What was your first international?

[N2022]

Took my sons to Elland Rd game v NZ in 2018. Beautiful occasion as centenary of Armistice and that tribute was followed by a haka -amazing atmosphere. Full of hope because of our strength in the series but watched us disappoint massively, lost 40-odd to nil, and I don't even remember it as a great game, even if trying to give credit to Kiwis. Contrast with our second Eng game, which was the RLWC opener in Newcastle. Kaiser Chiefs scuppered by the tech, but a huge win. Going to Wembley, and if the pre-game goes badly I'll take that as a good omen.

Edited October 15 by N2022
Correction

[Josef K]

On 13/10/2025 at 20:57, Dunbar said:

Great Britain vs New Zealand 1985 Series Game 2 at Central Park.

Not counting Saints games Vs international sides this was my first game. I loved OT when there was 50,000 on with the England fans chanting “ere we go ere we go”. I have attended a load of internationals over the years and i have enjoyed most of them bar 2000 when i remember getting drenched at a lot of games.
Most notably the final going to the match, the coach parked a good 20min walk from the ground, we got drenched so we tried to use the hand dryers to try and get a bit dry to get warm. 

[doc]

Wales v France at Widnes, 1980. 21-7 to France. 

Can't remember owt about the game.

[north yorks trinity]

1 hour ago, N2022 said:

Took my sons to Headingley game v NZ in 2018. Beautiful occasion as centenary of Armistice and that tribute was followed by a haka -amazing atmosphere. Full of hope because of our strength in the series but watched us disappoint massively, lost 40-odd to nil, and I don't even remember it as a great game, even if trying to give credit to Kiwis. Contrast with our second Eng game, which was the RLWC opener in Newcastle. Kaiser Chiefs scuppered by the tech, but a huge win. Going to Wembley, and if the pre-game goes badly I'll take that as a good omen.

Do you mean Elland Road? It was a massive disappointment even though we'd won the series. If the Aussies get a consolation win at Headingley this year I'll still be on too much of a high to be that bothered!!

As for my first test: Elland Road 2nd test v NZ in 1989 where Steve Hapmpson was sent off early on (and then again the next day playing for Wigan ) and we still won convincingly, followed by a much closer but utterly absorbing and nerve wracking win in the series decider at a wet and packed Central Park in the 3rd test.

[Ed Wish.]

1961 World Cup Final .  GB v Australia at Odsal.  I recall being next to the path where the players came up through the crowd at the end of the game.  A bloody sight!

[Anita Bath]

9 hours ago, Ed Wish. said:

1961 World Cup Final .  GB v Australia at Odsal.  I recall being next to the path where the players came up through the crowd at the end of the game.  A bloody sight!

It was 1960!

[Gerrumonside ref]

On 13/10/2025 at 23:01, Liverpool Rover said:

Great Britain vs Australia 1st test 1994. Prossibly the best win over Australia in my lifetime. Where I was sitting I had a terrible view of Jonathan Davies try but was close to Edwards sending off. I remember him standing in front of us looking back at the field before leaving and he was getting a load of abuse as everyone thought he had cost us the game. I was convinced that it was just going to be a matter of time before Australias numerical advantage would tell and they would cut loose but it never happened.

This was my first international too and went with Wigan and Warrington fans on a coach trip - I thought they were all going to be like that!

We claim to be the people who started the “We only needed 12 men” song that followed and caught on.

One of my all time best days at any sporting event

 

[N2022]

21 hours ago, north yorks trinity said:

Do you mean Elland Road? It was a massive disappointment even though we'd won the series. If the Aussies get a consolation win at Headingley this year I'll still be on too much of a high to be that bothered!!

As for my first test: Elland Road 2nd test v NZ in 1989 where Steve Hapmpson was sent off early on (and then again the next day playing for Wigan ) and we still won convincingly, followed by a much closer but utterly absorbing and nerve wracking win in the series decider at a wet and packed Central Park in the 3rd test.

Yes, sorry, Elland Road. Hence much bigger crowd.

[N2022]

21 hours ago, north yorks trinity said:

Do you mean Elland Road? It was a massive disappointment even though we'd won the series. If the Aussies get a consolation win at Headingley this year I'll still be on too much of a high to be that bothered!!

