With the 16th edition of the Rugby League World Cup well under way and plucky Scotland set to play heavy favourites Australia tonight, it is fitting to look at the inaugural 1954 tournament in France where two Scots played a crucial role in the Great Britain’s team win.
Inspiring captain Dave Valentine was from Hawick and remains the only Scot ever to lift a World Cup in any football code above his head while Davie Rose who scored a try in every game including the Final was from Jedburgh. Rose was a late replacement for original selection, the renowned Billy Boston and later joked,” Well, I couldna’ let a Hawick man be the only Scotsman in the team.”
Both Valentine and Rose had played Union for Scotland before turning to professional League – a switch which then did not meet with universal approval from the amateur Union game, the Borders having proved a fertile recruiting ground for League clubs.
Only seven weeks after lifting the World Cup in Paris, Valentine while back in Hawick socialising in the clubrooms after the annual match on 1st January 1955 between his old club and Heriot’s FP, was asked by a committee member to leave. Afterwards he commented: “I felt it was carrying the professional outcast business to extremes”. That attitude was short lived and it was gratifying to see him selected as part of The Greatest Ever Hawick XV some years ago.
Back in 1954 things were very different when only four countries competed – Britain, Australia, France and New Zealand – whereas 16 are currently taking part. Today the home nations participate separately, Scotland’s opening game against Italy being played on Sunday, whereas in the earlier years they did so as Great Britain. The idea of a World Cup originated with the French, partly to celebrate the 20th anniversary of League in France and partly to boost Federation funds.
President Paul Barriere donated a magnificent trophy for what was billed as The Rugby World Cup and financial guarantees were given to attract competing nations. The tournament was initially a ‘round-robin’ format in cities throughout France with the top two teams qualifying for the final at Parc des Princes in Paris.
Favourites beforehand were hosts France who in the previous two years had beaten a very strong Australia side while Great Britain were considered ‘no hopers’. That pessimistic outlook arose because the side had not long returned from a three-month arduous tour of Australasia as a result of which many players were reluctant to commit to a further five weeks in France and the financial incentive was also considered insufficient.
The whole operation was organised on a shoestring, no trainer or coach went with the team and not even a pre-departure team photoshoot took place. Valentine was in effect captain, coach and trainer with only two training sessions held before departure by coach and Channel ferry to Paris. Even on arrival the party had no rugby balls with them and Rose recalled how “Valentine rolled up a couple of old jerseys to use as balls for training.”
Then it was back on the coach and on the road to play preliminary matches in Lyon, Toulouse and Bordeaux against respectively Australia, France and New Zealand. In Lyon the Aussies were beaten 28-13 despite their blatantly provocative tactics, a draw with France was secured in front of a partisan 37,000-strong crowd in Toulouse while in Bordeaux the Kiwis were defeated 26-6 with Davie Rose gracing each game with a try. Of their travels Valentine later recalled, “We seemed to be sitting in that bus for days and eating like horses but had to have bacon and eggs for breakfast, none of that coffee and rolls business.” All was now set for the final two days later in Paris against the hosts as the ‘no hopers’ defied all the odds.
Much of the credit for that had to go to captain supreme Valentine. A formidable player with an impressive range of attributes, he was also a true leader of men. After starring in Britain’s earlier tour of Australasia the press there commented,” ‘Val’ leaves them all for dead – a champion player and sportsman.” In an interview in late 2020 shortly before his death, Rose, referring to his friend and skipper, recalled admiringly: “Nothing daunted Dave Valentine” and with a twinkle in his eye added: ”Like Hawick, he was always the winner!”
Both had adapted successfully to League with Huddersfield after brief but outstanding spells in Union, Rose being capped at 19 and Valentine at 20. A strong fast runner with a telling swerve, as Rose himself said: “I took a bit of stopping once I got going.” When asked about his speed he replied: “Aye, I could pull the choke out!”
That ability got Britain off to a good start in the final with the Jedart man notching the opening try as the outsiders went on to beat the favourites 16-12 before chairing Valentine off the pitch and collecting the winning £25 bonus and commemorative penknife! Before kick off he had inspired team-mates by leading them in a rousing rendition of Scottish folksong, ‘Macpherson’s Rant.’
Current Scotland players may not impress to same extent as in 1954 but memories of Messrs Valentine and Rose are honoured in annual Player of the Year awards by Rugby League Scotland in their names.
