History of rugby union matches between the British and Irish Lions and Other Countries
Encyclopedia
Since 1989, the British and Irish Lions
have developed a regular 12 year cycle of tours visiting one of the following three Southern Hemisphere
nations, in turn, every four years:
However the history of their tours is more variable and diverse than the current status-quo might indicate. Prior to World War II the Lions routinely toured Argentina, tours of Australia and New Zealand were frequently carried out in the same trip, intervals between tours were sometimes as much as 14 years (1910
- 1924
) and sometimes as little as one year (1903
, 1904
) or even in the same year (1910 South Africa
and Argentina
). Additionally, whilst making tours the Lions would frequently play other neighbouring nations or teams in countries where the ship pulled into port or where the aircraft landed en-route.
The Lions have also played several one-off matches when not on tour; these have all taken place in the United Kingdom with the exception for one match played in France.
The Lions have not always awarded caps
for these matches, depending on whether it was felt by the team management that the opposition merited full-international status.
, Zambia
and Zimbabwe
), South-West Africa (now Namibia
) and East Africa
(a British colony composed of Kenya
, Tanzania
/Tanganyika and Uganda
) on some of their earlier South African tours. Whilst travelling to or from Australia, New Zealand or Argentina, the Lions also played matches against teams in Canada
, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) and Fiji
.
see:
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
) to play the final tour match of the 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
and the 1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
. The games were played on the 1st October 1930 and the 18th September 1950, both at the Racecourse in Colombo
. The 1930 game was won 45-0. The 1950 local team was composed of executive staff from British companies, British armed forces and three local players, Summa Navaratnam, Leslie Ephraims and Clair Roeloffsz. The Lions won 44-6. This was to be the last Lions match played by the great Irish outside-half, "Jackie" Kyle
.
see:
1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
went to South Africa
for their 1955
and 1962
tours, they played East Africa
in Nairobi
on the return legs of their journeys. The Lions won both of these games, 39-12 and 50-0 respectively. The 1955 game was East Africa's first international and also saw the official opening of the team's home stadium, the RFUEA Ground
, then called the Ngong Road Ground.
see:
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
Fiji: (15) Kemueli Musunamasi; (14) Joape Kuinikoro; (13) Senitiki Nasave; (12) Qele Ratu; (11) Wame Gavidi; (10) Pio Tikoisuva (captain); (9) Samisoni Viriviri; (8) Viliame Ratudradra; (7) Vuata Narisia; (6) Rupeni Qaraniqio; (5) Ilisoni Taoba; (4) Ilaitia Tuisese; (3) Nimilote Ratudina; (2) Atonio Racika; (1) Josefa Rauto.
Replacements: Livai Volavola; Isimeli Batibasaga; Isikeli Cagilaba; Lepani Tagicakibau; Luke Nabaro; Apenisa Tokairavua.
British Lions: (15) Andy Irvine ; (14) Gareth Evans ; (13) Ian McGeechan ; (12) David Burcher ; (11) Phil Bennett (captain) ; (10) John Bevan ; (9) Alun Lewis (uncapped); (8) Jefferey Squire ; (7) Trevor Evans ; (6) Tony Neary ; (5) Allan Martin ; (4) Bill Beaumont ; (3) Graham Price ; (2) Bobby Windsor ; (1) Charlie Faulkner .
Replacements: Gordon Brown.
see:
1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand
and Zimbabwe
. These territories in no way can be regarded as a single entity, let alone a country. It is also not apparent if players selected to play for "Rhodesia" were drawn from one, two or all three of these territories or even (for the period between 1953 and 1963) if any players came from modern day Malawi
!
In 1910 when the Lions first visited, North-Western Rhodesia
and North-Eastern Rhodesia
were two independent territories (administered by the British South Africa Company
that together essentially made up the modern day country of Zambia
) and Southern Rhodesia
was a British colony that is now Zimbabwe
.
By the time of the 1924 and 1938 Lions tours, North-Western and North-Eastern Rhodesia had been merged to form the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia
; the colony of Southern Rhodesia still existed.
