1946 'Indomitables' enter Rugby League Hall of Fame after unbeaten Ashes tour
Great Britain's 1946 'Indomitables' have been inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame, 80 years after their famous tour down under.
The 26-man squad toured Australia and New Zealand in a trip that lasted five months. They took their nickname from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier that sailed them there, according to BBC.
Their headline feat was an unbeaten Ashes series against Australia. The Ashes is rugby league's long-running rivalry series between Britain — now England — and Australia, played over a run of full internationals known as Tests.
In 1946, Britain drew 8-8 in Sydney, then won 14-5 in Brisbane to keep the trophy before finishing with a 20-7 win back in Sydney. They remain the only Great Britain side to go through an away Test series in Australia without defeat.
The tour as a whole was a gruelling schedule. Captained by Gus Risman, the side played 27 matches, winning 21, drawing one and losing five.
It was also the first major overseas sporting tour by a British team after World War Two. Many of the players had served during the war, and the trip was seen as a sign of sport getting moving again.
The Indomitables are only the second team to enter the Hall of Fame. They follow the 1996 Great Britain Lionesses, who were honoured for their Ashes series win in Australia.
What makes this stand out is the distance involved. No planes, no sports science, no squad rotation. Just a long sea voyage, then week after week of hard, physical rugby in the Australian winter.
