1951 France rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand

Touring squad

The French side was coached by former internationals Robert Samatan and Jean Duhau, and was captained by Puig Aubert. France had just claimed the 1950–51 European Rugby League Championship before embarking on the tour. The squad's average age was 26.5 years. The backs' average weight was 11.1 st while the forwards' was 14.5 st.

Claude Teisseire, half back for Carcassonne and Lucien Barris, a forward, were initially selected in the squad but did not tour.

The Rugby League News published Player Details (Position, Occupation, Age, Height and Weight).

France's captain Puig Aubert had been offered a large contract to play in Sydney but returned to his homeland where he was voted French sportsman of the year.

Australian leg

The tour's Australian leg featured games played in every mainland State capital except Adelaide, drawing a total of over 450,000 spectators.

Report Database

R. Alexander, D. Stewart,

Goals M. Preston (3) Gaston Comes (2), Michel Lopez (2), Maurice Andre, Raymond Contrastin, Gabriel Genoud Goals Puig Aubert (7) Michel Lopez (1)

Monaro: FB: Max Preston (age 20) ([[File:Queanbeyan United Colours.png|frameless|10x10px]] Queanbeyan), WG: Don Stewart (24) ( Bombala), CE: Doug McRitchie (27) ([[File:Queanbeyan United Colours.png|frameless|10x10px]], Queanbeyan), CE: Tom Hodges (21) (Adaminaby), WG: Terry Fogarty ( Goulburn), FE: P. Schumack (19) (Bega), HB: Ken Brogan (c) (24) ( Cooma), PR: Ted Schell (19) ( Norths), HK: Ken Fogarty (22) ( Goulburn), PR: K. Barber (21) (Bega), SR: Bruce Grant (21) ([[File:Albury Roos.png|frameless|10x10px]] Eden), SR: Bob Alexander (26) ( Canberra), LK: Pat Rankin (20) ( Norths). Jack Melville ( Captain's Flat) was selected as a reserve, but did not play. Jack Southwell (25) ( Canberra) was selected, but withdrew due to injury.

France: Puig Aubert, Ode Lespes, Gaston Comes, Maurice Andre, Raymond Contrastin, Robert Caillou, Jean Dop, Paul Bartoletti, Gabriel Genoud, Andre Beraud, Michel Lopez, Élie Brousse, Gaston Calixte

The Daily Telegraph included a match report from France's tour manager, Antoine Blain, as well as their chief football writer.

Report Database Brian Carlson, Frank Threlfo Goals: Frank Threlfo (1) Raoul Perez, Francois Rinaldi Goals: Gaston Comes (3) Newcastle: FB: Les Milne (age 23) ( Maitland), WG: Jack Bradley (19) ( Souths), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri), CE: Frank Threlfo (19) ( Maitland), WG: Brian Carlson (17) ( Norths), FE: Les Brown (27) ( Maitland), HB: Eric Long (23) ( Norths), PR: Charlie Gill (c) (29) ( Norths), HK: Jack Gordon (22) ( Waratah Mayfield), PR: Jim Evans (22) ( Maitland), SR: Albert Paul (23) ( Lakes United), SR: Don Schofield (20) ( Cessnock), LK: Ben Haslam (23) ( Centrals). Coach: Col Maxwell ( Maitland). Two players were selected as reserves, but did not play: Barry Redding (23) ( Norths) and Pat Donnelly (21) ( Souths). Newcastle played in red jerseys with a black V, rather than their traditional blue, to avoid a clash with the French jumpers.