For the 1955 and 1962 tours, these two territories had been combined and, along with modern day Malawi
, made up the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
.
In 1964 Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland were granted independence and became Zambia and Malawi respectively. Southern Rhodesia remained a colony and called itself Rhodesia
(between 1964 and 1979) and Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (in 1979), though this name was not accepted by the British government who, until the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980, continued to call the territory "Southern Rhodesia".
see:
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
1938 British Lions tour to South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
; but its legal status is far from clear.
South-West Africa was a German colony
(German South-West Africa
) from 1884, several small parts were annexed by Britain and added to the Cape Colony
which itself was combined with Colony of Natal
, Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony
to become the Commonwealth realm of the Union of South Africa
in 1910. After World War I
South-West Africa was declared a League of Nations Mandate
to be administered by South Africa and after World War II
it was supposed to become a United Nations Trust Territory, but South Africa objected and refused to allow it to achieve independence. South Africa's position was supported by the International Court of Justice
which required, however, that South Africa follow the previously applied League of Nations Mandate.
Thus for the 1955 and 1962 Lions tours South-West Africa was being regarded and administered as a fifth province of South Africa though it was never officially incorporated into the Commonwealth realm.
In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly
declared the League of Nations Mandate terminated and required that South Africa withdraw from Namibia immediately. There followed a protracted struggle for independence by the South-West Africa People's Organisation
(SWAPO) with the territory finally achieving independence as the Republic of Namibia in 1990. As a result when the Lions played South-West Africa in 1968, 1974 and 1980 they were technically playing an independent nation that should have been called Namibia, but a nation that was yet to come into existence.
see:
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
(three at the Arms Park and one in the Millennium Stadium
), one has been played at Twickenham stadium
, London
and one at the Parc des Princes
in Paris
.
One other match, The Skilball Trophy
match has been played by a "Four Home Unions" side against "The Rest of Europe" to raise money in aid of the rebuilding of Romania
following the overthrow of Nicolae Ceauşescu
. It was played at Twickenham on the 22nd April 1990, the home side wore the Lions badge on their shirts but were not officially a British Lions side.
club side. The match is sometimes listed as the last game of the Lions 1950 tour
, though this was technically not a true Lions team. It may have been difficult to pick a full Lions side however as five members of that Lions touring party played for Cardiff; Billy Cleaver
, Jack Matthews
, Bleddyn Williams
, Rex Willis
and Cliff Davies
. The match, which was staged to celebrate Cardiff's 75th Anniversary, was won by the "Lions" 14-12.
was also not techniclly a true British Lions match; it was not officially sanctioned by the team and did not include all the big names of that tour, such as Tony O'Reilly
, Jeff Butterfield
, Phil Davies
, Dickie Jeeps
, Bryn Meredith
and Jim Greenwood. This match too was played at the Cardiff Arms Park, then the Welsh national stadium, aganist a Welsh XV on 22 October 1955. This match was staged to mark the 75th anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union, the "Lions" won 23-14.
see:
1955 (vs Wales XV)
. The Lions were at full tour party strength and the Barbarian side included JPR Williams, Gerald Davies
, Gareth Edwards
, Jean-Pierre Rives
and Jean-Claude Skrela
. The match nearly did not take place, the players threatened to boycott the match when their wives and partners were initially not invited to attend. The Lions won 23-14.
see:
1977 (vs Barbarians)
centenary. It turned out to be the only match played by this Lions side; the tour had already been called off by the hosts under political pressure due to the apartheid regime that still existed in South Africa at this time. The Lions won this match 15-7.
see:
1986 (vs The Rest)
. The match formed part of the French Republic's bicentennial celebrations of the revolution
. France lost the match 29-27.
see:
1989 (vs France)
, four in 1927
and one in 1936
), they have only faced the Lions this one time on foreign soil. The match was designed to be a warm-up match for the impending tour to New Zealand
. The Puma's were underdogs going into the match, never having won a match in their 95 year history of playing the Lions. However, they played a scintillating game and were only denied victory by a Jonny Wilkinson
penalty seven minutes after the end of regulation time. The final result was a 25 all tie.
see:
2005 (vs Argentina)
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
have developed a regular 12 year cycle of tours visiting one of the following three Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
nations, in turn, every four years:
- Australia (previous 20012001 British Lions tour to AustraliaThe 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia was a series of matches played by the British Lions rugby union team in Australia.This tour followed the Lions' 1997 tour to South Africa and preceded the 2005 tour to New Zealand....
