most lions tours

Leaving a Lions imprint: The men who have toured multiple times

• John Griffiths Close • Widely respected rugby historian • Contributor to the Daily Telegraph for 19 years • Written for Scrum.com since 1999 • Author of several books and co-author of the IRB International Yearbook

To win selection for the Lions as player or coach is the pinnacle of any British and Irish rugby professional's ambitions, the hallmark of excellence on an international rugby career. And to make two, three or perhaps more tours is an extremely rare achievement, particularly nowadays when visits take place only once every four years.

So step forward Graham Rowntree, Neil Jenkins and Rob Howley who will be making their fifth Lions tours when they board the plane for New Zealand on May 29th. Each toured twice as players and will make their third trips in coaching capacities. These men are the consummate professionals of the professional rugby era.

They were players in South Africa in 1997 when the Lions won the series against the Springboks, and Howley and Jenkins were part of the squad that toured Australia in 2001.

Rowntree was a Lion again as part of Sir Clive Woodward's cast of thousands in New Zealand in 2005. The trio were assistant coaches in 2009, 2013 and will now reprise their roles as scrum doctor [Rowntree], kicking guru (Jenkins) and backs expert [Howley] in New Zealand.

No-one, however, is likely to match the achievements back in the amateur days of Ireland's Willie-John McBride and Mike Gibson, the only Lions to make five tours as players.

Willie-John went in 1962, 1966 and 1968, and was a part of the all-greats who beat Colin Meads's All Blacks in 1971 before reaching the peak of his mountainous career leading the unbeaten side through South Africa in 1974.

Gibson was a tourist five times between 1966 and 1977, going out to South Africa in '74 as a replacement.

McBride made a sixth Lions tour in an official capacity as manager of the ill-fated 1983 team in New Zealand, while his Ballymena buddy, Syd Millar, had the distinction of making tours as player (1959, 1962 and 1968), coach (1974) and manager (1980).

But the lion king of touring, the man who achieved distinction across the amateur/professional divide, was Sir Ian McGeechan. The great Scot was a player in South Africa with Willie-John's 1974 invincibles and toured New Zealand under Phil Bennett's captaincy in 1977.

He then led the successful 1989 team in Australia as head coach, was the lead coach again in 1993 and for the winning series in South Africa in 1997, and toured as a member of Sir Clive Woodward's enlarged coaching squad in 2005 before returning to South Africa as the head coach of the 2009 expedition.

That's seven tours in all as a Lions player or coach, a record that will take some beating.

British & Irish Lions: Everything you need to know about the famous touring team

For four years, they’re all trying to smash each other to pieces. And then, for a couple of glorious months in June and July, the cream of the home nations gathers together and heads off to one of the traditional southern strongholds for a set of tour matches against the best of the local sub-international teams, along with a three-Test series against the local elite. It’s the pinnacle of a player’s career and, to be honest, a fan’s.

British and Irish Lions profile

There have been 38 tours since 1888, 14 to South Africa, 12 to New Zealand, nine to Australia and three to Argentina. There have also been six matches against other national teams outside of those four: Fiji, Sri Lanka, Canada, France and Kenya (twice), while there were several games against Zimbabwe and Namibia while those two were still colonies. Of the 37 Test series, the Lions have won 15 and drawn two, winning 54 out of 127 Tests overall.

British and Irish Lions rugby team

Two names stand out from history for longevity: Willie John McBride went on a staggering five tours, finishing off by leading the invincibles to victory in 1974. Sir Ian McGeechan was on his first tour in 1974 and went on another in 1978, but Geech – also known as Mr. Lions – has been coach on five tours as well, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2005 and 2009, with only 2005 not as head coach.

Jim Telfer is also a famed player/coach combination: his Everest speech on the 1997 tour is the stuff of folklore. A lesser known player/coach is John Robins of Wales, who played on the 1950 tour and coached on the 1966 tour, both to Australia and New Zealand.

