Between May and July 1989, the British Lions toured Australia. It was their first tour of Australia since 1971, and followed their 1983 tour of New Zealand. The tour was led by coach Ian McGeechan and manager Clive Rowlands. Scotland's Finlay Calder was team captain of the tour.
Across three Test matches, the British Lions won the tour 2–1, the first victory since their 1974 tour of South Africa.
Background After not touring for six years due to the sporting boycott of South Africa, the British Lions undertook its first sole tour of Australia since 1899. Since their 1955 tour of South Africa, the Lions had regularly toured their traditional Southern Hemisphere rivals (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) between two, three, and four year phases. The Lions' previous tour, 1983, was their first sole tour of New Zealand. 1983, just like their prior two tours (1980, 1977) were both unsuccessful, which led expectations to be modest going into the 1989 tour. With increasing club commitments and skepticism from media and administrators about its future, the Lions tour concept itself had faced declining relevance.
Test schedule and results The Lions suffered a 30–12 defeat in the first test in Sydney on 1 July, then their heaviest defeat by Australia. In this first test, Australia scored four tries, and flyhalf Michael Lynagh kicked 5 from 6. For the second and third tests, changes included Mike Teague, recovered from injury, at blindside flanker; Rob Andrew replacing Craig Chalmers at fly-half; and Jeremy Guscott and Scott Hastings coming into the centre positions. The team became the only Lions team ever to come from 1–0 down to win a series, winning the second test in Brisbane 19–12 and the third test in Sydney 19–18. The Lions completed their tour with a victory of a combined ANZAC team. Teague was named player of the series.
Results
Date Home team Score Away team Result Venue 10 June Western Australia 0–40 British Lions Perry Lakes Stadium, Perth, Western Australia 14 June Australia B 18–23 British Lions Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria 19 June Queensland 15–19 British Lions Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland 21 June Queensland B 6–30 British Lions Barlow Park, Cairns, Queensland 24 June New South Wales 21–23 British Lions North Sydney Oval, North Sydney, New South Wales 27 June New South Wales B 19–39 British Lions Apex Oval, Dubbo, New South Wales 1 July 30–12 British Lions Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park, New South Wales 4 July 25–41 British Lions Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, New South Wales 8 July 12–19 British Lions Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland 15 July 18–19 British Lions Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park, New South Wales 19 July 13–72 British Lions No. 2 Sportsground, Newcastle West, New South Wales 23 July ANZAC XV 15–19 British Lions Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland
Squad Backs NameHome countryClubNotesRob Andrew WaspsGary Armstrong JedforestCraig Chalmers MelroseTony Clement SwanseaPaul Dean St Mary's CollegeJohn DevereuxBridgendPeter Dods GalaIeuan Evans LlanelliJeremy Guscott Bathreplaced injured Will CarlingRugby Football Union, "Official programme of 1990 Four Home Unions vs Rest of Europe programme, 1990, Rugby Football UnionMike Hall BridgendGavin HastingsLondon ScottishScott Hastings WatsoniansRobert Jones SwanseaBrendan MullinLondon IrishChris Oti WaspsWill Carling HarlequinsSelected but withdrew due to injuryRory UnderwoodLeicester and RAF
Forwards NameHome countryClubNotesPaul Ackford HarlequinsFinlay Calder (capt) Stewart's Melville FPGareth Chilcott BathWade DooleyPreston GrasshoppersMike Griffiths BridgendJohn Jeffrey KelsoDonal LenihanCork ConstitutionBrian Moore NottinghamBob Norster CardiffDean Richards LeicesterAndy Robinson BathSteve SmithBallymenaDavid SoleEdinburgh AcademicalsMike Teague GloucesterDerek WhiteLondon ScottishDai YoungCardiff
References
Citations
External links 1989 British Lions tour to Australia at ESPN Article on the tour at Lionsrugby 1989 British Lions tour to Australia at Lions Tour History 1989 British Lions tour to Australia Squad where are they now