Great Britain beat France 16–12 in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup final.
The final took place at Parc des Princes in Paris on 13 November 1954. Great Britain and France were level at 8–8 after normal time, so the first World Cup final required extra time. Great Britain scored eight additional points during the added period, while France added four, producing the final score of 16–12.
The contest was a major event for French rugby league, which had become one of the sport’s strongest international forces after the Second World War. France’s appearance in the final helped give the new competition credibility beyond the traditional British and Australian strongholds.
The score is sometimes confused with later World Cup finals involving Great Britain, Australia or New Zealand. The 1954 match remains unique as the first final and the first World Cup final in rugby league history to go to extra time.