# 1954 Rugby League World Cup group stage

1954 Rugby League World Cup group stage was the main component of the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, with the top two nations qualifying for the final. The group comprised Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and France.

## Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 32 | +35 | 5 | Advance to the Final |
| 2 | France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 31 | +19 | 5 | Advance to the Final |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 2 | |
| 4 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 82 | −48 | 0 | |

## France vs New Zealand

France's niggling tactics in their win against New Zealand in the tournament's opening match drew criticism from the media and the Kiwis coach, Jim Amos. New Zealand winger Jimmy Edwards had the distinction of being the first scorer in World Cup history with a try after only five minutes. Puig-Aubert landed the first goal.
* 30 October
| France | 22–13 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Jean Audoubert Raymond Contrastin Joseph Crespo Guy Delaye Goals: Puig Aubert (4) Drop goals: Puig Aubert | Report | Tries: Cyril Eastlake Jimmy Edwards Ron McKay Goals: John Bond (2) |
* Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 13,240 Referee: Charles Appleton (England)
| France | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Puig Aubert (c) |
| RW | 2 | Raymond Contrastin |
| CE | 3 | Jacques Merquey |
| CE | 4 | Antoine Jimenez |
| LW | 5 | Vincent Cantoni |
| SO | 6 | Gilbert Benausse |
| SH | 7 | Claude Teisseire |
| PR | 8 | Joseph Krawzyck |
| HK | 9 | Jean Audoubert |
| PR | 10 | François Rinaldi |
| SR | 11 | Jean Pambrun |
| SR | 12 | Guy Delaye |
| LF | 13 | Joseph Crespo |
| Coach: ||
| Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort ||
| FB | 1 | Pat Creedy |
| RW | 2 | George Menzies |
| CE | 3 | Ron McKay |
| CE | 4 | Cyril Eastlake (c) |
| LW | 5 | Jimmy Edwards |
| FE | 6 | Bill Sorensen |
| HB | 7 | Len Eriksen |
| PR | 8 | Cliff Johnson |
| HK | 9 | Lory Blanchard |
| PR | 10 | Bill McLennan |
| SR | 11 | John Yates |
| SR | 12 | Don Robinson |
| LK | 13 | Alistair Atkinson |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Amos ||

## Australia vs Great Britain

The British team proved too strong for Australia in both sides' first World Cup game.
* 31 October
| Australia | 13–28 | Great Britain |
| Tries: Harry Wells (2) Ken Kearney Goals: Noel Pidding (2) | Report | Tries: Gordon Brown (2) Phil Jackson (2) Frank Kitchen David Rose Goals: Jimmy Ledgard (5) |
* Stade de Gerland, Lyon Attendance: 10,250 Referee: René Guidicelli (France)
| Australia | Great Britain |
| FB | 1 | Clive Churchill (c) |
| RW | 2 | Noel Pidding |
| CE | 3 | Alex Watson |
| CE | 4 | Harry Wells |
| LW | 5 | Ian Moir |
| FE | 6 | Ken McCaffery |
| HB | 7 | Keith Holman |
| PR | 8 | Duncan Hall |
| HK | 9 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 10 | Roy Bull |
| SR | 11 | Norm Provan |
| SR | 12 | Brian Davies |
| LK | 13 | Peter Diversi |
| Coach: ||
| Victor Hey ||
| FB | 1 | Jimmy Ledgard |
| RW | 2 | David Rose |
| CE | 3 | Phil Jackson |
| CE | 4 | Mick Sullivan |
| LW | 5 | Frank Kitchen |
| SO | 6 | Gordon Brown |
| SH | 7 | Gerry Helme |
| PR | 8 | John Thorley |
| HK | 9 | Sam Smith |
| PR | 10 | Bob Coverdale |
| SR | 11 | Basil Watts |
| SR | 12 | Don Robinson |
| LF | 13 | Dave Valentine (c) |
| Coach: ||
| Gideon Shaw ||

## Australia vs New Zealand

Australia's victory in this match put them in third position on the ladder and New Zealand last.
* 7 November
| Australia | 34–15 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Alex Watson (3) Roy Bull Peter Diversi Greg Hawick Ken Kearney Kel O'Shea Goals: Noel Pidding (5) | Report | Tries: Lenny Eriksen Goals: Ron McKay (6) |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 20,000 Referee: René Guidicelli (France)
| Australia | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Clive Churchill (c) |
| RW | 2 | Noel Pidding |
| CE | 3 | Harry Wells |
| CE | 4 | Alex Watson |
| LW | 5 | Denis Flannery |
| FE | 6 | Bob Banks |
| HB | 7 | Greg Hawick |
| PR | 8 | Roy Bull |
| HK | 9 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 10 | Brian Davies |
| SR | 11 | Harold Crocker |
| SR | 12 | Kel O'Shea |
| LK | 13 | Peter Diversi |
| Coach: ||
| Victor Hey ||
| FB | 1 | Neville Denton |
| RW | 2 | Jimmy Edwards |
| CE | 3 | Cyril Eastlake (c) |
| CE | 4 | Ron McKay |
| LW | 5 | Jim Austin |
| FE | 6 | Bill Sorensen |
| HB | 7 | Lenny Eriksen |
| PR | 8 | Cliff Johnson |
| HK | 9 | Lory Blanchard |
| PR | 10 | Bill McLennan |
| SR | 11 | Jock Butterfield |
| SR | 12 | John Yates |
| LK | 13 | Alistair Atkinson |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Amos ||