, next 2013) - New Zealand (previous 20052005 British and Irish Lions tour to New ZealandIn 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
, next probably 2017) - South Africa (previous 20092009 British and Irish Lions tour to South AfricaThe 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....
, next probably 2021)
However the history of their tours is more variable and diverse than the current status-quo might indicate. Prior to World War II the Lions routinely toured Argentina, tours of Australia and New Zealand were frequently carried out in the same trip, intervals between tours were sometimes as much as 14 years (1910
1910 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1910 British Lions tour to Argentina is a retrospective term applied to the tour of Argentina made by a side made up of 16 English players and 3 Scots. The organisers of the tour named the team the "English Rugby Union team", but the host country advertised the touring team as the Combined...
- 1924
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1924 British Isles tour to South Africa was the tenth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950...
) and sometimes as little as one year (1903
1903 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1903 British Isles tour to South Africa was the fifth tour by a British Isles team and the third to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950....
, 1904
1904 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
The 1904 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was the sixth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to New Zealand and Australia...
) or even in the same year (1910 South Africa
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
and Argentina
1910 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1910 British Lions tour to Argentina is a retrospective term applied to the tour of Argentina made by a side made up of 16 English players and 3 Scots. The organisers of the tour named the team the "English Rugby Union team", but the host country advertised the touring team as the Combined...
). Additionally, whilst making tours the Lions would frequently play other neighbouring nations or teams in countries where the ship pulled into port or where the aircraft landed en-route.
The Lions have also played several one-off matches when not on tour; these have all taken place in the United Kingdom with the exception for one match played in France.
The Lions have not always awarded caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for these matches, depending on whether it was felt by the team management that the opposition merited full-international status.
Matches in minor rugby playing nations
The Lions played Rhodesia (a territory which, at different times in history comprised one or more of the modern day countries of MalawiRugby union in Malawi
Rugby union in Malawi, and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, is a minor sport, albeit one with a long history.Rugby in Malawi has frequently been haphazard, for example, Blantyre RFC once undertook a tour to Mauritius. Writing back to approve the tour, the Mauritian secretary added, "Please bring...
, Zambia
Zambia national rugby union team
Zambia national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Zambia. They first played in 1975 and now compete on an annual basis in the Africa Cup. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup....
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national rugby union team
The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation...
), South-West Africa (now Namibia
Namibia national rugby union team
The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999...
) 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...
(a British colony composed of Kenya
Kenya national rugby union team
The Kenya national rugby union team is the Kenyan national team in Rugby. it is controlled by the Kenya Rugby Football Union.The team participates Confederation of African Rugby tournaments, but has never qualified for the Rugby World Cup....
, Tanzania
Tanzania national rugby union team
The Tanzania national rugby union team represents Tanzania in international rugby union. They are known as the Twigas . Tanzania are a member of the International Rugby Board , and have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup tournament. In the 1970s expatriates and Tanzanians regularly played in the...
/Tanganyika and Uganda
Uganda national rugby union team
The Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958...
) on some of their earlier South African tours. Whilst travelling to or from Australia, New Zealand or Argentina, the Lions also played matches against teams in Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka national rugby union team
The Sri Lanka national rugby union team represents Sri Lanka in international rugby union competitions. Sri Lanka have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup. They have the longest tradition of organised club rugby in Asia, dating back to 1879, which was just 8 years after the founding of...
