The 1946 Great Britain side have been inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame!

The 1946 Great Britain touring squad - famously known as the ‘Indomitables’ - has become the second team inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.

This is in recognition of one of the most remarkable achievements in the sport’s international history, with Wigan players Martin Ryan, Ted Ward, Joe Egan and Ken Gee all members of the squad.

Captained by Gus Risman - one of 11 Welshmen in the squad - they travelled to Australia and New Zealand less than a year after the end of the Second World War, for the first major overseas sporting tour by a British team following the conflict.

Officially playing as England - the Great Britain title arrived in 1947 - they were away from home for five months, played 27 matches, and returned with 21 wins, one draw and only five defeats, clinching an historic Ashes success along the way.

Their enduring nickname came from HMS Indomitable, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier on which they sailed to Australia. The passage took four weeks because post-war travel restrictions made normal passenger routes unavailable.

Many of the players in the 26-man squad had only recently returned from wartime service, yet they committed themselves to a demanding itinerary of long journeys, difficult conditions and intense opposition across Australia and New Zealand.

Their achievement was crowned by an unbeaten Ashes Test series in Australia - an 8-8 draw in Sydney, followed by a 14-5 win in Brisbane to retain the Ashes, and a decisive 20-7 victory back in Sydney.

They remain the only Great Britain Rugby League team to have gone unbeaten in an away Test series against Australia.

The party included many players who would become iconic names in the sport’s history.

RFL chairman Nigel Wood OBE, who chaired the Hall of Fame selection panel meeting, said: “The 1946 Great Britain tourists occupy a very special place in rugby league history.

"At a time when the country was still emerging from the hardships and losses suffered during the war, they carried the hopes of our sport across the world.

"Invited by the Australian Rugby League to re-introduce international sporting events, revive the Ashes and boost the morale of both nations, they went on to produce a performance of courage, resilience and quality which has stood the test of time.

“To travel by warship, to spend five months away from home, to play such a demanding schedule and then to go unbeaten in an Ashes series in Australia was an astonishing feat.

"The title ‘Indomitables’ could not have been more appropriate, and it is entirely fitting that this outstanding squad should now be honoured together in the Rugby League Hall of Fame.”

Their induction continues the development of the Hall of Fame’s Teams category, which was introduced two years ago with the recognition of the 1996 Great Britain Lionesses following their trailblazing Ashes series victory over in Australia.

The Rugby League Hall of Fame was set up in 1988 to recognise the all-time greats of the sport, celebrating those whose achievements have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to rugby league.

The list includes the likes of Alex Murphy OBE, Sir Billy Boston, Brian Bevan, Neil Fox CBE, Ellery Hanley MBE and Malcom Reilly OBE.

A Women’s Rugby League Hall of Fame was introduced in 2022 with Sally Milburn, Lisa McIntosh and Brenda Dobek - who all featured on the 1996 Lionesses tour - its inaugural members. Jade Banks and Michelle Land, who also featured on that historic trip, were added two years ago.