Which country won the first Rugby League World Cup?

The 1954 Rugby League World Cup was rugby league football's first World Cup and was held in France in the Autumn of 1954. Officially known as the "Rugby World Cup", four nations' teams competed in the tournament: Australia, France, Great Britain and New Zealand.

A group stage was held first, with Great Britain topping the table as a result of points difference from France who came second. On the 13 November 1954 Great Britain defeated France 16-12 in the final, which was held at Paris' Parc des Princes before approximately 31,000 spectators.

The prime motivators behind the idea of holding a rugby league world cup were the French, who were short of money following the seizing of their assets by the rugby union in World War II. The first rugby league World Cup was an unqualified success. It was played in uniformly good spirit, provided an excellent standard of play and was a fitting celebration of France's 20th anniversary as a rugby league-playing nation. The trophy, which was donated by the French, was worth eight million francs.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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10 Comments

Mark Savage

The picture is of the Webb Ellis cup which is actually the rugby union world cup trophy not the rugby league trophy.

Al Breyette

Can not be the correct answer is not a country !!! Either the question or answer is incorrect.

jansen

Great Britain is not a country either,

Steve Thorley

Easy one for me, my father, John Thorley, played number 8 for GB in all the games.

Chris Braid

A cunning ploy using a photo of the rugby UNION world cup!😁

Special Patrol Group

Joie Lynn, The first year of the Rugby League World Cup was 1954 and the answer given is correct. I am not sure what site you get that Australia was the first in 1987 but believe me 1954 came first.