1976 World Club Challenge

Background

The game was the first of its type, and was the last to be played in Australia until 1994.

Eastern Suburbs Roosters

The Roosters, coached by Jack Gibson and captained by Australian international forward Arthur Beetson, were the reigning Sydney premiers having won the NSWRFL Grand Finals in both 1974 and 1975.

St Helens

Saints were the reigning English champions, having won the title in 1974-75. Saints were coached by former Great Britain captain Eric Ashton and captained by Welsh dual rugby international Kel Coslett.

Teams

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Match details

bg = #eeeeee | date = 29 June 1976 | score = 25 – 2| report = | team1 = Eastern Suburbs Roosters | team2 = St. Helens | points1 = Tries: Russell Fairfax Kevin Stevens Royce Ayliffe Ian Schubert Greg Townsend Goals: John Brass (5) | points2 = Tries:

Goals: Pimblett (1) | stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | attendance = 26,856 | referee = Gary Cook AUS | manofmatch = Royce Ayliffe |

Aftermath

After winning the 1974 and 1975 Sydney premierships, Eastern Suburbs would not win another until 2002, while St Helens would go on to win a third English premiership in succession in 1976–77.

The next time Easts, now known as the Sydney Roosters, would play in a World Club Challenge was in 2003 where they would again face St Helens, the 2002 Super League champions at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, England. The result would be no different though as the Roosters defeated the Saints 38-0 in front of 19,807 fans.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the challenge, St Helens and the Sydney Roosters played a match as part of the 2016 World Club Series.

References

References

1. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-40337011.html HighBeam]{{dead link. (February 2019)
2. [http://superleague.co.uk/article/33177/clubs-confirmed-for-2016-world Clubs confirmed for 2016 World Club Series], ''superleague.co.uk'', 8 October 2015