) and Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
.
| | Date | Year | Venue | City | | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 July | 1910 | Bulawayo Bulawayo Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland... |
 RhodesiaZimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 11 - 24 British Lions |
|
| 2 | 24 July | 1924 | Salisbury Harare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
3 - 16 British Lions | |
| 5 | 1 October | 1930 | The Racecourse | Colombo Colombo Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo... |
0 - 45 British Lions |
| 3 | 20 July | 1938 | Salisbury Harare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
11 - 25 British Lions | |
| 4 | 23 July | 1938 | Bulawayo Bulawayo Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland... |
11 - 45 British Lions | |
| 5 | 18 September | 1950 | The Racecourse | Colombo Colombo Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo... |
6 - 44 British Lions |
| 6 | 5 July | 1955 | Windhoek Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529... |
 South-West AfricaNamibia national rugby union team The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999... 0 - 9 British Lions |
|
| 7 | 27 July | 1955 | Rhokana Ground | Kitwe Kitwe Kitwe is the second largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia. With a population of 547,700 Kitwe is one of the most developed commercial and industrial areas in the nation, alongside Ndola and Lusaka... |
 RhodesiaZimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 14 - 27 British Lions |
| 8 | 30 July | 1955 | Police Ground | Salisbury Harare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
Rhodesia Zimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 12 - 16 British Lions |
| 9 | 7 January | 1955 | RFUEA Ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... |
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... |
12 - 39 British Lions |
| 10 | 7 January | 1959 |  British ColumbiaBritish Columbia Rugby Union The British Columbia Rugby Union is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in British Columbia. The BCRU consists of nine sub-unions and 65 clubs. It was originally organized in New Westminster in 1889 where Alfred St... 11 - 16 British Lions |
||
| 11 | 28 August | 1959 | Eastern Canada 6 - 70 British Lions | ||
| 12 | 26 May | 1962 | Hartsfield Ground | Bulawayo Bulawayo Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland... |
Rhodesia Zimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 9 - 38 British Lions |
| 13 | 12 June | 1962 | South West Stadium | Windhoek Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529... |
South-West Africa Namibia national rugby union team The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999... 6 - 14 British Lions |
| 14 | 28 August | 1962 | RFUEA Ground RFUEA Ground The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya... |
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... |
0 - 50 British Lions |
| 15 | 14 September | 1966 | Empire Stadium | Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,... |
British Columbia British Columbia Rugby Union The British Columbia Rugby Union is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in British Columbia. The BCRU consists of nine sub-unions and 65 clubs. It was originally organized in New Westminster in 1889 where Alfred St... 8 - 3 British Lions |
| 16 | 17 September | 1966 | 8 - 19 British Lions | ||
| 17 | 3 June | 1968 | Police Ground | Salisbury Harare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
Rhodesia Zimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 6 - 32 British Lions |
| 18 | 12 June | 1968 | South West Stadium | Windhoek Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529... |
South-West Africa Namibia national rugby union team The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999... 0 - 23 British Lions |
| 19 | 18 May | 1974 | South West Stadium | Windhoek Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529... |
South-West Africa Namibia national rugby union team The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999... 16 - 23 British Lions |
| 20 | 18 June | 1974 | Police Ground | Salisbury Harare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
Rhodesia Zimbabwe national rugby union team The Zimbabwe national rugby union team is the rugby union team representing Zimbabwe. They are considered to be a third tier rugby union nation... 6 - 42 British Lions |
| 21 | 16 August | 1977 | Buckhurst Park | Suva | 25 - 21 British Lions |
| 22 | 4 June | 1980 | South West Stadium | Windhoek Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529... |
South African Country XV Namibia national rugby union team The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias or Biltongboere, represents Namibia at rugby union. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board tier system, the team have participated in all three Rugby World Cup competitions since their first appearance in 1999... 7 - 27 British Lions |
Canada
One of the most famous matches in Canadian rugby history became known as the "victory for the ages"; it was British Columbia's defeat of the 1966 British Lions
|
border="0" width="100%" style="font-size:90%"> | BRITISH LIONS | |||
| Player | Club | Home Union | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FB | 15 | Stewart Wilson | |||
| RW | 14 | Sandy Hinshelwood | |||
| OC | 13 | Colin McFadyean | |||
| IC | 12 | Barrie Bresnihan | |||
| LW | 11 | Dewi Bebb | |||
| FH | 10 | Dai Watkins | |||
| SH | 9 | Roger Young | |||
| LP | 1 | Denzil Williams | |||
| HK | 2 | Frank Laidlaw | |||
| TP | 3 | Ray McLoughlin | |||
| LL | 4 | Mike Campbell-Lamerton (c Captain (sports) In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field... ) |
|||
| RL | 5 | Brian Price | |||
| BF | 6 | Howard Norris | |||
| OF | 7 | Gary Prothero | |||
| N8 | 8 | Willie John McBride | |||
see:
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
In 1959 the British Lions rugby union team toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost the international series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. They also played two matches in Canada, on the return leg of the journey.Although New Zealand...
