Whilst the 2008
World Cup was a disappointment for both England
and France, the Warrington
contingent of Adrian Morley, Martin Gleeson, Ben Westwood and new signing
Mickey Higham can all hold their heads up.The Irish went well qualifying for the quarter final with Ben Harrison
playing in all their three games.Former
Wolf Jerome Guisset led his country from the front and was easily the best
French player at the World Cup in Australia.
In the first
World Cup of 1954, double Lance Todd Trophy winner Gerry Helme and world record
transfer fee signing Albert Naughton were selected for the Great Britain squad
and became World Cup winners.Gerry
Helme was outstanding at scrum half and played in all four matches, scoring two
tries, one of which was the match winner in the final against France.Albert Naughton played centre in twice, both
against France,
including the final.
Ray Price was
selected for the 1957 World Cup squad that went to Australia but did not play a match.
Three more Warrington players became World Cup winners when Great Britain
won in 1960.Eric Fraser was at full
back in the wins over New Zealand
and France, kicking 10
goals, Bobby Greenhough was right wing against New Zealand and Jim Challinor replaced
him for the French match.
Warrington had four players selected for the English
squad and two for the Welsh squad for the Australasian section of the 1975
World Championship.Dave Chisnall, Parry
Gordon, Tommy Martyn and Derek Noonan were in the in England squad, coached by Alex
Murphy.Mike Nicholas and Bobby Wanbon
were in the Welsh squad.Dave Chisnall
and Derek Noonan played in 3 of England’s
8 matches, Tommy Martyn two and in addition Barry Philbin played in one of the
matches in the European section of the tournament.John Bevan played in all four of Wales matches in Europe,
scoring two tries, but injury prevented him from playing in the Australian
section.Bobby Wanbon played in 3
matches and Brian Butler, who joined Warrington
from Swinton, whilst the tournament was in progress, played in Wales final match at Salford.
Tommy Martyn
was selected for the 1977 Great Britain World Cup in Australia, but unfortunately had to
withdraw through injury.
The next World
Cup was spread over a four year period 1985 to 1988, ending with Australia defeating New Zealand in the final.Warrington had
five players who represented Great
Britain, Andy Gregory, Mike Gregory, Des
Drummond, Mark Forster and John Woods.Kevin Tamati played in New Zealand’s
first two matches of the tournament, when they defeated Australia and drew with Great Britain.
The next World
Cup was run on the same basis over a four year period between 1989 and 1992,
with Australia beating Great Britain
10-6 in the final at Wembley.Warrington’s
participation in the competition was through Mike Gregory and Allan Bateman,
though neither played in the final.Gregory played in Britain’s
first four matches before suffering injury that ended his international
career.Duane Mann and Gary Mercer
played for New Zealand.
Ten countries
took part in the 1995 World Cup held in Britain.There was no Warrington
representation in the England
squad, however there were five players in the Welsh squad.Alan Bateman, Jonathan Davies, Kevin Ellis,
Iestyn Harris and Mark Jones were all in the Welsh team that ran England close
in the semi-final.Wilderspool played
host to New Zealand v Tonga. The
atmosphere created by the ferocious tackling and full on play of the Tongans
and Kiwis will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to witness what
must be one of the most spectacular games of Rugby League.
Sixteen teams
competed in the 2000 World Cup.Whilst
no Warrington
player was selected for England 5 Wolves players took part in the
tournament.Toa Kohe-Love and Tawera
Nikau (captain) played for the Aotearoa Maori, Lee Briers and Dean Busby played
for Wales and Mark Forster
represented Ireland.Briers was one of the Welsh heroes that
almost toppled the mighty Aussies in the semi-final.
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