Martin Johnson led the British & Irish Lions before he had even led England, indeed, it was probably his performance in 1997 that cemented his future as England captain. Another Englishman of that generation, Jason Leonard, has been named by Geech as the ultimate Lion, in the way he hid his disappointment at not making the Test team and simply made the selected Test props better instead.

It would be a tough greatest-ever list without mentioning at least Gareth Edwards and Barry John, never mind the rest of the Welsh contingent who helped make the early 1970s so successful and many of the most-capped Lions herald from the post-war period: Dickie Jeeps, Mike Gibson, Tony O’Reilly (still the top Test try-scorer) and Graham Price to name but four. And while Bennett was a goal-kicker and has won more caps, the goal-kickers Gavin Hastings, Jonny Wilkinson and Stephen Jones all top the points lists. Alun Wyn Jones is the only current player in the all-time caps list, an impressive achievement given that there are only three Tests per tour these days rather than four.

British and Irish Lions rugby shirt

Originally, the jersey were various combinations of red, white and blue hoops, before a solid blue shirt, white shorts and red socks were adopted for the years between the two world wars. Only in 1938, in deference to the Irish who’d been angry for years, were the socks adorned with green. The strip taken in 1950 remains to this day, red jerseys, white shorts and blue socks with a green top – the change in jersey colour a result of the blue clashing with New Zealand’s black and a desire not to have a kit which clashed with any of the opposition. As they come out only every four years, they are frequently collectors’ items.

British and Irish Lions v Australia

Australia remains the only team the Lions have enjoyed sustained success against; indeed given that the 1930 tour defeat was a single game, one-point defeat on the back end of a three-month slog through New Zealand first, you could make a case for the 2001 series defeat being the only one the Lions have really lost. The Wallabies’ rugby public is always up for a warm welcome, and the games have often boiled over in recent years, both at provincial and Test level. Most iconic moment? David Campese’s error that gave Ieuan Evans the series-winning try in 1989.

"You beauty!!" Well this was special #OnThisDay back in 2001 @BrianODriscoll ….. pic.twitter.com/E5cSyz0H3V — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 30, 2018

British and Irish Lions v New Zealand

The Lions’ success rate in New Zealand is much akin to Australia’s against the Lions: not much. The 1971 tour remains an era-defining victory for the tourists while most of the tourists lament 1977 as a series that should have been won, the performance of referee Brian Kinsey is constantly thought to have been the decisive factor in the loss 1993 and nobody was happy with the draw in 2017 (except, perhaps, the referee). It’s certainly the friendliest of the traditional tour destinations, but be sure to pitch up with the right attitude or, as the 2005 tourists found out, humiliation is waiting around every corner.

British and Irish Lions v South Africa

Perhaps the most traditional, ferocious, yet honourable rivalry for the Lions is with South Africa. Some of the most downright violent matches have been against South Africa , not least the ‘Battle of Boet Erasmus’ in 1974. Yet that tour spawned some long-lasting friendships between the two factions, a tradition which has been maintained. After 1974, the Lions would not return until 1997 because of Apartheid, when they won again against the reigning world champions. The 2009 tour has often been ranked as the best-ever for the Lions despite the series defeat, with the clinching second Test also thought by many to be the greatest Test match of all time. From controversy to violence to magnificent rugby and intensity, this tour had it all, with 2021 not far behind in terms of gripping and dramatic action.

British and Irish Lions rugby store

The Lions has its own website and merchandising outlet, while Lions merchandise floods any good sports store, on or offline, ahead of the tours. Makes sure your piggy bank is well-stocked though.

READ MORE: Martin Johnson: Everything you need to know about the England legend

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2021 Alun Wyn Jones (Lion #761, Wales) v South Africa

A full 12 years after playing his part in a titanic battle with the Springboks for The British & Irish Lions in 2009, Alun Wyn Jones returned to South Africa in 2021 as captain.

Yet the Wales second row almost missed his fourth consecutive Tour entirely after dislocating his shoulder during The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup match against Japan in Edinburgh.

