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3 unusual facts about Great Britain national rugby league team


Christopher Sanderson

Chris Sanderson's testimonial match at Leeds on the Thursday 12 May 1977, was a match between Leeds and Great Britain, it was attended by 11,000 people and raised £7,000 for his family (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £56,900 in 2010).

England national rugby team

Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the Lions, representing the entirety of the British Isles, also administered by the Rugby Football League

Land of Hope and Glory

While their anthem changed to "God Save the Queen" after the dissolution of the Great Britain side in 2007, it is still tradition for the team to use "Land of Hope and Glory" as their walk-out theme.


Austin Buchanan

He is the half-brother of Leeds and Great Britain international Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Billy Jarman

Only five players have played test matches for Great Britain as both a back and a forward, they are; Colin Dixon, Frank Gallagher, Laurie Gilfedder, Billy Jarman, and Harry Street.

Ernest Mair

New Zealand lost the series 0-3 against the Great Britain Lions and also lost a test match against Wales.

Graham Lowe

It was while Lowe was coaching that Wigan were able to secure the signatures of Great Britain players Ellery Hanley and Andy Gregory.

Keith Fielding

Fielding also won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Salford in 1974 against France (2 matches), and in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, and Australia.

Phil Houston

He controlled two Australia v New Zealand test matches in 1995 and in November 1997 he refereed all three matches of the Super League Test series between Great Britain and Australia in England.


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