France: Maurice Andre, Raymond Contrastin, Jacques Merquey, Gaston Comes, Vincent Cantoni, Maurice Bellan, Robert Caillou (c), Francois Rinaldi, Jean Audobert, Louis Mazon, François Montrucolis, Guy Delaye, Raoul Perez

Report Database Rolf Trudgett (3), J Birney Goals: Oriel Kennerson (6) A Beraud (2), Maurice Andre, Maurice Bellan Goals: Puig Aubert (7)

Western Districts: FB: Oriel Kennerson ( Bathurst Charlestons), WG: Norm Jacobson (c) ( Condobolin), CE: Leo Nosworthy ( Narromine), CE: Jack Birney ( Coolah), WG: Max Smith ( Wellington), FE: Rolf Trudgett ( Wellington), HB: William Kelly ( Lithgow Arms Factory), PR: J. West (Orange), HK: Ian Walsh ( Condobolin), PR: Frank Hogan (Mendooran), SR: Len Kable ( Coonabarabran), SR: Ron Kelly ( Forbes), LK: Ken Slattery ( Canowindra), Coach: Les Lay ( Wellington). Two players were selected as reserves, but did not play: John George ( Wellington) and W. Neil ( Cobar).

France: Puig Aubert (c), Raymond Contrastin, Ode Lespes, Maurice Bellan, Maurice Andre, Rene Duffort, Jean Dop, Francois Rinaldi, Jean Audobert, Andre Beraud, Michel Lopez, Édouard Ponsinet, François Montrucolis

Report Database Gordon Willoughby (2), Noel Mulligan Goals: Johnny Graves (4) Bernie Purcell (1) Élie Brousse, Vincent Cantoni, Joseph Crespo Goals: Puig Aubert (5)

Sydney: FB: Clive Churchill (c) (age 24) ( Souths), WG: Johnny Bliss (29) ( Manly), CE: Ray Thomas ( Easts), CE: Gordon Willoughby (24) ( Manly), WG: Johnny Graves (24) ( Souths), FE: Frank Stanmore (21) ( Wests), HB: Keith Holman (23) ( Wests), PR: Denis Donoghue (23) ( Souths), HK: Kevin Schubert (23) ( Manly), PR: Jack Holland (27) ( St George), SR: Bernie Purcell (23) ( Souths), SR: Noel Mulligan (25) ( St George), LK: Les Cowie (26) ( Souths). Johnny Hawke (26) ( St George) was initially selected but withdrew, his place being taken by Thomas. Noel Pidding (24) ( St George) and Charlie Banks (24) ( Easts) were named as reserves, but did not play.

France: Puig Aubert (c), Raymond Contrastin, Jacques Merquey, Gaston Comes, Vincent Cantoni, Rene Duffort, Joseph Crespo, Paul Bartoletti, Gabriel Genoud, Louis Mazon, Édouard Ponsinet, Élie Brousse, Gaston Calixte

Report Database J. Biscaya, P O'Connor Goals: Les Koch (7/11) Maurice Andre (2) Goals: Puig Aubert (2)

Riverina: FB: Les Koch ( Gundagai), WG: Neil Kingsmill ([[File:Albury Blues 2.png|frameless|10x10px]] Albury Blues), CE: Bruce (Powderly, Powderley) Powdery (Boorowa), CE: Noel Bruce ( Junee), WG: John Biscaya ([[File:Lockhart.png|frameless|10x10px]] Lockhart), FE: Rowley (Roley) McDonnell ( Cootamundra), HB: John Scott ( Young), PR: Don Milton ( Temora), HK: Peter Coupland ([[File:Albury Blues 2.png|frameless|10x10px]] Albury Blues), PR: Nevyl Hand (c) ( Gundagai), SR: Doug Piper ( Young), SR: Ray Green ( Cowra), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Harden). Two players were selected as reserves, but did not play: J. (Buster) Harvey ( Young), Alan Glover (Boorowa).

France: Puig Aubert, Maurice Andre, Maurice Bellan, Jacques Merquey, Ode Lespes, Robert Caillou (c), Jean Dop, Francois Rinaldi, Jean Audobert, Andre Beraud, Guy Delaye, Michel Lopez, François Montrucolis

1st Test

After five matches against New South Welsh teams, the French side played the tour's first Test match against Australia in Sydney. The two countries had played four Tests against each other previously, with Australia winning all of them. Program Johnny Graves Gordon Willoughby Goals: Johnny Graves (3/9) Vincent Cantoni (2) Raymond Contrastin Gabriel Genoud Goals: Puig Aubert (7/9)

All of the French players selected for the Test had played in at least one tour match so far except their five-eighth, Charles Galaup who had only recently arrived in the country. The Australian team featured nine players from the Sydney team that drew with France nine days prior, in addition to four Queenslanders.

