Kangaroo Tour


Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France, tours to New Zealand and the one off tour to Papua New Guinea. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches. The 1911/12 and 1921/22 tours were by the Australasian Kangaroos as both teams included New Zealand players. Some Kangaroo tours to Great Britain and France also included international friendly matches against Wales, though these games were not given test match status.
The last full Kangaroo Tour was in 1994, although shortened Kangaroo Tours took place in 2001 and again in 2003.
Since 1954, the Kangaroos have also made a number of overseas tours for multi-team tournaments such as the World Cup, Tri-Nations and Four Nations, however these are not classed as Kangaroo tours.

Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

1908/09 Kangaroo Tour

Northern Union vs. Australia

22–22 Australia
Northern Union 15–5 Australia
Northern Union 6–5 Australia
Played: 45
Won: 17 Drew: 6 Lost: 22
Ashes: Great Britain 2–0

1911/12 Kangaroo Tour

Northern Union vs. Australasia

Played: 35
Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5
Ashes: Australasia 2–0

1921/22 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australasia

Played: 36
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1929/30 Kangaroo Tour

The Lions vs. Australia

Played: 35
Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1933/34 Kangaroo Tour

The Lions vs. Australia

Played: 37
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0

1937/38 Kangaroo Tour

The Lions vs. Australia

Played: 35
Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1948/49 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 37
Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0

1952/53 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 40
Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1956/57 Kangaroo Tour

A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour.

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 28
Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1959/60 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 24
Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1

1963/64 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil.

France vs. Australia

Played: 36
Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1967/68 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 27
Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1973 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 19
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1978 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 22
Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1982 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 22
Won: 22 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
The 1982 Kangaroos became the first team to go through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Invincibles.

1986 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 20
Won: 20 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
Emulating the 1982 Kangaroo tour, the 1986 Kangaroos went through Great Britain and France undefeated earning them the nickname The Unbeatables.

1990 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

1994 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

2001 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 3
Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1

2003 Kangaroo Tour

Great Britain vs. Australia

Played: 6
Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0

Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

1919

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 9
Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–1

1935

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1

1949

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 10
Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1953

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2–1

1961

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1965

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 8
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1969

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 6
Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1

1971

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 3
Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1–0

1980

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 7
Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–0

1985

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1

1989

New Zealand vs. Australia

Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–0

Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea

1991

Papua New Guinea vs. Australia

Played: 5
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Test series: Australia 2–0