1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
In 1966 the British Lions toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost all four internationals against the All Blacks....
Ceylon
On the return journey to the UK, the Lions stopped off in Ceylon (now Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) to play the final tour match of the 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia was the twelfth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to New Zealand and Australia...
and the 1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950 was the first post-war tour made by the Lions; there had not been one since 1938....
. The games were played on the 1st October 1930 and the 18th September 1950, both at the Racecourse in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. The 1930 game was won 45-0. The 1950 local team was composed of executive staff from British companies, British armed forces and three local players, Summa Navaratnam, Leslie Ephraims and Clair Roeloffsz. The Lions won 44-6. This was to be the last Lions match played by the great Irish outside-half, "Jackie" Kyle
Jack Kyle
John Wilson Kyle OBE , commonly referred to as Jack Kyle or Jackie Kyle, is a former rugby union player who played for Ireland, the British Lions and the Barbarians during the 1940s and 1950s...
.
see:
1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia was the twelfth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to New Zealand and Australia...
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950 was the first post-war tour made by the Lions; there had not been one since 1938....
East Africa
When the British LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
went to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for their 1955
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
and 1962
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
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....
tours, they played 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 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...
on the return legs of their journeys. The Lions won both of these games, 39-12 and 50-0 respectively. The 1955 game was East Africa's first international and also saw the official opening of the team's home stadium, the RFUEA Ground
RFUEA Ground
The RFUEA Ground is a rugby union stadium located on the Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya. It was purpose built to be the home of the national team and to serve as the headquarters of the Rugby Football Union of Kenya...
, then called the Ngong Road Ground.
see:
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
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....
Fiji
On Tuesday 16 August 1977, Fiji played their 88th test match and first against the British Lions. An examination of Fiji's results in the 1950s, 1960's and 1970s demonstrates that they were far more proficient at the fifteen-man game than they are today. A hard fought game saw the lead change four times with no side getting more than 7 points ahead at any time. Fiji scored five tries to the Lions' three and finished worthy winners. The Lions made one replacement during the match, Gordon Brown going on for Trevor Evans. Fiji picked six replacements but used none.Fiji: (15) Kemueli Musunamasi; (14) Joape Kuinikoro; (13) Senitiki Nasave; (12) Qele Ratu; (11) Wame Gavidi; (10) Pio Tikoisuva (captain); (9) Samisoni Viriviri; (8) Viliame Ratudradra; (7) Vuata Narisia; (6) Rupeni Qaraniqio; (5) Ilisoni Taoba; (4) Ilaitia Tuisese; (3) Nimilote Ratudina; (2) Atonio Racika; (1) Josefa Rauto.
Replacements: Livai Volavola; Isimeli Batibasaga; Isikeli Cagilaba; Lepani Tagicakibau; Luke Nabaro; Apenisa Tokairavua.
British Lions: (15) Andy Irvine ; (14) Gareth Evans ; (13) Ian McGeechan ; (12) David Burcher ; (11) Phil Bennett (captain) ; (10) John Bevan ; (9) Alun Lewis (uncapped); (8) Jefferey Squire ; (7) Trevor Evans ; (6) Tony Neary ; (5) Allan Martin ; (4) Bill Beaumont ; (3) Graham Price ; (2) Bobby Windsor ; (1) Charlie Faulkner .