As for my first test: Elland Road 2nd test v NZ in 1989 where Steve Hapmpson was sent off early on (and then again the next day playing for Wigan ) and we still won convincingly, followed by a much closer but utterly absorbing and nerve wracking win in the series decider at a wet and packed Central Park in the 3rd test.

2 sendings off in two days is mad. Would it have been 3 in 3 days if he'd had another team to turn out for? 

[MattSantos]

1992 world cup final i think. I remember it as Christmas present but I don't remember the 10 month wait.

Best game was the Tonga semi in New Zealand. Woof!!

My 6 year olds first ever game of anything (not including Helensburgh Rugby Union for 10 mins) will be at Everton. 

[Pulga]

2015 El Salvador v Chile.

[Morris Wanchuk]

On 14/10/2025 at 12:43, Brigg Rover said:

Not exactly sure of the year might be 1985 but it was the test at Elland Road between us and New Zealand finished 6 all. Went on a school trip where they allowed parents as well, so quite a few Dad's went as well. Really good day.

Yeah my 1st international too, 1985 at Elland Road GB v NZ, Lee Crooks kicked a great goal to level it at 6 all. 

[fieldofclothofgold]

On 14/10/2025 at 11:37, Jim from Oz said:

If there are people on here who can remember attending games in the 1940s and 1950s, there must be some quite mature people on this forum! Who no doubt would have plenty of great rugby league stories and memories over the decades!

I remember the WC final the Battle of Leeds Headingley 1970 . I've never seen such brutality before or since .getting near the end of the game scores being settled the Aussie forward O'Neill I think his name was he was running around like an enraged Bull all game . He got caught up with Dennis Hartley had him slapped nut on him as he was staggering sideways Jimmy Thompson smacked him from other side . They say the game is too sanitized now ,my God 

[N2022]

43 minutes ago, Pulga said:

2015 El Salvador v Chile.

Niche. Are you a hipster who travels or based over there?

[Ant]

1980

GB v NZ at Odsal

I can remember nothing about the game, my dad bought me a Rosette and the atmosphere blew my mind.

 

I think my next one would be 1990 at Wembley. Now THAT was a test match.

[Nate90]

The Emerging Nations World Cup in 2000

[Pulga]

2 hours ago, N2022 said:

Niche. Are you a hipster who travels or based over there?

I founded the El Salvador RL so you'd hope I was at their first full international.

[The Rocket]

13 hours ago, N2022 said:

2 sendings off in two days is mad. Would it have been 3 in 3 days if he'd had another team to turn out for? 

My favourite send off story was about a Kiwi the Panthers signed way back when, when he went back to NZ he started playing union again where he got sent off for punching one of his own teammates.

[CiderWire]

Wire v Australia 1978. What a night!

[WN83]

It was the 1992 World Cup Final for me. I just seem to recall coming away in a child like rage that we'd been robbed. Didn't Tim Brasher trip somebody as they were trying to score? 

It's been a while. 

[Grimmy]

GB v Australia at Bolton 2001.

I'd begun watching Wigan home games in 2001 (they were unbeaten at home that year) only to watch them get slaughtered by Bradford in the grand final. My next game was this one where the aussies racked up a 40-0 lead by half time before putting the cue on the rack. Nearly my worst two games in a row to attend (not quite as bad as watching Wigan lose 70-0 then 75-0 in 2005)

[Billy King's Boots]

GB 6 - Australia 27
Central Park, Wigan: 20th November, 1982

[League of the South]

My first test match was GB 10 vs NZ 6 at Central Park, Wigan in Autumn 1989. It was the highlight of a fantastic weekend when a big group of us from the Hornsey Lambs RL club left London at the crack of dawn on the Saturday and returned late Sunday afternoon. After the game we headed over to Liverpool for a big night out and, from memory, we stayed at the Adelphi (?) hotel near Lime St station. Brilliant weekend and great memories...........

[jacksy]

Boothferry Park 1982.

[JWK]

For anyone who is interested there are 20 odd minutes of the gb v australia game at Headingley on you tube.Priceless commentary from Ediie Waring on the lines of.There is a bit of turmoil early on you can expect a bit odf a caffuffle among the forwards off the ball  particularly if the ref isn't looking.A lot of the incidents are clearly off the ball and not on the film but interesting to see how different the game was back then.