1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
Encyclopedia
In 1962 the British Lions
rugby union
team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. Overall the tourists played twenty-five matches, winning sixteen, losing five and drawing four.
The Lions were unsuccessful in the test series against , losing by three matches to nil with one match drawn. The first three tests were close; the first match was drawn 3-3 and South Africa won the second 3-0 and the third 8-3. The fourth test resulted in a bigger win for South Africa, 34-14.
The tour included games against Rhodesia
(which would become Zimbabwe
), South West Africa (future Namibia
, then part of South Africa) and East Africa
in Kenya
; winning all three. The Lions won all their non-international matches except for those against Northern Transvaal
and Eastern Transvaal
.
The touring party was captained by Arthur Smith
. The manager was Brian Vaughan and the assistant manager was Harry McKibbin.
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. Overall the tourists played twenty-five matches, winning sixteen, losing five and drawing four.
The Lions were unsuccessful in the test series against , losing by three matches to nil with one match drawn. The first three tests were close; the first match was drawn 3-3 and South Africa won the second 3-0 and the third 8-3. The fourth test resulted in a bigger win for South Africa, 34-14.
The tour included games against Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(which would become Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
), South West Africa (future Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, then part of South Africa) and East Africa
East Africa rugby union team
Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
; winning all three. The Lions won all their non-international matches except for those against Northern Transvaal
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
and Eastern Transvaal
Falcons (rugby team)
The Falcons, or Valke in Afrikaans, are a South African rugby union team in Gauteng province that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments....
.
The touring party was captained by Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith (rugby player)
Arthur Robert Smith was a wing of extraordinary ability and intelligence. He captained both Scotland and the British Lions. He won 33 caps for Scotland and was never dropped until his retirement in 1962, although he did miss the odd match due to injury...
. The manager was Brian Vaughan and the assistant manager was Harry McKibbin.
Management
- Manager D. B. Vaughan
- Coach H. R. McKibbin
Backs
- Dewi BebbDewi BebbDewi Iorwerth Ellis Bebb was a Welsh rugby union player who won thirty four caps for Wales as a wing.Dewi Bebb was the son of the Welsh historian Ambrose Bebb. Educated at Friars School, Bangor, he later studied at Trinity College, Carmarthen, and Cardiff Teacher Training College. He made his...
(SwanseaSwansea RFCSwansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
and }) - Niall Brophy (University College Dublin and )
- H. J. C Brown (Blackheath and RAF)
- J. M. Dee (Hartlepool RoversHartlepool RoversHartlepool Rovers are an English rugby union club who play at The Friarage, West View Road in Hartlepool. Hartlepool Rovers have a coaching set-up with Alan Brown as head coach and Ian Cook as fitness guru.-History:...
and ) - Ronnie CowanRonnie CowanRonald "Ronnie/Ron" C. Cowan was a Scottish international rugby union player, who played for and the Lions. and subsequently played rugby league.-Rugby union:He was capped five times for in 1961-62....
(SelkirkSelkirk RFCSelkirk Rugby Football Club are a rugby union side based in Selkirk in the Borders, Scotland.They play in their home games at Philiphaugh, and are now in Premiership Division Two and the Border League ....
and ) - David Hewitt (Queen's University RFCQueen's University RFCQueen's University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union team of Queen's University Belfast. Founded in 1869, it is the second oldest rugby union club in Northern Ireland . They originally played as Queen's College, Belfast and have won the Ulster Senior Cup a record 21 times...
and ) - Raymond HunterRaymond HunterWilliam Raymond Hunter is an Irish former cricketer and rugby union player.-Cricket:A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, he played 28 times for the Ireland cricket team between 1957 and 1967 including eleven first-class matches.-Playing career:Hunter made his debut for Ireland...
(CIYMS and ) - Dickie JeepsDickie JeepsRichard Eric Gautrey Jeeps , known as Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton and represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s...
(NorthamptonNorthampton SaintsNorthampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and ) - Ken JonesKen Jones (rugby player born 1941)David Kenneth Jones is a former international rugby union player.He was capped fourteen times by Wales as a centre between 1962 and 1966. He scored five tries for Wales...