Puig-Aubert opened the scoring with a Penalty kick. At one point France led 16–0, but Australia came back, starting with a penalty kick by Graves. The half time score was 16–2.

Australia came back strongly in the second half. However, the game ended with the French celebrating their first ever rugby league victory against Australia. France's captain Puig Aubert was presented the Commonwealth Jubilee Cup after the match by the Governor General of Australia, William McKell.

Report Database Ron Madden, Morrie Murphy Goals: Eric Fraser (3) Élie Brousse (2), Guy Delaye, Joseph Crespo, François Rinaldi, Ode Lespes, Michel Lopez Goals: Robert Caillou (4)

Northern Division: FB: Ken McCrohon ( Armidale), WG: Morrie Murphy ( Inverell), CE: Norman Young ( West Tamworth), CE: Jack Goldman ([[File:Dora Creek.png|frameless|10x10px]] Uralla), WG: N. (Coogan) Thornton ([[File:Dora Creek.png|frameless|10x10px]] Uralla), FE: Ron Madden ( Inverell), HB: Eric Fraser ( Moree), PR: B. Carlton ( Walcha), HK: Alf Hardman ( Moree), PR: Arthur Henderson ( Moree), SR: Les Gilmore ( Scone), SR: Barry Jackson ( Moree), LK: Cecil Bull ( Manilla). Four players were selected as reserves, but did not play: P. Starr ( Guyra), Trevor Hong ( Armidale), R. Partridge ( West Tamworth), Neville Harrison ( Scone).

France: FB: Maurice Andre, WG: Ode Lespes, CE: Robert Caillou, CE: Joseph Crespo, WG: Maurice Bellan, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Jean Dop, PR: François Rinaldi, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: Andre Beraud, SR: Michel Lopez, SR: Guy Delaye, LK: Élie Brousse.

Report Database Des McGovern, Denis Flannery, Alan Thompson, Harold Crocker Goals: Nev Linde (5) Joseph Crespo, Vincent Cantoni, Gabriel Genoud, Raymond Contrastin Goals: Puig Aubert (5) Queensland: FB: Nev Linde (age 24) ( Tivoli), WG: Denis Flannery (22) ( Ipswich CYM), CE: Noel Hazzard (26) (Bundaberg), CE: Rex McGlynn (24) (Bundaberg), WG: Des McGovern (25) ( Toowoomba All Whites), FE: Harry Griffiths (25) ( Booval Swifts), HB: Ken McCaffery (21) ( Toowoomba Souths), PR: Duncan Hall (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HK: Ron Davis ( Sarina), PR: Alan Thompson (28) ( Souths), SR: Bernie Drew (23) (Bundaberg), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), LK: Harold 'Mick' Crocker (24) ( Souths). Two players were selected as reserves, but did not play: Alex Watson (18) ( Wests), Gordon Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys). This match was Ron Davis' only appearance for the Maroons.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Raymond Contrastin, CE: Jacky Merquey, CE: Charles Galaup, WG: Vincent Cantoni, FE: René Duffort, HB: Joseph Crespo, PR: Paul Bartoletti, HK: Gabriel Genoud, PR: Andre Beraud, SR: Guy Delaye, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, LK: Louis Mazon.