Instead of flying out to South Africa, Jones was left at home to undergo rehabilitation for what was believed to be a Tour-ending injury as Conor Murray was named captain in his place.

But Warren Gatland’s trusted lieutenant made an astounding recovery as he returned to the Tour and matched Lions legend Graham Price’s achievement of playing 12 consecutive Tests.

2017/2013 Sam Warburton (Lion #800, Wales) v New Zealand & Australia

Sam Warburton joined a very exclusive club during the 2017 Tour to New Zealand, as he became only the second man to captain The British & Irish Lions twice.

He joined fellow Lions legend Martin Johnson in accomplishing that feat, but went one better than the former England lock, and stands as the only Lions captain in history to have avoided defeat on two Tours.

2017 Peter O’Mahony (Lion #832, Ireland) v New Zealand

Peter O’Mahony capped a magnificent return to form and fitness in 2017 by captaining the British & Irish Lions in the first Test against New Zealand.

The flanker, who had already captained Ireland and Munster, deputised for the injured Sam Warburton at Eden Park.

2013 Alun Wyn Jones (Lion #761, Wales) v Australia

Alun Wyn Jones left New Zealand in 2017 as the first player in the professional era to play in nine consecutive British & Irish Lions Tests after colossal performances in the drawn series against the All Blacks.

But his greatest hour in the famous red jersey came in Australia in 2013 when he captained the Lions in place of the injured Sam Warburton in the decisive third Test to seal a first series win in 16 years.

2009 Paul O’Connell (Lion #738, Ireland) v South Africa

Paul O’Connell has been an integral part of three Lions Tours (2005, 2009 & 2013) and was skipper on the 2009 Tour of South Africa.

Sir Ian McGeechan rewarded the Irish international with the armband for the Test squad – becoming the first Irish forward to lead the Lions against the Springboks since the great Willie John McBride in 1974.

Many applauded his leadership qualities as the reason for the Lions’ win in the third and final Test in Johannesburg against the Boks but they lost the series 2-1.

2005 Gareth Thomas (Lion #747, Wales) v New Zealand

Gareth Thomas is one of the most-capped Welsh players of all-time, making 100 appearances in all.

He was only selected for one Lions Tour, the 2005 trip to New Zealand and, following an injury to Brian O’Driscoll in the opening minutes of the first Test against New Zealand, was made captain for the second and third Tests, becoming the ninth Welsh skipper in Lions’ history.

2005 Brian O’Driscoll (Lion #697, Ireland) v New Zealand

Brian O’Driscoll is one of only three players to have gone on four British & Irish Lions Tours.

The second most capped international player in history announced himself on to the world stage at the age of 22 in the 2001 Tour of Australia with a world-class try in the first Test victory.

He went on to captain the Lions in the 2005 Tour but his Test series was ended prematurely by injury.

2005 Michael Owen (Lion #726, Wales) v Argentina

Michael Owen made his British & Irish Lions debut against Argentina in 2005, when he captained the side, and played six games during the Tour to New Zealand that year.

The match against the Pumas was the first Lions Test to take place outside the touring country – with the game played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff – and Owen led the team to a 25-25 draw from the No.8 position.

2001/1997 Martin Johnson (Lion #658, England) v Australia & South Africa

Martin Johnson made history on the 2001 Tour to Australia when he became the first man to captain the British & Irish Lions twice, having already done so on the trip to South Africa four years prior.

He led the Lions to a 2-1 Test series victory over the Springboks in 1997 and was just the second man, after Willie John McBride in 1974, to accomplish that feat in the 20th century.

That iconic series win was formed on team mentality and work ethic – with Johnson as the focal point – and the towering English lock toured with the Lions three times in all, having also been part of the 1993 series against New Zealand.

1993 Gavin Hastings (Lion #606, Scotland) v New Zealand

Having first played for the British & Irish Lions against a Rest of the World XV in 1986, Gavin Hastings was part of the victorious 1989 Tour to Australia – scoring a try in the second Test – before captaining the Lions in New Zealand four years later.

