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 (1991). 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 (sometimes called Northern Union or The Lions) 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.
Main article: 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain |
Northern Union 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
Main article: 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain |
Played: 35
Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5
Ashes: Australasia 2–0
Main article: 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain |
Played: 36
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1929–30 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain |
Played: 35
Won: 24 Drew: 2 Lost: 7
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain |
Played: 37
Won: 27 Drew: 0 Lost: 10
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
Main article: 1937–38 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 35
Won: 22 Drew: 1 Lost: 12
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 37
Won: 24 Drew: 0 Lost: 13
Ashes: Great Britain 3–0
Main article: 1952–53 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 40
Won: 33 Drew: 1 Lost: 6
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
A record eleven Queenslanders were selected for this tour.[2]
Played: 28
Won: 18 Drew: 1 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1959–60 Kangaroo tour |
Played: 24
Won: 15 Drew: 0 Lost: 9
Ashes: Great Britain 2–1
Main article: 1963–64 Kangaroo tour |
The 1963 Kangaroos thus became the first Australian only side to win the Ashes on British soil.[3]
Played: 36
Won: 28 Drew: 1 Lost: 7
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 27
Won: 16 Drew: 2 Lost: 9
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 19
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 22
Won: 16 Drew: 0 Lost: 6
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1982 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France |
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.
Main article: 1986 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France |
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.
Main article: 1990 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain and France |
Played: 18
Won: 17 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 2001 Kangaroo tour |
Played: 3
Won: 2 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Ashes: Australia 2–1
Main article: 2003 Kangaroo tour |
Played: 6
Won: 6 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Ashes: Australia 3–0
Main article: 1919 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 9
Won: 8 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–1
Main article: 1935 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1949 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 10
Won: 9 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Main article: 1953 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 2–1
Main article: 1961 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 9
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Main article: 1965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 8
Won: 7 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Main article: 1969 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 6
Won: 4 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: Draw 1–1
Main article: 1971 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 3
Won: 1 Drew: 0 Lost: 2
Trans-Tasman series: New Zealand 1–0
Main article: 1980 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 7
Won: 5 Drew: 1 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–0
Main article: 1985 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 2–1
Main article: 1989 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand |
Played: 6
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 1
Trans-Tasman series: Australia 3–0
Main article: 1991 Kangaroo tour of Papua New Guinea |
Played: 5
Won: 5 Drew: 0 Lost: 0
Test series: Australia 2–0