It’s the 50th anniversary of Great Britain’s famous 1972 World Cup success – the last time any side from these shores won the trophy – and ahead of reunion dinner Brian Lockwood recollects getting into a spot of bother with an Australian Immortal before their famous glory in France
He belted Australia’s captain in a French supermarket without even knowing who he was – and then smashed him on the way to World Cup glory.
Friday marks 50 years to the day since rugged forward Brian Lockwood helped Great Britain claim the trophy in Lyon. A 10-10 draw against the revered Kangaroos – after beating them, hosts France and New Zealand in the group stages – did the job as the iconic Clive Sullivan guided them home. But no side from these shores has claimed the World Cup since that historic moment, something Shaun Wane’s England hope to correct in the coming days.
Seven of the 10 surviving members of the 1972 squad, including ex-Castleford second-row Lockwood, will be guest of honours at Friday’s Elland Road semi-final between Australia and New Zealand. Lockwood, 76, recalled: “It was a great time and I’m really proud of what we achieved. But I did get into a bit of trouble beforehand in France. My wife Anne, who’s my rock and I love to bits, wanted some perfume.
“I headed to this supermarket and bumped into this chap. He just turned around and called me Pommie this and Pommie that with a few swear words thrown in. I apologised. But he carried on. I ended up knocking seven bells out of him. My team-mates Paul Charlton and Chris Hesketh dragged me off him and asked me if I knew who it was? He’d got this Australian tracksuit on but I didn’t have a clue.