# 1965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

The 1965 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played eight matches on tour, including two tests against the New Zealand national rugby league team. The tour began on 9 June and finished on 28 June.

## Leadership

Ian Walsh was both the captain and the coach of the touring side. Walsh appeared in seven of the eight matches. Reg Gasnier captained the Australian team in the one match in which Walsh did not appear, against Canterbury.
The team was co-managed by Arnold Stehr (Manly, NSW) and Des Green (Ipswich, Qld).

## Touring squad

The Rugby League News published details of the touring team including the players' ages and weights. A team photo was published at the conclusion of the tour.
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.
Cavanagh, Gleeson and Wellington were selected from Queensland clubs. Beath, Buman and Pannowitz were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad were playing for Sydney based clubs during the 1965 season.

## Tour

The Australians played eight matches on the tour, winning all of the matches except for the second test against New Zealand.
* Wednesday 9 June
| Wellington | 16 – 34 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Basin Reserve, Wellington Attendance: 1,745
* Friday 11 June
| Canterbury | 4 – 19 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch Attendance: 2,654
* Sunday 13 June
| West Coast | 6 – 16 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Wingham Park, Greymouth Attendance: 1,682
* Tuesday 15 June
| Taranaki | 11 – 29 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Attendance: 900

### First test

* Saturday 19 June
| New Zealand | 8 – 13 | Australia |
| Tries: Goals: Jack Fagan (2/2) Graham Kennedy (2/2) | | Tries: Ken Irvine (2) Lloyd Weier Goals: Les Johns (2/3) |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 13,205 Referee: John Pervical
| New Zealand | Australia |
| FB 1 Jack Fagan RW 2 Roy Christian CE 3 Roger Bailey CE 4 Paul Schultz LW 5 Brian Langton FE 6 Doug Ellwood HB 7 Bill Snowden (c) PR 8 Robin Scholefield HK 9 Colin O'Neil PR 10 Maunga Emery SR 11 Eddie Moore SR 12 Don Hammond LF 13 Ray Sinel BE 14 Graham Kennedy Coach: Maurie Robertson | FB 1 Les Johns RW 2 Michael Cleary CE 3 Reg Gasnier CE 4 Graeme Langlands LW 5 Ken Irvine FE 6 Jimmy Lisle HB 7 Billy Smith PR 8 Paul Quinn HK 9 Ian Walsh (c) PR 10 Lloyd Weier SR 11 Mick Veivers SR 12 John Morgan LF 13 Brian Hambly Coach: Ian Walsh |
* Wednesday 23 June
| Waikato | 4 – 25 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Davies Park, Huntly Attendance: 1,800

### Second test

* Saturday 26 June
| New Zealand | 7 – 5 | Australia |
| Tries: Roger Bailey Goals: Jack Fagan (2/2) | | Tries: Ken Irvine Goals: Les Johns (1/1) |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 11,383 Referee: John Percival
| New Zealand | Australia |
| FB 1 Jack Fagan RW 2 Roy Christian CE 3 Roger Bailey CE 4 Graham Kennedy LW 5 Brian Langton FE 6 Paul Schultz HB 7 Bill Snowden (c) PR 8 Sam Edwards HK 9 Colin O'Neil PR 10 Maunga Emery SR 11 Kevin Dixon SR 12 Don Hammond LF 13 Ray Sinel Coach: Maurie Robertson | FB 1 Les Johns RW 2 Michael Cleary CE 3 Reg Gasnier CE 4 Graeme Langlands LW 5 Ken Irvine FE 6 Jimmy Lisle HB 7 Billy Smith PR 8 Lloyd Weier HK 9 Ian Walsh (c) PR 10 Paul Quinn SR 11 John Morgan SR 12 Mick Veivers LF 13 Brian Hambly Coach: Ian Walsh |
* Monday 28 June
| Auckland | 2 – 18 | Australia |
| | Report | |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 7,000