Winner Australia (4th title) Top scorer Mick Cronin Points scored 661 Matches played 21 | Start date 1975 Number of teams 5 Attendance 204,476 | |
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Top try scorers Keith Fielding (7)
Ian Schubert (7) Similar 1954 Rugby League, 1995 Rugby League, 2000 Rugby League, 2008 Rugby League | ||
The 1975 Rugby League World Championship (also referred to as the World Series) was the seventh ever tournament for the Rugby League World Cup. The format differed radically from that employed in previous competitions; no one country hosted the matches, which were spread out in a 'world series' hosted by each of the five participating nations over a period of just over eight months. Each team had to play the others on a 'home and away' basis. Great Britain were split up into separate England and Wales teams, taking advantage of a glut of Welsh talent in the British game at the time.
Contents
No final was held, with Australia being deemed the champions by virtue of finishing on top of the table with England coming in second.
Australia
The Australian squad was captain-coached by Graeme Langlands. The Eastern Suburbs club, being current NSWRFL premiers were the most heavily represented team.
England
England were coached by Bill Oxley and Alex Murphy, and captained by Roger Millward.
New Zealand
The New Zealand team was coached by George Menzies (West Coast) and managed by Des Jenkinson (Auckland) and Brian Watson (Auckland).
Wales
Coach: Les Pearce
Results
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.
Final challenge match
As Australia had not beaten England to win the cup, a final challenge was hastily arranged. 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.