# 1937–38 Kangaroo tour

The 1937–38 Kangaroo tour was the sixth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to New Zealand, Great Britain and France and played thirty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, and two Test matches each against the Kiwis and French. It followed the tour of 1933-34. Following a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II, the next tour was staged in 1948-49.

## The squad's leadership

The team was selected with Wally Prigg as captain and Jack Reardon as vice-captain. Tour co-managers were Harry Sunderland and Robert Savage.

## Touring squad

The Rugby League News published headshots of the touring party, including the managers, in successive issues: July 3, July 10, and July 17. The names, weight and height of the players was also published. Collins, Gilbert, Heidke, McLean, Reardon, Robison, and Whittle were selected from Queensland clubs. Dawson, Gibbs, Hazelton, Prigg and Bert Williams were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney-based clubs during the 1937 season.
Notes:
* Tallies in the table below are compiled from match reports that appeared in Australian newspapers. Most articles were provided by the Australian Associated Press and were amended by local editors. Claude Corbett was present for the England leg of the tour, reporting for The Sun, Sydney and the Telegraph, Brisbane. Tour Manager Harry Sunderland provided articles for The Courier-Mail, Brisbane.
* For nearly all matches, one or more newspapers listed the Australian team with the match report. An exception is the match against Catalans. The point-scorers in the Catalans match include two players who were not named in the team prior to the match. Consequently, 15 players are included in the tallies for the Catalans match.
* Under the rules of the time, teams were limited to 13 players, with no ability to replace injured players.
* Following a broken leg injury to Joe Pearce, sustained during the Second Test match in New Zealand, Herb Narvo was added to the squad. Narvo travelled to England separately from the touring party. Joe Pearce was permitted to continue with the group, and he travelled with the team to England and France.

## Nez Zealand leg
### 1st Test

* August 7
| New Zealand | 8–12 | Australia |
| Tries: 2 Noel Bickerton Cec Davison Goals: 1 Cec Davison | [2] [3] [4] | Tries: 4 Charlie Hazelton (2) Doug McLean Jr. Ray Stehr Goals: nil |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Morris Wetherill

### 2nd Test

* August 14
| New Zealand | 16–15 | Australia |
| Tries: 4 Cec Davison (2) Noel Bickerton Jack Satherley Goals: 2 George Nēpia (2) | [8] [9] [10] | Tries: 3 Doug McLean Jr. (2) Fred Nolan Goals: 3 Percy Williams (2) Jack Beaton |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Morris Wetherill

## England leg

Matches scheduled in December 1937 against Castleford, Cumberland, Hull Kingston Rovers and Hunslet were abandoned or cancelled due to snow or fog.

### 1st Test

* October 16
| England | 5–4 | Australia |
| Tries: 1 Emlyn Jenkins Goals: 1 Martin Hodgson | [30] [31] [32] | Tries: nil Goals: 2 Jack Beaton (2) |
* Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 31,949 Gate: £ 3,982 Referee: Albert Harding

### 2nd Test

* November 13
| England | 13–3 | Australia |
| Tries: 3 Alan Edwards (2) Barney Hudson Goals: 2 Gus Risman (2) | [47] [48] [49] | Tries: 1 Len Dawson Goals: nil |
* Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 31,724 Gate: £ 3,815 Referee: Albert Harding

### 3rd Test

* December 18
| England | 3–13 | Australia |
| Tries: 1 Barney Hudson Goals: nil | [66] [67] [68] | Tries: 3 Andy Norval Jack Reardon Herb Narvo Goals: 2 Jack Reardon (2) |
* Fartown Ground, Huddersfield Attendance: 9,403 Gate: £ 1,237 Referee: Albert Harding

## France leg

Four years previously, the Kangaroos had travelled to France to play an international against England, in Paris, on New Year's Eve, 1933. On this tour, Australia played rugby league matches against French teams for the first time. France had played their first international against England in April 1934. Matches involving France against England and Wales had followed in the 1934–35, 1935–36 and 1936–37 European Championships. The 1st Test against Australia was France's 8th Test Match.

### 1st Test

* January 1
| France | 6–35 | Australia |
| Tries: 2 Andre Cussac Henri Durand Goals: nil | [71] [72] | Tries: 9 Fred Gilbert (2) Len Dawson (2) Herb Narvo Jack Beaton Andy Norval Wally Prigg Jack Reardon Goals: 4 Jack Beaton (4) |
* Stade Buffalo, Paris Attendance: 11,500 Referee: Albert Dobson

### 2nd Test

* January 16
| France | 11–16 | Australia |
| Tries: 3 Joseph Griffard Henri Sanz Andre Cussac Goals: 1 Max Rousié | [79] [80] [81] | Tries: 4 Andy Norval Ross McKinnon Harry Pierce Wally Prigg Goals: 2 Jack Beaton (2) |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 23,100 Gate: £ 1,260