The Scot played in six consecutive Test matches across the 1989 and 1993 Tours and skippered the Lions to a brilliant 20-7 victory over the All Blacks in the second Test in Wellington in 1993, although they would go on to lose the Test series 2-1.

A prolific goal-kicker from full-back, Hastings scored more than 150 points in a Lions jersey during his career.

1989 Finlay Calder (Lion #613, Scotland) v Australia

Finlay Calder holds a unique place in British & Irish Lions history as the only 20th century captain to lead the team to a series victory after losing the opening Test, doing so in 1989.

Having been defeated 30-12 by Australia in the first Test, Calder – with his steely gaze – was a crucial influence in the subsequent victories in Brisbane and Sydney that ensured a 2-1 series triumph.

The Scottish flanker followed in the footsteps of his brother Jim, who went on the 1983 Tour to New Zealand, making them the only twins to play for the Lions.

1986 Colin Deans (Lion #594, Scotland) v Rest of the World XV

Colin Deans impressed in a British & Irish Lions jersey on the 1983 Tour to New Zealand, scoring tries in consecutive matches prior to the fourth Test.

But the Scottish hooker was surprisingly kept on the bench for the entirety of the Test series, as the All Blacks triumphed 4-0 against the tourists.

Deans did captain the Lions in their 1986 contest against a Rest of the World XV at Cardiff Arms Park, as part of the IRB’s centenary celebrations, with ‘The Rest’ edging that game 15-7.

1983 Ciaran Fitzgerald (Lion #579, Ireland) v New Zealand

Ciaran Fitzgerald captained the British & Irish Lions on their 1983 Tour to New Zealand – starting all four Tests against the All Blacks and making 11 appearances in total.

The Ireland hooker had skippered his country to Five Nations glory in 1983, prompting manager Willie John McBride and coach Jim Telfer to hand him the Lions captaincy, and he performed admirably despite the All Blacks winning the Test series 4-0.

1980 Bill Beaumont (Lion #548, England) v South Africa

Current World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont became the first Englishman to captain the British & Irish Lions since Douglas Prentice 1930 when he led the Tour to South Africa in 1980, with the hosts claiming a 3-1 victory overall.

After beginning his rugby career as a 17-year-old at Fylde in 1969, the lock played his entire career with the Lancashire-based side until injury forced his retirement in 1982.

Beaumont earned 34 caps for England in his career, captaining the Red Rose in 21 of those appearances, and led them to Five Nations Championship Grand Slam glory in 1980.

1977 Phil Bennett (Lion #506, Wales) v New Zealand

1977 captain Phil Bennett was renowned for having one of the most dazzling sidesteps in rugby, with the fleet-footed fly-half leaving defenders bamboozled on many an occasion.

The Welshman formed a deadly partnership with scrum-half Gareth Edwards for the British & Irish Lions and for their country, with both starring in the unbeaten Tour to South Africa in 1974.

Bennett took the armband for the following Tour of New Zealand in 1977, but was unable to repeat the feat as Lions went down 3-1, despite finishing top scorer in the Tests with 18 points to his name.

1974 Willie John McBride (Lion #433, Ireland) v South Africa

The honour of captaining the most successful British & Irish Lions side of all time goes to Irishman Willie John McBride, who led his side to a 3-0 landslide victory in South Africa in 1974.

A veteran of five Lions tours and an inspirational leader, McBride earned a remarkable 17 caps over a 12-year spell, with his first Tour also to South Africa back in 1962.

The imposing lock also featured in 1966 and 1968, before a standout performance in the first and only Lions tour victory in New Zealand in 1971, after which he received an MBE for his services to the game.

1971 John Dawes (Lion #487, Wales) v New Zealand

Centre John Dawes is the only man to have led The British & Irish Lions on a victorious Tour to New Zealand, guiding the tourists to a 2-1 triumph in 1971 after drawing the final Test 14-14 in Auckland.

Those were the Welshman’s only four Lions Test caps, but he certainly made his impression after leading from the front to keep the All Blacks at bay throughout.