Report C. Harkin, Sid Irvine Goals: Wal Gill (2), Reg Beath Field Goals: Bernie Johnson Gaston Comes (2), Jean Audoubert, Ode Lespes, Vincent Cantoni, René Duffort, Andre Beraud, Puig Aubert Goals: Puig Aubert (5), Gaston Comes Field Goals: Puig Aubert

Central Queensland: FB: Alan Poole ( Brothers), WG: Sid Irvine ( Blackall), CE: Mick Hauff ( Blackall), CE: Wal Gill ( Barcaldine), WG: Leo (Jeffcoat) Jeffcoot ( Brothers), FE: Vivian (Mick) Irwin ( Blackall), HB: Bernie Johnson ( Longreach), PR: Mick Turnbull ( Blackall), HK: H. Johnson ( Railways), PR: C (Bow) Harkin ( Brothers), SR: Reg Beath ( Railways), SR: Norm Elliott ( Winton), LK: Trevor Whitehead ( Brothers).

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Vincent Cantoni, CE: Maurice Andre, CE: Gaston Comes, WG: Ode Lespes, FE: Maurice Bellan, HB: René Duffort, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: François Rinaldi, SR: François Montrucolis, SR: Michel Lopez, LK: Gaston Calixte.

Report Database Max Short (2), Jack Horrigan Goals: Gordon Farrelly (4) Raymond Contrastin (3), Vincent Cantoni (2), François Montrucolis (2), Gaston Comes, Joseph Crespo, Charles Galaup, Paul Bartoletti Goals: Puig Aubert (6), Gaston Comes North Queensland: FB: John Jabore (age 21) ( Bucas), WG: Terry Boland (24) ( Brothers), CE: Jack Horrigan (26) ( Ayr), CE: Frank Power (23) ( Brothers), WG: Gordon Farrelly ( Kangaroos), FE: Bob Banks (21) (Charters Towers), HB: Max Short (21) ( Souths), PR: Charlie Woods (29) ( Ayr), HK: Jim (Tom) Wedesweiler (24) ( Bucas), PR: Hume Ronald (21) ( Carltons), SR: Maurice Robertson (21) ( Brothers), SR: Roy (Blondi) Greenwood (23) ( Sarina), LK: Ron McLennan (26) ( Ayr). Pat Harvey (Herbert River) was selected as a reserve, but did not play.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Raymond Contrastin, CE: Gaston Comes, CE: Joseph Crespo, WG: Vincent Cantoni, FE: Jacky Merquey, HB: Charles Galaup, PR: Paul Bartoletti, HK: Gabriel Genoud, PR: Louis Mazon, SR: François Montrucolis, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, LK: René Duffort.

Database Ivan Lloyd-Jones, Tom Hooper, Dennis Jackwitz, N. Adsett, D. Nixon Goals: Ivan Lloyd-Jones (2) Maurice Andre (3), Martin Martin (2), Maurice Bellan, Robert Caillou, Jean Audoubert, Jean Dop, François Rinaldi Goals: Robert Caillou (7) Wide Bay: FB: Ken Kennedy (Wallaroos), WG: M. Tickle (Gympie), CE: E. Barnes (Bundaberg), CE: Rex McGlynn (Bundaberg), WG: Ken Gayton (Bundaberg), FE: D. Nixon (Bundaberg), HB: N. (Tubby) Adsett ( Nambour), PR: Ivan Lloyd-Jones (Bundaberg), HK: Dennis Jackwitz (Bundaberg), PR: M. Kasmer (Bundaberg), SR: B. Long (Gympie), SR: Tom Hooper ( Nambour), LK: Keith Kendrick (Wallaroos).

France: FB: Charles Galaup, WG: Maurice Andre, CE: Maurice Bellan, CE: François Montrucolis, WG: Ode Lespes, FE: Robert Caillou, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Martin Martin, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: Andre Beraud, SR: Guy Delaye, SR: François Rinaldi, LK: Michel Lopez

2nd Test

After five matches against Queensland teams, the French side played the tour's second Test match against Australia in Brisbane. Denis Flannery Duncan Hall Keith Holman Goals: Noel Pidding (6) Clive Churchill (1) Jacques Merquey

Goals: Puig Aubert (4)

Only one change was made to the French team for the second Test: five-eighth Charles Galaup was replaced by Jacques Merquey. This time The Australian test team included six Queenslanders and returned to its winning ways with a 23–11 victory. Following a head clash with French prop forward Louis Mazon in the second half, Australian captain Clive Churchill was assisted from the field.