Replacements: Gordon Brown.
see:
1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand
1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1977 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. The Lions played 26 matches, including four internationals against the All Blacks. They lost the series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. The team played as the British Isles in their internationals against the All Blacks...
Rhodesia
A regular feature of Lions tours to South Africa between 1910 and 1974 were matches played against Rhodesia, though during this period of history in Southern Africa the designation of Rhodesia is not straight-forward. At its simplest it can be regarded as the territories that today comprise ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and 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...
. These territories in no way can be regarded as a single entity, let alone a country. It is also not apparent if players selected to play for "Rhodesia" were drawn from one, two or all three of these territories or even (for the period between 1953 and 1963) if any players came from modern day Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
!
In 1910 when the Lions first visited, North-Western Rhodesia
North-Western Rhodesia
North-Western Rhodesia in south central Africa was formed and administered from 1891 under charter by the British South Africa Company which in 1890 had signed a treaty with King Lewanika of the Barotse, the most powerful traditional ruler in the territory...
and North-Eastern Rhodesia
North-Eastern Rhodesia
North-Eastern Rhodesia in south central Africa was formed by and administered by the British South Africa Company as the other half, with North-Western Rhodesia, of the huge territory lying mainly north of the Zambezi River into which it expanded its charter in 1891...
were two independent territories (administered by the British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
that together essentially made up the modern day country of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
) and Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
was a British colony that is now 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...
.
By the time of the 1924 and 1938 Lions tours, North-Western and North-Eastern Rhodesia had been merged to form the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
; the colony of Southern Rhodesia still existed.
For the 1955 and 1962 tours, these two territories had been combined and, along with modern day Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, made up the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
.
In 1964 Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland were granted independence and became Zambia and Malawi respectively. Southern Rhodesia remained a colony and called itself 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...
(between 1964 and 1979) and Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (in 1979), though this name was not accepted by the British government who, until the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980, continued to call the territory "Southern Rhodesia".
see:
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
1910 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in...
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
1924 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1924 British Isles tour to South Africa was the tenth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950...
1938 British Lions tour to South Africa
1938 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1938 British Isles tour to South Africa was the fourteenth tour by a British Isles team and the sixth to South Africa. The tour is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950....
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
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....
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their 16 non-international matches, losing only to Transvaal...
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...
South West Africa
As for Rhodesia above, the designation of South-West Africa is not simple but for different reasons. The area of land has always been essentially the territory that makes up modern day NamibiaNamibia
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...
; but its legal status is far from clear.
South-West Africa was a German colony
German Colony
The term German Colony can refer to:* German colonial empire, the former colonies of Germany* German Colony, Jerusalem a Templer settlement* German Colony, Haifa a Templer settlement...
(German South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
) from 1884, several small parts were annexed by Britain and added to the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
which itself was combined with Colony of Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
, Transvaal Colony and the Orange River Colony
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after this nation first occupied and then annexed the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War...
to become the Commonwealth realm of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
in 1910. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
South-West Africa was declared a League of Nations Mandate
League of Nations mandate
A League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League...
to be administered by South Africa and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was supposed to become a United Nations Trust Territory, but South Africa objected and refused to allow it to achieve independence. South Africa's position was supported by the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
which required, however, that South Africa follow the previously applied League of Nations Mandate.
Thus for the 1955 and 1962 Lions tours South-West Africa was being regarded and administered as a fifth province of South Africa though it was never officially incorporated into the Commonwealth realm.
In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
declared the League of Nations Mandate terminated and required that South Africa withdraw from Namibia immediately. There followed a protracted struggle for independence by the South-West Africa People's Organisation
South-West Africa People's Organisation
The South West Africa People's Organization is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. It has been the governing party in Namibia since achieving independence in 1990...