Dawes, who returned to New Zealand as Lions coach in 1977, also never lost to England during his international career, as well as leading Wales to 1971 Five Nations Grand Slam victory.

1968 Tom Kiernan (Lion #428, Ireland) v South Africa

Full-back Tom Kiernan led The British & Irish Lions on the 1968 Tour of South Africa, and despite losing the series 3-0, he emerged as top Test points scorer with 35 to his name.

The Irishman also featured on the 1962 Tour, before leading the side out six years later, but never managed to claim a win in a Lions jersey, with a 6-6 draw in the 1968 second Test in Port Elizabeth the closest he came to victory.

Kiernan’s nephew, Mike, also featured three times on the Lions Tour of New Zealand in 1983.

1966 David Watkins (Lion #455, Wales) v New Zealand

Welshman David Watkins led the British & Irish Lions twice on the 1966 Tour of New Zealand, also featuring in the side that toured Australia during the same trip, with the series against the All Blacks ending in a 4-0 defeat.

Born in Blaina, Monmouthshire, Watkins played both Rugby Union and Rugby League during an illustrious career, representing his country in both derivatives of the game.

A year after the Tour to New Zealand, Watkins switched codes to play for Salford, where he made over 400 appearances, as well as six for Great Britain.

1966 Mike Campbell-Lamerton (Lion #413, Scotland) v New Zealand and Australia

Mike Campbell-Lamerton will go down in British & Irish Lions history as the skipper who gave up his Test place because he believed he didn’t merit selection.

After playing in both Tests against the Wallabies and the opening rubber against the All Blacks in 1966, the physically-imposing Scotsman put the team before his own individual aspirations by handing over the captaincy to David Watkins for the second and fourth Tests in New Zealand.

1962 Dickie Jeeps (Lion #371, England) v South Africa

Dickie Jeeps is a rare breed having represented The British & Irish Lions before being selected for England, and the scrum-half went on to amass 13 caps across three Tours – a record only beaten by Willie John McBride since.

Jeeps toured Australia and New Zealand in 1959 in between trips to South Africa in 1955 and 1962, being made captain during the latter when Arthur Smith was ruled out of the final Test.

1962 Arthur Smith (Lion #365, Scotland) v South Africa

Having burst onto the international scene by spearheading Scotland to a win over Wales that ended his country’s run of 17 straight defeats, Arthur Smith duly earned British & Irish Lions recognition later in 1955 with a place on the Tour to South Africa.

When the Lions next returned to South Africa seven years later, they did so with Smith as captain, with the mazy winger playing in the first three Tests before missing the final match through injury.

1959 Ronnie Dawson (Lion #388, Ireland) v New Zealand and Australia

Hooker Ronnie Dawson captained The British & Irish Lions on their 1959 Tour, taking the reins in six Tests – a record that was later equalled by Martin Johnson – as they won 2-0 in Australia and lost 3-1 in New Zealand.

The Irishman was unavailable in 1962, although he did Tour as an assistant manager in South Africa six years later. In 2013, he was inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

1955 Robin Thompson (Lion #367, Ireland) v South Africa

Robin Thompson was deemed by some to be a surprise choice as captain for the Tour to South Africa in 1955 – his only involvement with the British & Irish Lions.

But the Ireland lock was a key cog in the engine room as they drew the four-Test series with the Springboks 2-2, starting the first two matches and returning for the fourth and final clash after missing the third through injury.

1955 Cliff Morgan (Lion #363, Wales) v South Africa

Described during the 1955 British & Irish Lions Tour as the best fly-half ever to visit South Africa, Cliff Morgan ranks as one of the top No.10s ever to come out of Britain or Ireland.

The renowned Cardiff playmaker appeared in all four Tests during the 2-2 series draw with the Springboks, and became the only Welshman to captain the Lions to a Test victory in South Africa when he led the side in the third rubber at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

1950 Bleddyn Williams (Lion #353, Wales) v New Zealand and Australia

Known as ‘The Prince of Centres’, Bleddyn Williams became the first Welshman to captain the British & Irish Lions for 40 years when he led the team out for the third Test against New Zealand in 1950.

