As rugby league followed it’s dream to have meaningful expansion of the game, Hunslet had their first visit from the snappily titled University of Gloucestershire All Golds. The “All Golds” was a heritage reference to the 1907/08 touring team from Down Under known as “Baskerville’s All Golds” as the players were the first professional touring team. The third test of that first tour was played at Cheltenham Gloucestershire. They entered the league in 2013 and lasted five seasons. Hunslet lost the game 16-23.
In 1910 the Lions were in Brisbane today to play Queensland. Freddie Farrar, Billy Batten and Fred Smith were Hunslet’s representatives. Batten got two tries in the Northern Union’s 15-4 win.
The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted the second 1914 test against Australia. Having won the first test two days earlier the visitors must have hoped to wrap things up but Australia had other ideas. It was 7-7at the break but Lion’s winger Robinson had to retire injured and the Aussies came through to win 12-7.
1936 again saw the Cricket Ground as the venue for a test match. This was Harry Beverley’s Test debut and he scored two tries but that was not enough to avoid an 8-24 defeat.
