The 1975 Rugby League World Cup (officially known as the 1975 Rugby League World Championship[1]) was the seventh World Cup for men’s rugby league national teams and ran from 2 March to 12 November. Australia were the winners for a fourth time after topping the group table.[2]
Unlike previous World Cups, there was no one host country, with the five participating nations hosting matches over eight months. Each team had to play the others on a 'home and away' basis. For the first time Great Britain didn’t compete and instead England and Wales entered to participate for the first time, taking advantage of a glut of Welsh talent in the British game at the time.
14 venues across the five competing countries hosted games of the 1975 Rugby League World Cup. Wales used their own home venue at Swansea, but also played home games in England in both Salford and Warrington. England also played a 'home' game against Wales at Lang Park in Brisbane, Australia.
In this match Mick Cronin kicked nine goals.
England winger Keith Fielding created a new record by scoring four tries against a hapless French team at Bordeaux.
Kangaroo wing prodigy Ian Schubert also scored a hat-trick tries.
English stand-off Ken Gill ran in three tries.
In this match Jim Mills, the Wales prop, was banned for the rest of the season after an altercation. The ban was eventually lifted on 2 January 1976.
As Australia had not beaten England to win the World Cup (a draw and a loss), a one off challenge match was arranged, although this was not officially classed as a Final as Australia had already been crowned Champions after topping the group.
The Kangaroos showed they were worthy World Champions with a comprehensive 25–0 win at Headingley in front of a disappointing crowd of 7,680 which was over 11,000 less than had attended the 1970 World Cup final, between Great Britain and Australia, at the same venue. England had shown little interest in playing the game.
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Ray Branighan Graham Eadie Tim Pickup John Quayle Johnny Rhodes
John Atkinson Colin Forsyth Jeff Grayshon Brian Hogan Thomas Martyn Roger Millward Mick Morgan Steve Norton Stuart Wright
Bernard Curt René Terrats
Tony Coll Tom Conroy Murray Eade John Greengrass Lyndsay Proctor John Smith John Whittaker
Kel Coslett Tony Fisher Brian Gregory John Mantle Jim Mills Clive Sullivan David Treasure Frank Wilson