Happy Anniversary to the Rugby World Cup!

[Futtocks]

A few days late, but on the 13th of November 1954, Dave Valentine's under-rated GB side lifted the first ever Rugby World Cup in Paris.

 

[The Partisan]

Obviously next year there will major celebrations and media reports of the 70th anniversary just like there was for the 50th and 60th

Would be nice to plan something for the 75th anniversary at least ! 

 

[Sports Prophet]

7 hours ago, Futtocks said:

A few days late, but on the 13th of November 1954, Dave Valentine's under-rated GB side lifted the first ever Rugby World Cup in Paris.

 

That’s a great picture. Talk about regression.

[unapologetic pedant]

12 hours ago, Futtocks said:

A few days late, but on the 13th of November 1954, Dave Valentine's under-rated GB side lifted the first ever Rugby World Cup in Paris.

 

The @Futtocks RWC crusade continues. Magnificently indefatigable and delightfully futile.

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

A great thread; thanks for the reminder, Futtocks.

As I recall reading, the Aussies were decidedly 'iffy' about the whole concept and only agreed to come if the French would underwrite any financial loss that they might incur.  Have I got that right, or do I imagine that?

I find it an intriguing fact of the history of team sports that, whereas their initial codification was very much something that occurred in Britain and other English speaking countries in the 19th century, taking them a step further to the international level in the 20th century was very much something in which France or French speaking countries played a key role.  Thus, for instance, soccer still has an international body with a French title - FIFA -  and ice hockey used to - the French language LIHG in due course becoming the English language IIHF.  Soccer and rugby both have Frenchmen to thank for having the vision for their first world cups.

[Futtocks]

11 minutes ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

A great thread; thanks for the reminder, Futtocks.

As I recall reading, the Aussies were decidedly 'iffy' about the whole concept and only agreed to come if the French would underwrite any financial loss that they might incur.  Have I got that right, or do I imagine that?

I find it an intriguing fact of the history of team sports that, whereas their initial codification was very much something that occurred in Britain and other English speaking countries in the 19th century, taking them a step further to the international level in the 20th century was very much something in which France or French speaking countries played a key role.  Thus, for instance, soccer still has an international body with a French title - FIFA -  and ice hockey used to - the French language LIHG in due course becoming the English language IIHF.  Soccer and rugby both have Frenchmen to thank for having the vision for their first world cups.

Great Britain was also very iffy, which is why the champions' squad was made up of quite an odd selection of players, with many big names either sitting it out or being held back by their clubs.

Getting the game's administrators to take internationals seriously (and thus become fish in a slightly larger pond) makes herding cats look like a cushy sinecure.

[sam4731]

5 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Great Britain was also very iffy, which is why the champions' squad was made up of quite an odd selection of players, with many big names either sitting it out or being held back by their clubs.

Getting the game's administrators to take internationals seriously (and thus become fish in a slightly larger pond) makes herding cats look like a cushy sinecure.

Mike Dimitro's US Allstars were also meant to compete too but it never came to fruition. Imagine what could've been.

[George Watt]

Remember watching some of the players of that era ( Valentine, Helme, Ledgard)who played for GB in that game but the Coach Gideon Shaw is a mystery to me. I know he was associated with the Castleford club and was their club chairman in the 30's but did he have any playing history?

[Anita Bath]

No….the official appointed to lead tour teams was usually a RL council member….mainly concerned with the business side of tours/competitions and team spirit. The Captain with the help of vice captain was responsible for ‘coaching’ or team preparation.

The 1954 tour to Australia had only concluded at the end of August ( last game August 22). The world cup started on 30 October. Given players were all part time and needed support of their employers to take time off for overseas tours, in some cases for loss of earnings, the back to back competitions were a stretch for some.

The only tour representatives to play in the world cup were Gerry Helme, Phil Jackson and Dave Valentine, all three played in the test matches on tour. Geoff Gunney and Billy Boston were included in the WC squad from the tourists but didnt appear.

 

 

[The Masked Poster]

18 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

The @Futtocks RWC crusade continues. Magnificently indefatigable and delightfully futile.

Agreed. I'm up there with the most pedantic gits around but this is one ship that has definitely sailed. 

[John Rhino]

16 hours ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

A great thread; thanks for the reminder, Futtocks.

As I recall reading, the Aussies were decidedly 'iffy' about the whole concept and only agreed to come if the French would underwrite any financial loss that they might incur.  Have I got that right, or do I imagine that?

I find it an intriguing fact of the history of team sports that, whereas their initial codification was very much something that occurred in Britain and other English speaking countries in the 19th century, taking them a step further to the international level in the 20th century was very much something in which France or French speaking countries played a key role.  Thus, for instance, soccer still has an international body with a French title - FIFA -  and ice hockey used to - the French language LIHG in due course becoming the English language IIHF.  Soccer and rugby both have Frenchmen to thank for having the vision for their first world cups.

Not forgetting the modern Olympic Games.

The French have an unmatched record in international sport