(LlanelliLlanelli RFCLlanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
and ) - Tom KiernanTom KiernanThomas Joseph Kiernan is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He won 54 caps for Ireland as a full-back between 1960 and 1973 and captained his country 24 times. At the time of his retirement he was Ireland's most-capped player, most experienced captain and record scorer in...
(University College Cork R.F.C. and ) - A. O'Connor (AberavonAberavon RFCAberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
and ) - Richard SharpRichard SharpRichard Adrian William Sharp from Cornwall, was educated at Blundell's School and at Balliol College, University of Oxford. He was a former Cornish rugby player at Redruth R.F.C., Wasps FC, Bristol FC and England rugby union fly-half and captain. He played for England while at Oxford and led...
(Oxford UniversityOxford University RFCThe Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
and ) - Arthur SmithArthur Smith (rugby player)Arthur Robert Smith was a wing of extraordinary ability and intelligence. He captained both Scotland and the British Lions. He won 33 caps for Scotland and was never dropped until his retirement in 1962, although he did miss the odd match due to injury...
(Edinburgh WanderersMurrayfield Wanderers RFCMurrayfield Wanderers Football Club are a rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland.Formed in 1997 after the amalgamation of Murrayfield RFC and Edinburgh Wanderers FC, both clubs brought together a long history of rugby excellence which can trace its roots back to 1868 when the Edinburgh...
and ) - Gordon WaddellGordon WaddellGordon James Barr Waddell was a Scottish rugby union player, and the son of Herbert Waddell. He played for the invitational tourist team, the Barbarians and on two British and Irish Lions tours. In fact he is the only Scottish stand off to be double lion...
(London ScottishLondon Scottish F.C.London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. It is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.-History:...
and ) - Mike WestonMike WestonMichael Philip Weston is a former international rugby union player and captain.Weston was capped twenty-nine times for England between 1960 and 1968, winning twenty-four caps as a centre and five caps as a fly-half. He scored one try and one drop goal for England...
(Durham City and ) - John WillcoxJohn WillcoxJohn Willcox is a rugby union international who represented England from 1961 to 1964, and the British and Irish Lions in 1962. He also captained his country.-Rugby union career:...
(Oxford University and )
Forwards
- Mike Campbell-LamertonMike Campbell-LamertonColonel Michael John "Mike" Campbell-Lamerton was a British army officer and rugby union figure. Despite being a career soldier on active service, he would captain the Scotland rugby team a number of times....
(Halifax, ArmyArmy Rugby UnionThe Army Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the British Army and a constituent body of the Rugby Football Union . The ARU was formed on 31 December 1906 and marked the fulfilment of Lieutenant J.E.C...
and ) - Glyn DavidgeGlyn DavidgeGlyn Davidge was a Welsh international flanker who played club rugby for Tredegar and Newport. He was awarded nine caps for Wales and toured with Arthur Smith's 1962 British Lions squad.-Club career:...
(Newport and ) - John Douglas (Stewart’s College FP and )
- H. O. Godwin (Coventry and )
- S. A. M. Hogdson (Durham City and )
- Kingsley JonesKingsley Jones (Welsh rugby player)not to be confused with Kingsley Jones , Welsh international rugby union player and Sale Sharks coachKingsley Daniel Jones was a international rugby union player....
(CardiffCardiff RFCCardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and ) - Willie John McBrideWillie John McBrideWilliam James McBride, MBE, better known as Willie John McBride is a former rugby union footballer who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times — a record that gave him 17...
(BallymenaBallymena RFCBallymena Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It is affiliated to the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club fields six adult teams and an under-20 team. In youth rugby there are under-18, under-16 and under-14 teams...
and ) - Bryn MeredithBryn MeredithBrinley "Bryn" Victor Meredith was a rugby union international. Meredith was a mobile hooker, he was selected 34 times for Wales between 1954 and 1962, but missed 2 matches for health and family bereavement reasons....
(Newport and ) - Syd MillarSyd MillarSydney "Syd" Millar, CBE, is the outgoing chairman of the International Rugby Board. He was born in Ballymena and previously played for Ballymena RFC and represented Ireland in the pack, winning 37 caps as a prop. In addition, he played 9 times for the British and Irish Lions...
(Ballymena and ) - Haydn MorganHaydn MorganHaydn Morgan was a Welsh international flanker who played club rugby for Abertillery. He was awarded twenty seven caps for Wales and toured with Ronnie Dawson's 1959 and Arthur Smith's 1962 British Lions squads...