(SWAPO) with the territory finally achieving independence as the Republic of Namibia in 1990. As a result when the Lions played South-West Africa in 1968, 1974 and 1980 they were technically playing an independent nation that should have been called Namibia, but a nation that was yet to come into existence.
see:
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
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....
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their 16 non-international matches, losing only to Transvaal...
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
One-off matches (not part of a tour)
The British and Irish Lions have made three official non-tour appearances, all of which have been on home soil. Teams styled as "The Lions" have turned out on three additional occasions, two on home soil and one in France. Four of these matches have been played in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
(three at the Arms Park and one in the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
), one has been played at Twickenham stadium
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and one at the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
One other match, The Skilball Trophy
The Skilball Trophy
The Skilball Trophy was contested in 1990 by a team titled the "Four Home Unions" against a team titled the "Rest of Europe XV". This was a match to raise money for the rebuilding of Romania following the overthrow of Nicolae Ceauşescu in December 1989. The Four Nations team's logo was that used by...
match has been played by a "Four Home Unions" side against "The Rest of Europe" to raise money in aid of the rebuilding of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
following the overthrow of Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
. It was played at Twickenham on the 22nd April 1990, the home side wore the Lions badge on their shirts but were not officially a British Lions side.
| | Date | Year | Venue | City | | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 September | 1951 | Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World... |
Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
"British Lions" 14 - 12 Cardiff RFC Cardiff RFC Cardiff 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... |
| 2 | 22 October | 1955 | Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World... |
Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
"British Lions" 23 - 14 |
| 3 | 10 September | 1977 | Twickenham Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000... |
London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
British Lions 23 - 14 Barbarian F.C. Barbarian F.C. The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain... |
| 4 | 16 April | 1986 | Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World... |
Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
British Lions 15 - 7 Rest of the World |
| 5 | 4 October | 1989 | Parc des Princes Parc des Princes The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed... |
Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... |
27 - 29 "British Lions" |
| 6 | 23 May | 2005 | Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage... |
Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... |
British and Irish Lions 25 - 25 |
Cardiff R.F.C.
The first match of a "British Lions" team played not while on tour took place on the 22nd September 1951 at Cardiff Arms Park against the CardiffCardiff RFC
Cardiff 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...
club side. The match is sometimes listed as the last game of the Lions 1950 tour
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950 was the first post-war tour made by the Lions; there had not been one since 1938....
, though this was technically not a true Lions team. It may have been difficult to pick a full Lions side however as five members of that Lions touring party played for Cardiff; Billy Cleaver
Billy Cleaver
William 'Billy' Cleaver was a Welsh international fly-half who played club rugby for Cardiff. He won 14 caps for Wales and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, Jack Matthews
Jack Matthews
Jack Matthews OBE is a former Wales rugby union international centre who played first-class club rugby for Cardiff and Newport. Along with Bleddyn Williams, Matthews formed a centre partnership which is regarded as one of the finest in the game...
, Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams
Bleddyn Williams MBE , was a Welsh rugby union centre. He played in 22 internationals for Wales, captaining them five times, winning each time, and captained the British Lions in 1950 for some of their tour of Australia and New Zealand...
, Rex Willis
Rex Willis
Rex Willis was a Welsh international rugby union scrum-half who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians...
and Cliff Davies
Cliff Davies (rugby player)
Clifton 'Cliff' Davies was a Welsh international prop who played club rugby for Cardiff and invitational rugby for the Barbarians...
. The match, which was staged to celebrate Cardiff's 75th Anniversary, was won by the "Lions" 14-12.
Wales
The second "Lions" match at home, though sometimes listed as the last match of the 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
was also not techniclly a true British Lions match; it was not officially sanctioned by the team and did not include all the big names of that tour, such as Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
, Jeff Butterfield
Jeff Butterfield
Jeffrey Butterfield was an England, British and Irish Lions, Northampton and Barbarians Rugby player and businessman....
, Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Phil Davies is a Welsh former rugby union footballer of the 1980s and 90s.-Rugby career:Davies played his club rugby for Llanelli and enjoyed a distinguished 46 cap career for Wales between 1985 and 1995...
