The 1899 British Isles tour to Australia was the fourth rugby union tour by a British Isles team and the second to Australia; though the first tour in 1888 was a private venture, making the 1899 tour the first official undertaking of Australia. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950.
While the tour traversed a number of colonies, all arrangements were made solely with or through the New South Wales Rugby Football Union (NSWRFU). Negotiations had taken place for the tour to incorporate matches against New Zealand, either through a visit to New Zealand, or a NZRFU team to play in Sydney. No agreeable terms could be found.
With the Federation of the Australian colonies progressing, including the possible inclusion of New Zealand, a likewise plan to combine the Australian rugby union team with the pick of the best from New Zealand into 'Australasia' for a three Tests series, instead of Australia alone, was progressed but ultimately failed to ensue.
This tour was the first to truly represent the British Isles, with players from all four Home Nations. Despite this fact, many Australian newspapers, and some British dailies, referred to the tourists as "the English football team".Griffiths (1987), pg 9:4.
Plan to tour in 1898 After the tour of South Africa in 1896, players in Britain expressed wishes to make a similar tour to Australia. In August 1897, the New South Wales Rugby Football Union (NSWRFU) received a letter from Reverend Matthew Mullineux asking whether a tour beginning in June 1898 would be possible and welcomed by the Union. This request was discussed in depth by the NSWRFU at their 30 September meeting, and it was decided to extend an invitation with the following stipulations. The tour was to be under the auspices of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), with the touring team paying for passage to and from Sydney. The NSWRFU would pay for their internal expenses once in Australia. The British team was to receive a percentage of the profits earned by the attendance at each match, but only up to the cost of their travel. Some debate centred about what level of reimbursement would be allowed; they settled on fifty percent after the initial proposal of twenty percent was deemed too low. They specified that a playing squad be made up of twenty-one players inclusive of the tour manager. They would play two games a week while on tour, in New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand. There was also the possibility that the tour would take in Victoria.
The proposal was sanctioned by the RFU, with the strict stipulation that the tour would take place on a purely amateur basis. It was the plan of Mullineux to fill the team with players from the Universities, but the timing of the tour meant that players would need to leave Britain in early May, when vacation had not yet begun. Due to a lack of time to make the necessary arrangements, the tour for 1898 was subsequently cancelled.
Plan to tour in 1899 A new invitation was sent from the NSWRFU, for a tour to take place in 1899. The RFU, at about the same time, received an invitation from the South African Rugby Football Union, to send a team to tour South Africa in 1899. The RFU wanted confirmation from Mullineux, that a team to tour Australia was for certain able to be formed if the invitation from South Africa was to be turned down. After numerous meetings between the RFU and Mullineux, a decision was made in February 1899 to turn down the tour to South Africa. A cable message was received in February 1899 by the NSWRFU, which was erroneously construed to mean that the Australian tour had been abandoned, with players preferring to make the tour of South Africa. The NSWRFU, having completed all the arrangements for the tour to take place and having rearranged club schedules to accommodate the tour, made enquiries as no official confirmation of the cancellation was received. The misunderstanding was cleared up on 22 February by a message that indicated the tour to Australia was going to proceed. Mullineux stated, "there was never any suggestion of abandoning the Australian tour."
Touring squad selection The makeup of the touring squad was described in the earliest communication of 1897 from Mullineux, as a team made of university students from his school Cambridge, as well as Oxford University, and also of international representatives. Two problems faced Mullineux. The first was that the timing of the tour meant that players would need to leave Britain in early May, when the university vacations had not yet begun. The second was that a long tour would preclude many of the best players from participating due to other commitments. Consequently, early lists of probable touring players had few players listed that finally made the tour. In the pool of potential players the following were noted: James Byrne, Cecil Boyd, Viv Huzzey, Zimans, Ernest Fookes,The Star misspells the name as "Tookes". Lindsay Watson, M Elliott, Herbert Dudgeon, James Gowans, James Franks, J H Kipling, R Forest, Lawrence Bulger, Timoins,Otago Witness, 11 May 1899. "Timoins" is probably Alec B Timms, who did tour. R O Swartz, C B Marston, W Neeks (or Needs), Dr Rowland, J W Gorman, and James Couper. Among these names were several high-profile players whom recruitment attempts failed to secure. Byrne declined due to pressure of business, while Ernest Fookes was awaiting a serious medical operation. The final member to join the team was Scottish international Alf Bucher, after failed approaches were made to recruit fellow Scot James Couper and Welsh wing Viv Huzzey.
