Wigan Album

Apologies for the length of this reply Ron but one thing led to another.
According to a report in the Guardian 3 years ago, “the first rugby league side representing Australia set sail for a playing tour of Britain in 1908. Ahead of them was an itinerary, inconceivable today, of 45 matches.”
I beg to differ the very first rugby Touring party were the Maoris of 1888 and they played an unbelievable 74 matches over 25 weeks!
To get back to your question Ron, the Australians in their first Test, (in 1908) according to the Guardian report, “began with the Kangaroos delivering a pre-match war cry – probably more of a theatrical, crowd-engaging touch than heartfelt warning given it was an Indigenous chant used by warriors on Stradbroke Island.”
Apparently Stradbroke Island is a large sand island that formed much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay near Brisbane - so the Maoris perhaps couldn’t complain that the Aussies had “stolen” theirs - I don’t know.
However, if this war cry was delivered in 1948 then it was 60 years before that when the Rugby spectators of Wigan were treated to probably their first sight of it. This was at Prescott Street when Wigan faced the first ever Tourists, the Maoris on Monday 17th December 1888 - “these pioneers were a fine body of men, who greatly amused the sporting crowds of those days by appearing in their native mats and head dresses.”
The Maoris won this match and two days later on Wednesday December 19th, they faced Llanelli RU, 200 miles south - the trains must have run on time in those days.
When my wife and I were fortunate to visit New Zealand in 2007 we stayed at the B&B of an elderly widow lady in Wellington, we soon found out that most New Zealand folk were well informed about their rugby - she was no exception and mentioned she had a relative who toured with the very first Maori tour party to our country.
She said his name was “Piddy Kee” I soon translated this Kiwi language to mean Paddy Keogh - he in fact played in the Wigan game and was one of the stars of the Tour. I have a photo of the team somewhere.

I'm sure remember Australia playing at Central park in 1967 and them performing some forms of haka ritual before the game.

Great story Keith, I've seen this ritual performed the morning after a big win. It was known as a 'chunder in the thunder box'or 'driving the porcelain bus'

Aboriginal war cries, used at times by both rugby and league national teams, present a more confusing picture - both as to their origins and demise.

The cry of "Wallee Mullara Choomooroo Tingal" (We are a race of fighters descended from the War Gods) has not been heard since 1967,

Keith, I have recently bought a diary of a Wigan Director John Counsell who was involved with the club from 1898 until the 1950's 'AN INTIMATE RUGBY FOOTBALL DIARY' Memories of the Late Mr John Counsell The inside story of the Wigan club from 1898. I have a lot of other stuff ref. Wigan Rugby and the Australian and New Zealand touring teams. If you would like to borrow them let me know.

I have some recollection relating to this Australian R.L. tour, the song "I am sailing, I am sailing" having some prominence at the time, and related to this particular tour.

I've added [I think!] a link to the Great Britain vs Australia 3rd Test 1967 at Swinton, which shows the Aussies performing their 'war cry' - somewhat half-heartedly, I admit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRTnaF25dGg

Alan Wright. Thanks ever so much for your wonderful link. This is exactly what I remembered. looking at it again it looks more like the Hokey Cokey than the Haka. I also seem to recall that they performed it to each side of the ground in turn so were probably fed up by the time they went to the middle.

Albert I think you might have selective memory syndrome. The "Sailing" song wasn't written until 1972 (by the Sutherland Brothers). It became massively popular when Rod Stewart released it in 1975 and then again when the BBC used it as the theme tune for the Ark Royal documentary series in 1976. Don't worry you are in good company; I could never get my Dad to believe that he had not sung it with his Ship's Company when they lined the decks on their return to Britain in 1946 after spending most of the war in the Indian and Pacific oceans including, appropriately 2 years based in Freemantle, Australia.

You are correct Carolaen. Sorry folks.

Sorry Carolaen, and my friends. The song in question was "Now is the hour" A Maori song, and not the one I previously mentioned.

Carolaen, and my friends. Having thought about it again. I could be getting mixed up with the New Zealand tour of 1947. when this song. "Now is the hour" was in prominence.

Just a thought Albert, but wasn't "Pedro the Fisherman" also a very popular song at that time - I still have a memory from my first school, Ince St Marys where I vividly recall it emanating from a speaker high up in a corner of the main room - the one that had an open fire - unless my memory is playing tricks again.