Great Britain achieved one of their most memorable triumphs in the first ever Rugby League World Cup. It was hosted by France in late 1954. Held on the back of an arduous Lions tour to Australia and NZ, many of Britain's best players stood down before the tournament.

Led by captain Dave Valentine they shared the top of the table with France after the pool games. Australia was captained by Clive Churchill and included Kearney, Provan, Wells and Holman. The Kangaroos lost games to Britain (28-13) and France (15-3), and beat NZ for its only win (34-15). The Final was held in Paris (30,000), Britain came from behind to beat France 16-12 with their best work coming from their inspirational captain Valentine, Gerry Helme, Phil Jackson and Mick Sullivan.

Australia easily won the 2nd World Cup - games were held in Sydney and Brisbane - after defeating New Zealand 25-5, Great Britain 31-6 and France 26-9. Finishing alone at the top of the Table meant no Final was required. Crowds were strong throughout the Cup with over 50,000 on hand at the opener between France and Great Britain at the SCG.

Australia was captain-coached by Dick Poole and included Ken Kearney, Keith Holman, Brian Carlson, Brian Clay, Norm Provan and Ken McCaffery. A post-Cup match between Australia and The Rest Of The World was held in Sydney (30,675) where the home side won 20-11. The tournament was held in Australia to coincide with the local celebration of 50 seasons of Rugby League.

Great Britain gained their second World Cup trophy after winning all three of their matches to top the table. There was no need for a Final, but the last match of the tournament did decide the winner. Australia were captained by Keith Barnes and with Gasnier, Wells, Mossop, Raper, Rasmussen, Hambly and Kelly were a formidable opponent for any side.

The Kangaroos beat France 13-12 and NZ 21-15. Australia and Great Britain both were undefeated when they met on a mud heap at Odsal Stadium (32,773). Great Britain, under Eric Ashton, battled to a 10-3 win with their two greatest wingers of all time - Billy Boston and Mick Sullivan - scoring tries. Brian Carlson scored Australia's sole try to complete another impressive series for him with a total of 4 tries and 5 goals.

The first World Cup in 8 years saw the permanent addition of a Final between the top 2 sides to determine the winner. Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the British were expected to be the main threats to the Aussies. Australia breezed through the pool rounds winning all three against New Zealand (31-12), France (37-4) and Great Britain (25-10).

The Aussies were captained by John Raper and included some of the nation's best ever players including Eric Simms, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote and John Greaves. The Brits though came unstuck in the Carlaw Park mud and lost to France (7-2) who secured a place in the Final against Australia. Over 50,000 saw Australia dismiss the French challenge by 20-2.

The Australians stumbled badly in England in the 1970 World Cup. After beating New Zealand easily by 47-11, it lost the two remaining games to Great Britain (11-4) and France (17-15) to leave its Cup defence in tatters. Meanwhile, the Brits won all three games convincingly behind Frank Myler (c), Mal Reilly, Cliff Watson and Doug Laughton. Fortunately for Australia, neither the Kiwis or the French managed more than one win each either, and the Kangaroos entered the Final based on their better for and against.

Captained by Ron Coote, Australia managed to defeat Great Britain in the Final by 12-7 after the homeside missed a number of opportunities to win the game. The match was marred by a late brawl. The Kangaroos included Simms, Branighan, Harris, Sait, Fulton, Smith, O'Neill and McCarthy.

Great Britain, led by Clive Sullivan, won the closest ever battle for the Cup. They made the Final after winning all their preliminary games, including over Australia (27-21) and NZ (53-19). After 1970's failure, the pressure was on for Great Britain to win. Australia were again their opponent for the Final held in Lyon, France. The locals failed to show (only 4,500) for what was to become an epic battle.

The Australians (with Langlands as capt., Fulton, Gary Sullivan, Bob O'Reilly, Beetson and O'Neill) led 10-5 into the final minutes before the Brits levelled forcing extra-time. The sides could still not be split 20 minutes later and the British were awarded the Cup as they were unbeaten in the tournament. Their best were Sullivan, Lowe, Stephenson, Lockwood, Nash and Topliss.

The '75 Cup saw many changes - Great Britain was divided into England and Wales for the first time and there was again no Final. The format saw all 5 teams playing each other home and away, with the winner being the side on top of the table. The matches were spread over almost a year and played in both hemispheres.

England grabbed a draw against Australia in Sydney, and beat them at Wigan later - but a costly draw against NZ left the English one point behind Australia in the end. While the Aussies won the Cup, Wales managed a third placed finish ahead of France and NZ. Australia used 35 players including Langlands, Eadie, Anderson, Randall, Fahey, Cronin, Fulton, Platz, Donnelly, Raudonikis, Quayle, Strudwick, Coote, Stevens and Higgs.