Touring party The team consisted of 21 players. Nine had international experience, five had played for England, three for Ireland, and one for Scotland and Wales. Commentators thought that the selected team did not fully represent the strength of British rugby, particularly with the absence of James Byrne.
The team played in a kit consisting of a jersey with thick blue bands and thinner red and white bands, representing the colours of the Union Jack, with dark blue shorts and blue stockings finished with red and white tops.Lions name is a source of great pride The Times 19 June 2009 The team caps were maroon in colour and bore the motif of a kangaroo. Formal dress comprised a navy blazer, with a breast badge that read "The Anglo-Australian Rugby Football Team".
Full backs Esmond Martelli was 20 years of age when the team departed England. He played for Dublin Wanderers.Nelson Evening Mail, 14 July 1899. Some history books claim that he played for Dublin University, but sources from the era indicate that he played for Dublin Wanderers. On tour he played as a fullback, but was able to play at three-quarters also. He was a skilled place, drop and punt kicker. Charles Thompson was approximately 25 years old, and played for Lancashire. He was a versatile player who had played at three-quarter, as well as in the forwards. He was a skilled kicker.
Three-quarters Alec Boswell Timms was approximately 27 years of age, and had played for Edinburgh University and trial matches for Scotland, making the Scottish national team in one match in 1896. He excelled as a centre or on the wing. Timms was born in Melbourne, Australia but had been sent to Scotland to study medicine. Elliot Nicholson was 27 years of age, and played for Birkenhead Park and Liverpool. His speed was used typically on the wing. Alf Bucher was 25 years of age, and played for Edinburgh Academicals and Scotland. Gwyn Nicholls was 24 years of age, and played for Cardiff. He was a Welsh international, highly regarded as the best three-quarter to have played since Arthur Gould. He was the first Welsh player to represent a British team in a Test match, and was outstanding at centre in all weather conditions. Gerry Doran was 21 years of age, and played for Lansdowne. He represented Ireland in 1899. He was an excellent tackler.
Half backs Matthew Mullineux was 31 years of age, played for Blackheath and Moseley. and represented Kent. He was the only player who toured South Africa in 1896. He was the instigator, planner, and manager of the British team. He served as captain on a number of the tour matches. George Cookson was 25 years of age, and played for Manchester and Lancashire. In 1898 he played for the North of England team. Charlie Adamson was 24 years of age, and played for Durham, and in 1898 for the North of England team. He had also tried out for the English team on several occasions. He was a versatile player, being able to play at half back, three quarter or centre. He finished the tour as the test top scorer, with 17 points, including a try in both the second and fourth tests.
Forwards Frank Stout was 22 years of age, and played for Gloucester. He also represented England. Stout was rated among the very best of England's forwards. Wallace Jarman was 26 years of age, and was the captain of Bristol football club. He also played for Gloucestershire. He had represented England. He consistently put hard work into the scrum, followed kicks down field, and was a difficult player to defend when he dribbled the ball down the field. H.G.S. Gray played for Cambridge University, and in trial matches for Scotland. He was a past student of Ley's School in Cambridge. George Ralph Gibson was 21 years of age, and played for Northern, as well as representing England. William Judkins played for Coventry. He was a past student of Repton School. Frederick Belson was 25 years of age, and played for Bath and Somerset. He was a past student of Clifton College. John Francomb was approximately 26 years of age, played for Manchester, and represented Lancashire. He was a past student of Oxford. He was a very tall player. Blair Swannell was 23 years of age, and played for Northampton. He represented the East Midlands team. Guy Evers was 24 years of age, and played for Moseley. He was a past student of Haileybury. Tom McGown was 23 years of age, and played for North of Ireland. He had relatives living in Dunedin, New Zealand and paid them a visit after the season was done. Alan Ayre-Smith was 22 years of age, played for Guy's Hospital, and represented Surrey. He was a hard playing forward.
Plan for tour to New Zealand
The plan to include New Zealand in the British tour was made in the initial correspondence from the NSWRFU to Mullineux in 1897. Since the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) was not in direct negotiations with Mullinuex, they had to work with the NSWRFU to try to negotiate the New Zealand leg of the proposed tour. The NZRU requested from the NSWRFU that they be able to have direct dealings with Mullineux, but this did not eventuate. An extension of the tour to New Zealand threatened attempts at fielding a strong British representative team. Consequently, the New Zealand leg of the tour became less likely as the tour for 1899 was negotiated. The NSWRFU limited the length of the tour to eight weeks from June to August, giving the British an option to add two weeks to their playing schedules if they wished to add New Zealand to their tour program.