## France vs Great Britain

The game gripped the attention of the rugby league public as never before with a record crowd of 37,471 attending at Toulouse. That record crowd has still not been beaten in France. The draw resulted in Great Britain and France sharing the lead in the tournament.
* 7 November
| France | 13–13 | Great Britain |
| Tries: Raymond Contrastin (2) Joseph Krawzyck Goals: Puig Aubert (2) | Report | Tries: Gordon Brown Gerry Helme David Rose Goals: Jimmy Ledgard (2) |
* Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Attendance: 37,471 Referee: Charles Appleton (England)
| France | Great Britain |
| FB | 1 | Puig Aubert (c) |
| RW | 2 | Raymond Contrastin |
| RC | 3 | Jacques Merquey |
| LC | 4 | Antoine Jimenez |
| LW | 5 | Vincent Cantoni |
| SO | 6 | Gilbert Benausse |
| SH | 7 | Joseph Crespo |
| PR | 8 | Joseph Krawzyck |
| HK | 9 | Jean Audoubert |
| PR | 10 | François Rinaldi |
| SR | 11 | Armand Save |
| SR | 12 | Jean Pambrun |
| LF | 13 | Gilbert Verdié |
| Coach: ||
| Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort ||
| FB | 1 | Jimmy Ledgard |
| RW | 2 | David Rose |
| RC | 3 | Phil Jackson |
| LC | 4 | Albert Naughton |
| LW | 5 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 6 | Gordon Brown |
| SH | 7 | Gerry Helme |
| PR | 8 | John Thorley |
| HK | 9 | Sam Smith |
| PR | 10 | Bob Coverdale |
| SR | 11 | Basil Watts |
| SR | 12 | Don Robinson |
| LF | 13 | Dave Valentine (c) |
| Coach: ||
| Gideon Shaw ||

## France vs Australia

Australia and France were playing for the chance to meet Great Britain in the final. Mistakes cost the Australians the match, so France advanced to the decider.
* 11 November
| France | 15–5 | Australia |
| Tries: Vincent Cantoni Raymond Contrastin Jacques Merquey Goals: Puig Aubert (3) | Report | Tries: Kel O'Shea Goals: Noel Pidding |
* Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Charles Appleton (England)
| France | Australia |
| FB | 1 | Puig Aubert (c) |
| RW | 2 | Vincent Cantoni |
| CE | 3 | Jacques Merquey |
| CE | 4 | Claude Teisseire |
| LW | 5 | Raymond Contrastin |
| SO | 6 | Antoine Jimenez |
| SH | 7 | Joseph Crespo |
| PR | 8 | François Rinaldi |
| HK | 9 | Jean Audoubert |
| PR | 10 | Joseph Krawzyck |
| SR | 11 | Guy Delaye |
| SR | 12 | Jean Pambrun |
| LF | 13 | Gilbert Verdié |
| Coach: ||
| Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort ||
| FB | 1 | Clive Churchill (c) |
| RW | 2 | Noel Pidding |
| CE | 3 | Alex Watson |
| CE | 4 | Greg Hawick |
| LW | 5 | Denis Flannery |
| FE | 6 | Bob Banks |
| HB | 7 | Keith Holman |
| PR | 8 | Roy Bull |
| HK | 9 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 10 | Brian Davies |
| SR | 11 | Kel O'Shea |
| SR | 12 | Harold Crocker |
| LK | 13 | Peter Diversi |
| Coach: ||
| Victor Hey ||

## Great Britain vs New Zealand

* 11 November
| Great Britain | 26–6 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Frank Kitchen (2) Gordon Brown Phil Jackson Jimmy Ledgard David Rose Goals: Jimmy Ledgard (4) | Report | Goals: Ron McKay (3) |
* Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 14,000 Referee: René Guidicelli (France)
| Great Britain | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Jimmy Ledgard |
| RW | 2 | David Rose |
| RC | 3 | Phil Jackson |
| LC | 4 | Mick Sullivan |
| LW | 5 | Frank Kitchen |
| SO | 6 | Gordon Brown |
| SH | 7 | Gerry Helme |
| PR | 8 | John Thorley |
| HK | 9 | Sam Smith |
| PR | 10 | Bob Coverdale |
| SR | 11 | Basil Watts |
| SR | 12 | Don Robinson |
| LF | 13 | Dave Valentine (c) |
| Coach: ||
| Gideon Shaw ||
| FB | 1 | Ian Grey |
| RW | 2 | Jimmy Edwards |
| CE | 3 | Cyril Eastlake (c) |
| CE | 4 | Ron McKay |
| LW | 5 | Jim Austin |
| FE | 6 | Bill Sorensen |
| HB | 7 | Lenny Eriksen |
| PR | 8 | Cliff Johnson |
| HK | 9 | Lory Blanchard |
| PR | 10 | Bill McLennan |
| SR | 11 | Jock Butterfield |
| SR | 12 | George McDonald |
| LK | 13 | Alistair Atkinson |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Amos ||