, Dickie Jeeps
Dickie Jeeps
Richard 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...
, Bryn Meredith
Bryn Meredith
Brinley "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....
and Jim Greenwood. This match too was played at the Cardiff Arms Park, then the Welsh national stadium, aganist a Welsh XV on 22 October 1955. This match was staged to mark the 75th anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union, the "Lions" won 23-14.
see:
1955 (vs Wales XV)
Barbarian F.C.
The first officially sanctioned home match was a charity fund-raiser held as part of the Queen's silver jubilee celebrations; it was played at Twickenham on 10 September 1977 against the Barbarian F.C.Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. The Lions were at full tour party strength and the Barbarian side included JPR Williams, Gerald Davies
Gerald Davies
Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:...
, Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
, Jean-Pierre Rives
Jean-Pierre Rives
Jean-Pierre Rives is a French former rugby union player who won 59 caps for France as a flanker. Although considered too small by some for the position, Rives displayed tremendous courage and flair, epitomising the spirit of French rugby...
and Jean-Claude Skrela
Jean-Claude Skrela
Jean-Claude Skrela is a former coach of the French national rugby union team. His son, David Skrela, is a French rugby union player and his daughter, Gaëlle Skrela, is a professional basketball player....
. The match nearly did not take place, the players threatened to boycott the match when their wives and partners were initially not invited to attend. The Lions won 23-14.
see:
1977 (vs Barbarians)
Rest of the World XV
On the 16th April 1986, the second officially sanctioned Lions home match was played against the "Rest of the World" at Cardiff Arms Park. This was a warm-up match played both to prepare the side for the impending tour to South Africa and also as a celebration match to mark the International Board'sInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
centenary. It turned out to be the only match played by this Lions side; the tour had already been called off by the hosts under political pressure due to the apartheid regime that still existed in South Africa at this time. The Lions won this match 15-7.
see:
1986 (vs The Rest)
Rest of the World XV
The Rest of the World XV was a rugby union team selected to play one match against the British Lions, and was set up to commemorate the centenary of the International Rugby Football Board , which would shortly afterwards become the IRB or International Rugby Board...
France
On the 4th October 1989 a pseudo-Lions combination was put together to play a match at the Parc des Princes against France. The "Lions" were made up mostly of players form the recently completed tour to Australia1989 British Lions tour to Australia
In 1989 the British Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Despite losing the first test, the Lions won the remaining two to take the series 2-1...
. The match formed part of the French Republic's bicentennial celebrations of the revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. France lost the match 29-27.
see:
1989 (vs France)
British and Irish Lions XV in Paris 1989
The British and Irish Lions XV in Paris 1989 were organised to play as part of the celebrations of the French Bicentennial of the French Revolution...
Argentina
The most recent officially sanctioned Lions home match was played against at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 23 May 2005. Although six test matches have been played against Argentina on three tours (one in 19101910 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1910 British Lions tour to Argentina is a retrospective term applied to the tour of Argentina made by a side made up of 16 English players and 3 Scots. The organisers of the tour named the team the "English Rugby Union team", but the host country advertised the touring team as the Combined...
, four in 1927
1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
-Touring party:*Manager: James "Bim" Baxter-Results:-References:...
and one in 1936
1936 British Lions tour to Argentina
The 1936 Great Britain tour of Argentina was a series of rugby union matches arranged between a British invitational team and various Argentine teams. The tourists played ten matches, nine of which were against club and combined teams while one match took in a full Argentina national team...
), they have only faced the Lions this one time on foreign soil. The match was designed to be a warm-up match for the impending tour to New Zealand
2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
. The Puma's were underdogs going into the match, never having won a match in their 95 year history of playing the Lions. However, they played a scintillating game and were only denied victory by a Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson
Jonathan Peter "Jonny" Wilkinson OBE is an English rugby union player and member of the England national team. Wilkinson rose to acclaim from 2001 to 2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and was acknowledged as one of the world’s best rugby players...
penalty seven minutes after the end of regulation time. The final result was a 25 all tie.
see:
2005 (vs Argentina)