 14,000
Final Table
|
Team
|
P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS |
|
Great Britain
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
67
|
32
|
5
|
|
France
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
50
|
31
|
5
|
|
Australia
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
52
|
58
|
2
|
|
New Zealand
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
34
|
82
|
0
|
1954 Rugby League World Cup Final
Nov 13th Great Britain 16 – France 12, Location – Parc des Princes, Paris, France, Crowd – 30,368
1954 Rugby League World Cup Champions: Great Britain