Report Database Wally McDonald, George Atherdon ** Goals**: Norm Pope (5) Puig-Aubert, Ode Lespes, Charles Galaup Goals: Puig-Aubert (4)

Brisbane: FB: Norm Pope ( Valleys), WG: Wally McDonald ( Wests), CE: Alex Watson ( Wests), CE: Nev Wilson ( Souths), WG: Robert Kille ( Easts), FE: George Atherden ( Norths), HB: Ron Stanton ( Easts), PR: William Sims ( Wests), HK: Terry Coman ( Brothers), PR: Keith Blackford ( Wynnum), SR: Jack Fallon ( Brothers), SR: Brian Davies ( Brothers), LK: Harold (Mick) Crocker ( Souths). The following were selected as reserves, but did not play: Doug Anderson ( Valleys), Len Blaik ( Easts) and Col McAllister ( Wests). Alan Thompson ( Souths) was initially selected to captain the Brisbane side, but withdrew after acquiring an injury in the Second Test.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Maurice Andre, CE: Michel Lopez, CE: Maurice Bellan, WG: Ode Lespes, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Robert Caillou, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: Martin Martin, SR: François Rinaldi, SR: Guy Delaye LK: François Montrucolis.

Gate: AU£ 2,197 Report Database Gordon Teys Pat McMahon Max Higgins Goals: 4 Ken McCaffery (4) Joseph Crespo Vincent Cantoni Jacky Merquey Goals: 4 Puig Aubert (4) Toowoomba: FB: William Sullivan ( All Whites), WG: Pat McMahon ( Souths), CE: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), CE: Sammy Hunter ( Souths), WG: Max Higgins ( Valleys), FE: Jim Heidke ( Valleys), HB: Ken McCaffery ( Souths), PR: Duncan Hall ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), PR: Jack Rooney ( All Whites), SR: Bill Beardsworth ( Valleys), SR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Valleys). Coach: Duncan Thompson (Toowoomba [[File:Queanbeyan United Colours.png|frameless|16x16px]]). Bill Callinan ( Newtown) was originally selected, but withdrew. He was replaced in the line-up by Hunter. The following players were also selected as reserves, but did not play: Des McGovern ( All Whites), W. Hookway ( Souths) and Neil Teys ( Valleys).

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Ode Lespes, CE: Jacky Merquey, CE: René Duffort, WG: Vincent Cantoni, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Joseph Crespo, PR: Gabriel Genoud, HK: Martin Martin, PR: Paul Bartoletti, SR: François Rinaldi, SR: Élie Brousse, LK: François Montrucolis.

Gate: AU£ 1,142 Report Database Basil Cook Goals: 3 Allan Lawson Austin White Élie Brousse (2) Robert Caillou (2) Puig Aubert Maurice Bellan Michel Lopez Goals: 5 Puig Aubert (5) Field Goals: 1 Puig Aubert North Coast: FB: Allan Lawson (Coffs), WG: Ken McDonald (Taree-Old Bar), CE: Colin Sherwood (Murwillumbah), CE: Alby Duncan ( Bowraville), WG: Ron Algie (Taree-Old Bar), FE: Austin White (Taree Brown's Creek Taree), HB: Eric Carney ( Wauchope), PR: Basil Cook (Taree-Old Bar), HK: Kevin McKiernan (Kempsey CYM), PR: Bob Campbell ( Bowraville), SR: Rex Chaffer (Macksville), SR: George Alaban (Macksville), LK: K. Killett (Macksville). J. McNamara (Bonalbo) was selected in the team to play South Sydney and France, but played only in the match against Souths on June 16. N. Walsham ([[File:Lockhart.png|frameless|10x10px]] Grafton All Blacks) was selected as a reserve for both matches, but did not play against France. North Coast played in black and white jerseys in both matches.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Raymond Contrastin, CE: Robert Caillou, CE: Maurice Bellan, WG: Ode Lespes, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: Louis Mazon, SR: Michel Lopez, SR: Élie Brousse, LK: Raoul Perez.

