RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

 

Host Nation - France

Number of Teams - 4

Highest Crowd - 37,471 Toulouse, France (Record crowd for WC game in France)

Average Crowd - 19,761

Total Crowd - 138,329

1954 World Cup Snapshot - The inaugural Rugby League World Cup competition was hosted by France in 1954. That was 33 years earlier then the rival codes tournament. Games were played all over France with a record crowd of 37,471 turning out in Toulouse to see Great Britain and France draw 13 all. Australia and New Zealand failed to make an impact and missed out on the final. The final was played in Paris before 30,368 spectators. Great Britain defied the odds with an inexperienced team to win the first ever World Cup, beating France 16 - 12.

Game 1

Oct 30th France 22 - New Zealand 13

Location - Paris, France

Crowd - 13,240

 

Game 2

Oct 31st Great Britain 28 - Australia 13

Location - Lyon, France

Crowd - 10,250

 

Game 3

Nov 7th Australia 34 - New Zealand 15

Location - Marseille, France

Crowd - 20,000

 

Game 4

Nov 7th Great Britain 13 - France 13

Location - Toulouse, France

Crowd - 37,471 (Record crowd for WC game in France)

 

Game 5

Nov 11th France 15 - Australia 5

Location - Nantes, France

Crowd - 13,000

 

Game 6

Nov 11th Great Britain 26 - New Zealand 6

Location - Bordeaux, France

Crowd - 14,000

Final Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
Great Britain	3	2	1	0	67	32	5
France	3	2	1	0	50	31	5
Australia	3	1	0	2	52	58	2
New Zealand	3	0	0	3	34	82	0