The 1903 British Isles tour to South Africa was the fifth tour by a British Isles rugby 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.

Led by Scotland's Mark Morrison and managed by Johnny Hammond the tour took in 22 matches. Of the games three were test matches, played against the South Africa national rugby union team. The British Isles drew the first two test matches and lost the final encounter.

Having lost only one game out of 40 matches in the previous two tours of South Africa, the British Isles team were truly tested by the South African rugby nation on this tour. Of the 22 games played, the tourist won eleven, drew three and lost eight. Unlike past teams, the British Isles three-quarter line was not seen as the team's strongest asset and more reliance was placed in the pack. Of the backs, only Reg Skrimshire, the only Welsh player selected, was judged to have shown any true flair; while the pack failed to live up to expectations, even when led by Scottish power-house David Bedell-Sivright.

The tour included Louis Leisler Greig, who later became well known as a royal equerry, friend of George VI and became a prominent member of the far right January Club.

Touring party

Manager: Johnny Hammond

Full Backs Edward Montague Harrison (Guy's Hospital/Middlesex/Barbarian F.C.)

Three-Quarters Alfred Hind (Cambridge University/Leicester/Midland Counties) Ian Davidson (North of Ireland) Gilbert Collett (Gloucestershire/Cambridge University) Reg Skrimshire (Newport/Blackheath F.C./Kent/Barbarian F.C.) Edward Forbes Walker (Lennox/Middlesex)FOOTBALL. NOTES BY FULL BACK. Otago Witness, Putanga 2590, 4 Whiringa-ā-rangi 1903, Page 58 – containing a profile of the 1903 British touring side

Half backs Louis Greig (Cambridge University/Glasgow Academicals/United Services and ) John Imrie Gillespie (Edinburgh Academicals and ) Robert Miln Neill (Edinburgh Academicals and ) Pat Hancock (Richmond/Surrey)

Forwards Mark Morrison (Royal HSFP and ) (captain) David Bedell-Sivright (Cambridge University and ) William Patrick Scott (West of Scotland and ) William Cave (Cambridge University/Blackheath F.C./Kent) J.C. Hosack (Edinburgh WanderersNever capped for Scotland.) Robertson Smyth (Dublin University and ) Alfred Tedford (Malone RFC and ) Joseph Wallace (Wanderers/Dublin University and ) James Wallace (Wanderers/Dublin University) Frank Stout (Richmond/Barbarian F.C./Gloucester and ) Thomas Alexander Gibson (Cambridge University)

Results

Test matches

DateOpponentLocationResultScore 19 JulyWestern Province CountryCape TownLost7–13211 JulyWestern Province TownsCape TownLost3–12313 JulyWestern ProvinceCape TownLost4–8418 JulyPort ElizabethPort ElizabethWon13–0 520 JulyEastern ProvincePort ElizabethWon12–0622 JulyGrahamstownGrahamstownWon28–7725 JulyKing William's TownKing William's TownWon37–3827 JulyEast LondonEast London, Eastern CapeWon7–591 AugustGriqualand WestKimberleyLost0–11104 AugustGriqualand WestKimberleyLost6–8118 AugustTransvaalJohannesburgLost3–121211 AugustPretoriaPretoriaWon15–31313 AugustPietermaritzburgPietermaritzburgWon15–01415 AugustDurbanDurbanWon22–01519 AugustWitwatersrandJohannesburgWon12–01622 AugustTransvaalJohannesburgLost4–141726 AugustJohannesburgDraw10–101829 AugustOrange River CountyBloemfonteinWon17–16192 SeptemberGriqualand WestKimberleyWon11–5205 SeptemberKimberleyDrew0–02110 SeptemberWestern ProvinceCape TownDrew3–32212 SeptemberCape TownLost0–8

The matches After playing the first two Tests in white shirts, South Africa wore a green jersey (supplied by Old Diocesan's Club) for the first time in their final Test at Newlands.The great history of green and gold by Harry Jones on The Roar website, 7 Sep 2016

First Test

Team detailsSouth Africa: CH Jones, DJA Morkel, WA van Renen, JD Krige, J Barry, JM Powell, FJ Dobbin, Alex Frew capt., WMC McEwan, JH Sinclair, JWE Raaff, PARO Nel, BH Heatlie, Joseph Partridge, CB Brown

British Isles: EM Harrison, IG Davidson, RT Skrimshire, LL Greig, GF Collett, JI Gillespie, PS Hancock, FM Stout, Jos. Wallace, TA Gibson, RS Smyth, A Tedford, MC Morrison capt., WP Scott, WTC Cave

Second Test

Team detailsSouth Africa: CH Jones, EAH Gibbs, S Ashley, SC de Melker, J Barry, JM Powell capt., FJ Dobbin, C Currie, HD Metcalf, JS Jackson, JWE Raaff, PARO Nel, GFT Crampton, WC Martheze, CB Brown

British Isles: RM Neill, EF Walker, RT Skrimshire, LL Greig, GF Collett, JI Gillespie, PS Hancock, FM Stout, Jos. Wallace, TA Gibson, RS Smyth, A Tedford, MC Morrison capt., WP Scott, WTC Cave

Third Test

Team detailsSouth Africa: WA van Renen, JA Loubser, HW Carolin, JD Krige, J Barry, HH Ferris, TEC Hobson, A Reid, MWC McEwan, P Roos, JW Anderson, PARO Nel, JA Botha, BH Heatlie capt., CB Brown British Isles: RM Neill, EF Walker, RT Skrimshire, LL Greig, GF Collett, JI Gillespie, PS Hancock, FM Stout, Jos. Wallace, TA Gibson, RS Smyth, A Tedford, MC Morrison capt., WP Scott, WTC Cave

References