Gate: AU£ 5,928 Report Database Wally O'Connell Fred Brown Goals: 4 Noel Pidding (4) nil Goals: 7 Puig Aubert (7) New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (24) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (24) ( St George), CE: Johnny Hawke (25) ( St George), CE: Col Cooper (25) ( Canterbury), WG: Ron Roberts (23) ( St George), FE: Wally O'Connell (28) ( Manly), HB: Keith Holman (23) ( Wests), PR: Fred Brown (25) ( Manly), HK: Kevin Schubert (23) ( Manly), PR: Denis Donoghue (23) ( Souths), SR: Noel Mulligan (25) ( St George), SR: Charlie Banks (24) ( Easts), LK: Les Cowie (26) ( Souths). The following players were selected as reserves, but didi not play: Harry Wells (19) ( Souths), and Bernie Purcell (23) ( Souths).

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Raymond Contrastin, CE: Jacky Merquey, CE: Gaston Comes, WG: Vincent Cantoni, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Joseph Crespo, PR: Paul Bartoletti, HK: Martin Martin, PR: Louis Mazon, SR: Élie Brousse, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, LK: René Duffort

Gate: AU£ 1,585 Report Jack Seymour Goals: 5 Bruce Smith (3) Jack McDonald (2) Robert Caillou Jean Audoubert Andre Beraud Guy Delaye Goals: 6 Michel Lopez (3) Gaston Comes (3) Southern Division: FB: Ross Thomas ( Wollongong), WG: Terry Cook ( C.B.C.), CE: Jack (Johnny) Seymour ( Bowral), CE: Len Torpy ( Wollongong), WG: Arthur Thompson ( Nowra), FE: Johnny Rouse ( Nowra), HB: Jack McDonald ( Kiama), PR: Bill Burgess ( Wollongong), HK: Bill Bolt ( C.B.C.), PR: Jim Ralston ( Port Kembla), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), SR: Bruce Smith ( Thirroul), LK: Don Townsend ( Port Kembla), Coach: Harry Nolan ( Wests). Ian Moir ( Port Kembla) was originally selected in the team, but did not play. He was replaced on the wing by Arthur Thompson. Les Gillard ( Picton) and Keith Clark ( Camden) were selected as reserves, but did not play.

France: FB: Gaston Comes, WG: Raoul Perez, CE: Maurice Bellan, CE: René Duffort, WG: Ode Lespes, FE: Robert Caillou, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Paul Bartoletti, HK: Jean Audoubert, PR: Andre Beraud, SR: Guy Delaye, SR: Michel Lopez, LK: François Montrucolis.

3rd Test

The French team travelled back from Queensland to Sydney for the third and deciding Test match of the series. The Australians were slight favourites to win the match. People began to queue up in bitterly cold winds the night before the match. Program Brian Davies Duncan Hall

Goals: Noel Pidding (4) Joseph Crespo (3) Raymond Contrastin (2) Elie Brousse Gaston Comes Goals: Puig Aubert (7)

French captain and fullback Puig Aubert kicked 7 goals and his half back Joseph Crespo scored three tries as the tourists overpowered Australia to claim the Test series. This was the last test match for Australian five-eighth Wally O'Connell.

New Zealand leg

Report Database Goals: 1 Nuttall Gaston Comes Goals: 1 Robert Caillou

Database Stapley Goals: 2 Bond (2) Robert Caillou Andre Beraud Raymond Contrastin Goals: 2 Gaston Comes (2) France defeated Canterbury 13–7 in front of 13,000 at the Show Grounds.

