Which country won the inaugural Rugby League World Cup in 1954?

Great Britain won the inaugural Rugby League World Cup in 1954.

The first tournament was staged in France from 30 October to 13 November 1954. Four teams participated: Great Britain, Australia, France and New Zealand. Great Britain defeated France 16–12 in the final at the Parc des Princes in Paris, making it the first world champion in international rugby league.

The tournament was a landmark for the sport because it created a formal global championship rather than relying only on bilateral tours and test series. France had hosted the competition, and its national team reached the final after a strong campaign, giving the event a memorable home-nation climax even though Great Britain took the title.

The competition’s early editions were played by national teams under the Great Britain banner. In later decades, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland increasingly competed separately, while Australia became the dominant modern force. The 1954 final remains one of the foundational matches in international rugby league history.