The '77 series was staged in Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland and Christchurch. In the end it was an admitted mistake in the Final by an English referee that denied the British a World Cup win. Australia led the table and easily beat Great Britain by 19-5 in the early games. But under Roger Millward's leadership the Lions came back for the Final at the SCG.

Australia's best in the tournament were captain Arthur Beetson and Graham Eadie. The Kangaroos won the Final by 13-12 in a physical encounter, but by all accounts the British were dreadfully unlucky. As winger Stuart Wright took an intercept for a try under the posts, the referee awarded Britain a penalty for shepherding. Later in the match fullback George Fairbairn missed a penalty goal from in front.

The World Cup returned in 1985 under a four season home and away model - most games doubled as regular Tests. For the first time Papua New Guinea joined the World Cup and won a game over New Zealand. The French forfeited all away games, aside from against the British, in a blow to the credibility of the Cup.

Australia headed the table and thus secured a place for the October 1988 Final. However, the Lions 3rd Test win in Sydney left the Brits and the Kiwis within a point of each other with only their game against each other left to play. In a close game in Christchurch the Kiwis won 12-10 and entered the Final. There was much interest for the Final and Auckland's Eden Park held 46,000 excited New Zealanders. However, it was anti-climax as Wally Lewis led the Kangaroos on a 25-12 win.

1989-1992 World Cup -
awarded on points system
World Cup Final 1992: Australia 10 d. Great Britain 6 / London (76,631)

The four year model continued for the next World Cup. Australia secured a place in the Final by 1991. New Zealand and Great Britain fought out the remaining place, with the Lions eventually claiming it. The Final was held in October 1992 at Wembley before a record crowd for an international: 73,631.

Both sides displayed resolute defence in the most hard-nosed match seen at this level in years. Great Britain led with 12 minutes remaining by 6-4. But a Kevin Walters pass to Steve Renouf put him outside of the Lions John Devereux near the 1/4 line. Renouf sped through for the try and Meninga converted for a 10-6 lead to Australia. Led by Gary Connelly and Andy Platt, the Brits threw everything at Australia but couldn't breach the line. Australia won, but Britain had gone desperately close.

1995 World Cup - in England
v England : lost 16-20 / London (41,271)
v Fiji : won 66-0 / Huddersfield (7,127)
v South Africa : won 86-6 / Gateshead (9,191)
Semi Final: Australia 30 d. New Zealand 20 / Huddersfield (16,608)
World Cup Final: Australia 16 d. England 8 / London (66,540)

The 1995 World Cup returned to a tournament format. Amidst the Centenary celebrations and Super League dramas, the Cup kicked off with home side England stunning Australia with victory in the first game. The semi-finals saw England beat a determined Wales side at Manchester, while New Zealand and Australia went into extra-time.

The Kiwis needed goal kicker Matthew Ridge to convert a very late try to break the deadlock - he put in a horror effort. The Kangaroos then finished NZ off in the extra stanza. For the Final Australia were led by Fittler, Andrew Johns, Hill, Toovey and Menzies while England's hopes were with Farrell, Betts, Offiah, Goulding and Robinson. The Final was another close tussle but Australia triumphed yet again when it mattered to win by 16-8. All Australian matches were recognised by the ARL as Tests.

The 2000 World Cup, held in Great Britain and France, was a much more ambitous effort than any before. Great Britain divided itself into four home nations, while teams from Lebanon, Russia, Fiji, South Africa, NZ Maori and Cook Is. were also included for the first time.

The England team failed to produce any credible challenge with the decision not to compete as Great Britain proving crucial. New Zealand stood out above all the other nations and Australia looked beatable at times. However, yet again in a Final, Australia launched a dominant performance late in the second half to win with embarrassing ease. The Kangaroos were captained by Brad Fittler and included standout performances by Kimmorley, Johns, Tallis, Webcke, Girdler, Sailor, Rogers and Fletcher.

World Cup Statistics
Series Won: Australia 9, Great Britain 3

Australian Records
Matches: 46 matches - won 36, lost 8, drawn 2
v New Zealand: 12 - won 12, lost 0
v Great Britain: 11 - won 6, lost 4, drawn 1
v France: 10 - won 8, lost 2
v England: 5 - won 2, lost 2, drawn 1
v Wales: 3 - won 3, lost 0
v Fiji: 2 - won 2, lost 0
v South Africa: 1 - won 1, lost 0
v Russia: 1 - won 1, lost 0
v Samoa: 1 - won 1, lost 0
v Papua New Guinea: 0

Biggest Win by Australia:
110-4 v Russia @ Hull, England, November 4, 2000

Biggest Loss by Australia:
28-13 v Great Britain @ Lyon, France, October 31, 1954