It’s Ashes Wembley Week! To kick things off, we've taken a look back at a famous Wembley win against Australia in the 1990 Ashes Series...
1990 Ashes Series First Test – Great Britain 19 Australia 12
We're just days away from the First 2025 ABK Beer Ashes Series Test at Wembley Stadium, and did you know that Wembley has historically been a happy hunting ground for opening Ashes test victories?
We're hoping to see similar success this Saturday!
To get us feeling even more excited, let's look back at a famous fixture between Great Britain [GB] and Australia on the hallowed turf.
Thirty-five years ago, Wembley played host to one of the sport’s most memorable internationals.
In a major breakthrough for rugby league in England, GB defeated Australia 19-12 in the opening test of the 1990 Ashes Series at Wembley Stadium (Saturday 27 October) – in front of a record Ashes home crowd of 54,569.
GB's line-up consisted of the topmost talent at the time - and individuals who are household names of a generation.
It was also the first rugby league international at the National Stadium for 17 years, and a spectacle that did not disappoint.
After an enthralling first forty, the scores were locked in at just 2 points apiece.
Australia never led in this game – and it was captain Ellery Hanley who inspired Great Britain to an iconic victory in the English capital.
The Lions came out firing in the second half, with Hanley’s kick over the top of the Australian defensive line fooling everybody, and in turn gaining GB some vital field position.
He almost reached the line himself, but from a quick play-the-ball, Lee Jackson fed Paul Eastwood who powered over from close range for a crucial opening try.
The Kangaroos might have responded through Mal Meninga who raced in at the corner, but it didn’t take long for GB to get back on the attack.
Hanley set up the Lions’ second score with a brilliant bomb that Aussie full-back Gary Belcher couldn’t quite handle, and from the spillage, Martin Offiah dived over.
After this, Gary Schofield’s drop goal edged the hosts further in front, and GB really started to believe.
A star-studded Australia continued to fight, however, with a great run from Mark McGaw who evaded multiple defenders to dot down and reduce the deficit to a nerve-shredding one point.
It was bodies on the line time. The Lions remained resilient though, and in the last ten minutes, Schofield was causing all kinds of problems for the Kangaroos' defence once again.
His and Hanley’s kicking tactics were truly game-changing on the day.
The England number 6 chipped with his right foot, collected with his left hand and gave it across to Daryl Powell who fired out a perfect pass for Eastwood to bundle over in the corner for his second – and the match-winner!
Eastwood, who had been one of the standout performers of the afternoon, then added an extra two points with a penalty goal, and it was here when celebrations could really begin.
And the sound of the crowd would tell you the story. Along with the pride and passion of the players for the Lions jersey. Magic and magnificent. GB hadn’t had that winning experience on home soil since 1978!
It was something special. Not only was it GB's first home win against Australia for 12 years, but there had never been a crowd of more than 50,000 inside Wembley Stadium to watch a rugby league test match.
It was another courageous performance from Mal Reilly's Lions – and a hard fought victory which stemmed from sheer determination, desire, and belief.
And after winning the final game of the 1988 Ashes Series in Sydney, his became GB's second straight win over Australia – proving to any doubters that they could compete with the world’s number one nation, and even beat them.
Teams:
Great Britain: Steve Hampson, Martin Offiah, Daryl Powell, Carl Gibson, Paul Eastwood, Garry Schofield, Andy Gregory, Karl Harrison, Lee Jackson, Paul Dixon, Roy Powell, Denis Betts, Ellery Hanley. Subs: Kevin Ward, Karl Fairbank, Shaun Edwards
Head coach: Malcolm Reilly
Australia: Gary Belcher, Michael Hancock, Mal Meninga, Mark McGaw, Andrew Ettingshausen, Ricky Stuart, Allan Langer, Martin Bella, Kerrod Walters, Steve Roach, John Cartwright, Paul Sironen, Bob Lindner. Subs: Glenn Lazarus, Des Hasler, Greg Alexander, Dale Shearer
Head coach: Bob Fulton
Half time: 2-2
Full time: 19-12
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: Alain Sablayrolles
Rivalries will be reignited when England take on Australia in the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes which starts THIS SATURDAY! The two nations will meet in a three-match test series over 20 years in the making and with the second and third test completely SOLD OUT; Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 October is your only place to watch this fierce rivalry live!
There's still time to book your Wembley tickets here with prices starting from just £20 for adults and £10 for U16’s.
The three-game Ashes Series will also be shown live on the BBC.
