1972 Rugby League World Cup


The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their home soil. In the event Great Britain confounded most expectations by running out worthy winners and levelling their tally of World Cup wins at 3–3 with the Australians.
The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and in the end, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.
This was the last World Cup to be played under the four-tackle rule.

Squads

Venues

The games were played at various venues in France.

MarseilleParisToulouse
Stade VélodromeParc des PrincesStadium Municipal
Capacity: 55,000Capacity: 48,712Capacity: 37,000
PerpignanPauGrenoble
Stade Gilbert BrutusStade du HameauStade Lesdiguières
Capacity: 13,000Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 12,000

Final Venue


Lyon
Stade de Gerland
Capacity: 45,000

Results

Group stage

TeamPldWDLPFPADiffPtsQualification
33009344+496Advances to the Final
32016141+204Advances to the Final
31023353−202
30033382−490

Final

The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as just over 4,200 spectators turned up. The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored", later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau. Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup. Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But for the first time in the competition's history the scores were level at full-time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.

Try scorers

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