In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not successful 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. The touring party was captained by Tom Kiernan, coached by Ronnie Dawson and managed by David Brooks. Star back Barry John broke his collar bone in a dangerous tackle in the first Test.
As well as South Africa, games were played against South West Africa (the future Namibia, then part of South Africa) and Rhodesia (the future Zimbabwe).
Unlike the previous two tours to South Africa (1955 and 1962), this British Lions team did not stop off in Nairobi, Kenya, to play East Africa on the way home. However, one member of this tour party was later to play against that team; in 1975 Peter Stagg was living in Zambia and playing rugby for the Ndola Wanderers RFC when the Tuskers visited and he played for Zambia in their first international on 31 August 1975 at Kitwe. Six of the squad would ultimately change codes and play professional rugby league, they are; Mike Coulman, Ken Goodall, Keith Jarrett, Keri Jones, Maurice Richards, and Bryan West.
Squad Backs:
Barry Bresnihan (University College Dublin and ) Gordon Connell (Trinity Academicals and ) Gerald Davies (Cardiff and ) Gareth Edwards (Cardiff and ) Mike Gibson (North of Ireland FC and ) Bob Hiller (Harlequins and ) Sandy Hinshelwood (London Scottish and ) Keith Jarrett (Newport and ) Barry John (Cardiff and ) Keri Jones (Cardiff and ) Tom Kiernan (capt) (Cork Constitution and ) Billy Raybould (London Welsh and ) Maurice Richards (Cardiff and ) Keith Savage (Northampton and ) Jock Turner (Gala and ) Roger Young (Queen's University RFC and )
Forwards:
Rodger Arneil (Edinburgh Academicals and ) Mike Coulman (Moseley and ) Mick Doyle (Blackrock College and ) Ken Goodall (City of Derry and ) Tony Horton (Blackheath and ) Peter Larter (Northampton and ) Willie John McBride (Ballymena and ) Syd Millar (Ballymena and ) John O'Shea (Cardiff and ) John Pullin (Bristol and ) Peter Stagg (Sale and ) John Taylor (London Welsh and ) Bob Taylor (Northampton and ) Jim Telfer (Melrose and ) Delme Thomas (Llanelli and ) Bryan West (Northampton and ) Jeff Young (Harrogate and )
Bob Lloyd (Harlequins and ) was selected in the original touring team but had to withdraw because of exam commitments and was replaced by Jarrett.
Results DateVenue ScoreOppositionResult18 May 1968Potchefstroom Lions 20–12 Western TransvaalWon22 May 1968Newlands, Cape Town Lions 10–6 Western ProvinceWon25 May 1968Mossel Bay Lions 24–6 South West DistrictsWon29 May 1968Port Elizabeth Lions 23–14 Eastern ProvinceWon1 June 1968Durban Lions 17–5 Won3 June 1968Salisbury Lions 32–6 RhodesiaWon8 June 1968Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lions 20–25 South AfricaLost12 June 1968Upington Lions 25–5 North West CapeWon15 June 1968Windhoek Lions 23–0 South West AfricaWon18 June 1968Ellis Park, Johannesburg Lions 6–14 TransvaalLost22 June 1968Port Elizabeth Lions 6–6 South AfricaDraw29 June 1968Springs Lions 37–9 Eastern TransvaalWon3 July 1968Pretoria Lions 22–19 Northern TransvaalWon6 July 1968Kimberley Lions 11–3 Griqualand WestWon8 July 1968Wellington Lions 14–0 BolandWon13 July 1968Newlands, Cape Town Lions 6–11 South AfricaLost17 July 1968East London Lions 26–6 BorderWon20 July 1968Bloemfontein Lions 9–3 Orange Free StateWon22 July 1968Cradock Lions 40–12 North East CapeWon27 July 1968Ellis Park, Johannesburg Lions 6–19 South AfricaLost
Matches
References
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