
1911 - 1912 | Original Postcard of Australasian FC Team | Rugby League Kangaroo tour of Great Britain | Ashes Winning Team | inc Viv Farnsworth, Billy Cann & Howard Hallet
Condition - The card is in good condition with one crease on left side which can be seen on photos.
Card History - A rare postcard of the 1911–12 Rugby League Kangaroo tour of Great Britain which was the second ever Kangaroo tour.
The team was an "Australasian" squad that included four New Zealand players in addition to 24 Australian representatives. The team photo includes some of the finest players of the era including Viv Farnsworth, Billy Cann and Howard Hallet
The tour took place over the British winter of 1911–12 and this time, to help promote the game of Rugby league in New Zealand, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited a combined Australian and New Zealand team. They became the first tourists to win the Ashes and the last to do so on British soil for over half a century. The test matches vs Great Britain were played at football stadiums including St James Park, Villa Park and Tynecastle.
The tour was a success in performance and organisation. Matches were well attended, the squad's touring payments were maintained throughout and the players all shared in a bonus at the tour's end.
1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain
23 September 1911 – 3 February 1912
Manager
Charles H. Ford and John Quinlan
Tour captain(s)
New South Wales
All eight teams of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership were represented in the touring squad.
- Bob Stuart, forward for Annandale
- Bob Craig, forward for Balmain
- Charles "Chook" Fraser, fullback for Balmain
- Arthur "Pony" Halloway, half for Balmain
- Charles McMurtrie, forward for Balmain
- Dan Frawley, three-quarter for Eastern Suburbs
- Bob Williams, forward for Eastern Suburbs
- Peter Burge, forward for Glebe
- (c) Chris McKivat, half for Glebe
- Billy Farnsworth, half for Newtown
- Viv Farnsworth, three-quarter for Newtown
- Paddy McCue, forward for Newtown
- Joe Murray, forward for Newtown
- Webby Neill, fullback for Newtown
- Bill Noble, forward for Newtown
- Charlie Russell, three-quarter for Newtown
- Tom Berecry, North Sydney
- Albert Broomham, North Sydney
- Con Sullivan, forward for North Sydney
- W. A. Cann, forward for South Sydney
- Steve Darmody, South Sydney
- Herb Gilbert, three-quarter for South Sydney
- Howard Hallett, fullback for South Sydney
- Tedda Courtney, forward for Western Suburbs
New Zealand
The New Zealand players that accompanied the Australians on tour have been listed in the Australian Rugby League's Kangaroos players register.
- George A. Gillett (forward)
- Arthur Francis (forward)
- Charlie Savory (forward)
- Frank Woodward (half)