History - The Indomitables

The "Indomitables", captained by Gus Risman and named after the warship in which they sailed, were the first tourists Down Under after the Second World War.

The "Indomitables" was the name give to the 1946 English Rugby League Tour Team to Australasia which made the sea voyage in the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Indomitable. The tour was historic in that it was the first major undertaking of its kind by any sport after the war had ended.

It was made possible by the efforts of the Rt. Hon. Dr. H. V. Evatt, K.C., M.P., a patron of the New South Wales Rugby League. Dr. Evatt, who was at that time the Australian Minister for External Affairs, persuaded the English Rugby League Council to accept the invitation to make the tour. They did do, but not without some misgivings in view of the difficulties of war-time conditions and regulations which were still prevailing. The tour, however, proved a great success, despite transport and other problems which at times imposed hardship on the players.

The "Indomitables" were; A J Risman (captain), T McCue (vice captain), M Ryan, J. Jones, E Batten, J Lewthwaite, Edward Ward, Ernest Ward, J Kitching, B Knowelden, A E Johnson, A Bassett, W Horne, W T H Davies, D Jenkins, K Gee, W F Hughes, J Egan, G Curran, F W Whitcombe, R Nicholson, L White, D Phillips, T Foster, H Murphy, J A Owens. Managers: W Popplewell and W M Gabbatt.