Database English Goals: 5 Mott (3) Church (2) Andre Beraud (2) Vincent Cantoni Jean Dop Ode Lespes Louis Mazon Goals: 4 Michel Lopez (2) Louis Mazon (2)

Test Match

Database Tommy Baxter George Menzies Goals: Des White (5) Vincent Cantoni (2) Edouard Ponsinet Goals: Puig Aubert (3)

New Zealand defeated France 16–15 in a "brutal match" at Carlaw Park. Des White kicked the winning penalty goal after the full-time siren had sounded to seal victory in "one of the most dramatic and dirtiest games ever played by the Kiwis".

First it was West Coast five-eighth George "Geordie" Menzies forced off with a cheekbone broken by a French head-butt. Then it was Otago's 1946 All Black halfback, Jimmy Haig with a broken jaw. Also Charlie McBride was bitten.

In the mid-second half, a brawl erupted amongst the forwards. French prop and national middleweight champion, Louis Mazon, was heavily involved. It took referee J. Griffen three minutes to separate the combatants. Ten minutes later, when the touch judges and officials intervened and things finally settled down, Griffen sent France's hooker Martin Martin from the field for throwing mud at him, but the Frenchman refused to go. The president of the French Rugby League, Anton Blain, and his New Zealand counterpart, Jack Redwood, came on and eventually persuaded Martin to leave the field.

No replacements were allowed so the game wound down with 11 Kiwis on the field against 12 Frenchmen. There was no ground clock or siren in those days and the players had to listen for the chimes from the nearby University of Auckland wedding-cake tower to get an indication of time remaining. They knew that it was usually all over by 4 pm, but this game went well past four.

In the final seconds of the match New Zealand wing Bevin Hough, a 1950 British Empire Games silver medal-winning sprinter, was heading for the Domain Stand corner and a certain try when he was taken out by a high shot from Cantoni. White was then called to kick. He backed up against the white picket fence sideline on the domain side, and sent the ball sailing between the posts, the crowd roaring before it got there.

The bitterness continued. One of the Frenchmen attacked Maurie Robertson, leaping onto his back as he left the field, and a touch judge was knocked to the ground. As the crowd gathered to congratulate the Kiwis, the French spat at them. Later however, at the after-match dinner the French were gentlemen, conceding victory to the better side. Puig Aubert shook White's hand and congratulated him on the match-winning goal.

The 50th anniversary of this match was commemorated during the 2001 French rugby league tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea with another Test between New Zealand and France in Auckland.

Database Cliff Johnson Bevan Hough Goals: 2 Des White (2) Élie Brousse Puig Aubert Martin Martin Goals: 3 Puig Aubert (3) Two days after the one-off Test match France returned to Carlaw Park to play Auckland. France won 15–10 in front of 30,000 spectators. Auckland included Des White, Jimmy Edwards, Tommy Baxter, Cyril Eastlake, Bevin Hough, Bruce Robertson, captain Des Barchard, Cliff Johnson, George Davidson, Graham Burgoyne, Doug Richards-Jolley, Clarence Hurndell and Allan Wiles.

Database Smith Goals: 2 Travers Hardwick (2) Vincent Cantoni Raymond Contrastin Élie Brousse Charles Galaup Joseph Crespo Goals: 5 Puig Aubert (3) Paul Bartoletti Vincent Cantoni During this match, French half-back Jean Dop was running for the ball when he was struck by a spectator, prompting police to move the crowd from the area.{{cite news | access-date = 2010-04-17}}

Casperson Goals: 2 Kay Mucculloch Puig Aubert Maurice Andre Martin Martin Paul Bartoletti Jean Dop Vincent Cantoni Andre Beraud Goals: 1 Puig Aubert