(AbertilleryAbertillery RFCAbertillery Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Abertillery. According to their web site, they were founded in 1883, though other sources state 1884. Their team colours are green and white and their home ground is Abertillery Park in Abertillery. The club is a member of the...
and ) - Bill Mulcahy (Bohemians and )
- David NashDavid Nash (rugby coach)David Nash is a former Wales international rugby union player. A number 8 forward, he attained 6 caps for Wales between 1960 and 1961. Nash was selected for the 1962 British Lions tour of South Africa. He played his club rugby for Ebbw Vale.In 1967 Nash was appointed as the first national coach of...
(Ebbw ValeEbbw Vale RFCEbbw Vale Rugby Football Club is a Welsh Rugby Union Club based in the town of Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. The club currently play in the WRU Division One East and the SWALEC Cup. It also acts as a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons....
and ) - Alun PaskAlun PaskAlun Edward Islwyn Pask was a international rugby union player and captain.Pask was capped twenty-six times by Wales between 1961 and 1967, twenty-three times as a flanker and three times as at number eight. He scored two tries for Wales, the first on his international debut and toured South...
(Abertillery and ) - Budge RogersBudge RogersDerek Prior "Budge" Rogers OBE is a former rugby union player who captained Bedford and played at international level for both and the British Lions....
(BedfordBedford BluesBedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
and ) - David RolloDavid Rollo (rugby union)David Miller Durie Rollo was a prop forward who played for . Unusually for a Scotland internationalist, he came from Fife.As a prop, he could play both tight and loosehead:...
(Howe of FifeHowe of Fife RFCHowe of Fife RFC is a rugby union club based in Cupar, Fife in Central Scotland and is part of the Scottish Rugby Union. It was founded in 1921, and they play in blue and white hoops....
and ) - Keith RowlandsKeith RowlandsKeith Alun Rowlands , was a Welsh international lock rugby union player, later administrator who was the first Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board.-Playing career:...
(Cardiff and ) - T. P. Wright (Blackheath and )
Results
| Score | Opposition | |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | 38-9 | Rhodesia |
| Lions | 8-8 | Griqualand West Wildeklawer Griquas The GWK Griquas are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. Their home ground is Hoffe Park Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as GWK Park in Kimberley, and they draw their players from Northern Cape Province. They were previously known as... |
| Lions | 11-6 | Western Transvaal Leopards (rugby team) The Leopards, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They play out of Potchefstroom at Olën Park as well as the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg... |
| Lions | 14-11 | Southern Universities |
| Lions | 25-8 | Boland Boland Cavaliers The Boland Cavaliers , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament... |
| Lions | 14-6 | South West Africa (Namibia Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March... ) |
| Lions | 6-14 | Northern Transvaal Blue Bulls The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament... |
| Lions | 3-3 | (Johannesburg) |
| Lions | 13-3 | Natal Natal Sharks The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby... |
| Lions | 21-6 | Eastern Province Mighty Elephants The Eastern Province Kings are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments and are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union... |
| Lions | 14-14 | Orange Free State Free State Cheetahs The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in... |
| Lions | 16-11 | Junior Springboks |
| Lions | 20-6 | Combined Services |
| Lions | 21-13 | Western Province Western Province (rugby team) DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team... |
| Lions | 11-3 | South Western Districts Eagles (rugby team) The South Western Districts Eagles, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They play out of George at Outeniqua Park.... |
| Lions | 0-3 | (Durban) |
| Lions | 6-6 | Northern Universities |
| Lions | 24-3 | Transvaal Golden Lions The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason... |
| Lions | 3-8 | (Cape Town) |
| Lions | 34-8 | North Eastern Districts |
| Lions | 5-0 | Border Border Bulldogs The Border Bulldogs are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Border Rugby Union and are based in East London.... |
| Lions | 14-6 | Central Universities |
| Lions | 16-19 | Eastern Transvaal Falcons (rugby team) The Falcons, or Valke in Afrikaans, are a South African rugby union team in Gauteng province that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments.... |
| Lions | 14-34 | (Bloemfontein) |
| Lions | 50-0 | East Africa East Africa rugby union team Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world... (Nairobi Nairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... , Kenya Kenya Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... ) |