British and Irish Lions

Rugby Union side comprising the pick of the best players from the four home unions, i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Lions are exclusively a touring team, and play the traditionally strong southern hemisphere nations of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Originally poorly organised Lions teams recieved regular thrashings by their hosts, but by the 1955 the tourists were taking the matches seriously to obtain a 2-2 draw in South Africa. If the 60s were forgettable for the Lions, the 1970s saw a renaissance in the Lions. The 1971 team, centred around the great Welsh half-back pairing of [Gareth Edwards]? and [Barry John]? secured a series win over the [All Blacks]?.

Perhaps the best known, and undoubtedly the most succesful, Lions team was that which toured South Africa in 1974, under the great Irish forward Willie-John McBride?, which went 21 games unbeaten and triumphed 3-0 in a test series beset by violence, exemplified by the tourists pre-arranged signal to "get their retaliation in first".

Other tours include a Test series wins over Australia in 1989 and South Africa in 1997, and defeats by New Zealand in 1977 and 1983 and South Africa in 1986.

Selected Tour Results:

/2001 (Australia)