Australian return leg

Following the New Zealand leg of the tour, the French returned to Australia for another 3 matches before heading home. Gate: AU£ 4,037 Report Bryan Orrock Nev Charlton Ferris Ashton Gordon Willoughby Jack Lumsden Goals: 7 Ron Willey (6) Jack Lumsden Vincent Cantoni Goals: 4 Puig Aubert (4) A New South Wales XIII: FB: Ron Willey ( Canterbury), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Manly), CE: Gordon Willoughby ( Manly), CE: Matt McCoy ( St George), WG: John McClean ( Norths), FE: Greg Hawick ( Souths), HB: Col Donohoe ( Easts), PR: Bryan Orrock ( Souths), HK: Kevin Schubert ( Manly), PR: Fred Brown ( Manly), SR: Ferris Ashton ( Easts), SR: Jack Rayner ( Souths), LK: Nev Charlton ( Canterbury). Kevin Woolfe ( Souths) and Tom Tyrrell ( Balmain) were selected as reserves, but did not play.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Raymond Contrastin, CE: Joseph Crespo, CE: Maurice Bellan, WG: Vincent Cantoni, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Martin Martin, PR: Louis Mazon, SR: Élie Brousse, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, LK: Gaston Calixte.

Gate: AU£ 856 Report Ken McCaffery Brian Davies J. Balmain Goals: 4 Ken McCaffery (2) Clive Churchill Kevin Woolfe Andre Beraud (2) Raymond Contrastin Maurice Andre Robert Caillou Puig Aubert Goals: 8 Puig Aubert (8) An Australian XIII: FB: Clive Churchill ( Souths), WG: Bill Dickason ( Victoria), CE: Kevin Woolfe ( Souths), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), WG: John McClean ( Norths), FE: Greg Hawick ( Souths), HB: Ken McCaffery ( Souths), PR: Jack Balmain ( Victoria), HK: Ernie Hammerton ( Souths), PR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), SR: Brian Davies ( Brothers), SR: Jack Rayner ( Souths), LK: Harold Crocker ( Souths). Barry Pease ( Victoria) and Ray Jackson ( Victoria) were selected as reserves, but did not play.

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Maurice Andre, CE: Joseph Crespo, CE: Robert Caillou, WG: Raymond Contrastin, FE: Charles Galaup, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Martin Martin, PR: Jean Audoubert, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, SR: Élie Brousse, LK: Gaston Calixte.

Gate: AU£ 1,070 Report R. Quinlan (2) Joe Stewart Goals: 7 Bob Sampson (7) Vincent Cantoni (3) Andre Beraud (2) Puig Aubert (2) Robert Caillou Raymond Contrastin Maurice Andre Jean Audoubert Élie Brousse Édouard Ponsinet Martin Martin Gaston Calixte Joseph Crespo Goals: 11 Puig Aubert (7) Gaston Calixte Raymond Contrastin Vincent Cantoni Western Australia: FB: Joe McGuiness ( Fremantle), WG: Bob Sampson (20) (Nedlands), CE: Norm Plester (18) ( South Perth), CE: W. Nicholson (Perth), WG: R. Quinlan ( South Perth), FE: Stan Saxon (20) ( South Perth), HB: L. Leavy ( South Perth), PR: G. Vooles ( South Perth), HK: K. Allen ( Fremantle), PR: R. Robinson (Eastern Suburbs), SR: Joe Stewart ( South Perth), SR: Bob Patching (19) ( South Perth), LK: Terry Sullivan (32) ( Fremantle), Coach: Arthur Folwell. The following were included in an initial, extended squad, but did not play: M. Hawthorn ( Victoria Park), P. Hobart ( Cottesloe), K. Hodges ( Applecross), D. McDonald ( Fremantle), J. McDonald ( Fremantle), T. Myles ( Cottesloe).

France: FB: Puig Aubert, WG: Vincent Cantoni, CE: Joseph Crespo, CE: Maurice Andre, WG: Raymond Contrastin, FE: Robert Caillou, HB: Jean Dop, PR: Andre Beraud, HK: Martin Martin, PR: Jean Audoubert, SR: Élie Brousse, SR: Édouard Ponsinet, LK: Gaston Calixte.

Sources

References

References

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92. (6 Aug 1951). "State Side Chosen". National Library of Australia.
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