1954 Rugby League World Cup Final
# 1954 Rugby League World Cup Final

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup Final was the conclusive game of the 1954 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between France and Great Britain on 13 November 1954 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France.

## Background

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup was the inaugural staging of the Rugby League World Cup. The tournament was held in France from 30 October, culminating in the final between France and Great Britain on 13 November.

### France

    Scores and results list France's points tally first.

| Opposing Team | For | Against | Date | Venue | Attendance | Stage |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| New Zealand | 22 | 13 | 30 October | Parc des Princes, Paris | 13,240 | Group Stage |
| Great Britain | 13 | 13 | 7 November | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | 37,471 | Group Stage |
| Australia | 15 | 5 | 11 November | Stade Marcel Saupin, Nantes | 13,000 | Group Stage |

### Great Britain

    Scores and results list Great Britain's points tally first.

| Opposing Team | For | Against | Date | Venue | Attendance | Stage |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Australia | 28 | 13 | 31 October | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | 10,250 | Group Stage |
| France | 13 | 13 | 7 November | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | 37,471 | Group Stage |
| New Zealand | 26 | 6 | 11 November | Stade Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux | 14,000 | Group Stage |

## Match details

* 13 November 1954

| France | 12–16 | Great Britain |
| - | - | - |
| Try: Raymond Contrastin Vincent Cantoni Goals: Puig Aubert (3) | | Try: Gordon Brown (2) Gerry Helme David Rose Goals: Jimmy Ledgard (2) |

* Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 30,368 Referee: Charles Appleton (Great Britain) Player of the Match: Don Robinson (Great Britain)

| France | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Puig Aubert (c) |
| RW | 2 | Vincent Cantoni |
| RC | 3 | Claude Teisseire |
| LC | 4 | Jacques Merquey |
| LW | 5 | Raymond Contrastin |
| SO | 6 | Antoine Jimenez |
| SH | 7 | Joseph Crespo |
| PR | 8 | Joseph Krawzyck |
| HK | 9 | Jean Audoubert |
| PR | 10 | François Rinaldi |
| SR | 11 | Armand Save |
| SR | 12 | Jean Pambrun |
| LF | 13 | Gilbert Verdié |
| Coach: ||
| Jean Duhau and Rene Duffort ||
| FB | 1 | Jimmy Ledgard |
| RW | 2 | David Rose |
| RC | 3 | Phil Jackson |
| LC | 4 | Albert Naughton |
| LW | 5 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 6 | Gordon Brown |
| SH | 7 | Gerry Helme |
| PR | 8 | John Thorley |
| HK | 9 | Sam Smith |
| PR | 10 | Bob Coverdale |
| SR | 11 | Basil Watts |
| SR | 12 | Don Robinson |
| LF | 13 | Dave Valentine (c) |
| Coach: ||
| Gideon Shaw ||

The BBC broadcast the whole match live in the UK via the Television Continental Exchange – a rare novelty for the time. France opened the scoring with a penalty Puig-Aubert kick from 45 yards out and played well early in the match, leading early in the second half thanks to a brilliant try from Cantoni. However Great Britain did not waver, with credit for the win given to a starring role by centre Phil Jackson and the play of their forward pack, as well as the tough match France had played against Australia in Nantes two days earlier. Great Britain defeated France 16–12 and became the first team to lift the World Cup.