In all, Williams – born in Taff’s Well – skippered the Lions on three occasions and marked the last of those games with a try against Australia in Brisbane.

Williams featured in 20 of the 29 fixtures in the near four-month tour of New Zealand and Australia, scoring 13 tries and showcasing his superb all-round game in midfield.

1950 Karl Mullen (Lion #333, Ireland) v Australia & New Zealand

Having already led Ireland to their first ever Grand Slam, two Triple Crowns and two International Championship titles, hooker Karl Mullen was perhaps the natural choice to captain the Britis & Irish Lions on their first Tour after the Second World War.

A consultant gynaecologist by trade, Mullen’s genial nature helped the tourists endear themselves to the public in New Zealand and Australia.

He missed two matches against New Zealand through injury but returned to help the Lions defeat Australia and also coached the forwards throughout the Tour.

1 938 Sam Walker (Lion #311, Ireland) v South Africa

Belfast-born Sam Walker, a product of Instonians RFC in the Northern Irish capital, encouraged an open, attacking style which endeared the British & Irish Lions to South African crowds in 1938.

The prop kept spirits up in an injury-hit touring camp and captained the side in all three Tests against South Africa, who won an entertaining series 2-1, as well as in 17 invitational fixtures around the country.

1936 Bernard Gadney (Lion #283, England) v Argentina

1936 saw The British & Irish Lions tour South America for the final time and Bernard Gadney was installed as captain for the trip.

Lion #283 Gadney led the touring party to 10 wins from as many matches, with 399 points scored and just 12 conceded, including a 23-0 win over Argentina.

The Oxford-born scrum-half later served as an Officer in the Royal Navy during World War II and was the first player to be inducted into the Museum of Rugby’s Wall of Fame shortly after his death, aged 91, in 2000.

1930 Carl Aarvold (Lion #230, England) v New Zealand

Centre Carl Aarvold captained The British & Irish Lions to their sole Test victory on the 1930 Tour, a 6-3 triumph in Dunedin.

He led the team on eight occasions in all, having also been part of the 1927 Lions squad in Argentina, and played a starring role in the team – top scoring with nine tries across the Tour.

He would later go on to enjoy an illustrious career as a barrister, presiding at the 1965 trial of the Kray twins, and was knighted in 1968.

1930 Doug Prentice (Lion #276, England) v Australia & New Zealand

A Leicester RFC stalwart, Doug Prentice led The British & Irish Lions in 12 matches on the 1930 Tour to Australia and New Zealand at the age of 34.

The Tour is widely regarded as the first to feature a truly representative British Isles team and Prentice’s leadership skills made him the ideal candidate to captain the squad.

He later managed the Lions on the 1936 Tour of Argentina as well as serving as an RFU secretary.

1927 David MacMyn (Lion #249, Scotland) v Argentina

David MacMyn, born in Kirkcudbright, captained The British & Irish Lions on an unbeaten Tour of Argentina in 1927.

The tourists won all four Tests against Argentina – three of them to nil – with MacMyn scoring in three of them.

MacMyn remained involved with the game after his retirement, serving as a selector and president of the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU).

1924 Ronald Cove-Smith (Lion #201, England) v South Africa

British & Irish Lion #201 Ronald Cove-Smith captained the Lions for the 1924 Tour to South Africa, where the term Lions originated as a nickname given by journalists due to the beast featuring on their official ties.

Cove-Smith appeared the perfect man for the job, having not tasted defeat in his 13 international appearances for England prior to the visit to South Africa.

Unfortunately for the lock, who would go on to captain England to the Grand Slam in 1928, the Tour would turn out to be extremely difficult as they won nine of the 21 games and failed to win any of the four Tests.

In what was the first Tour after World War I, injury ran rife through the squad, especially in its goalkickers.

1910 John Raphael (Lion #164, England) v Argentina

The year 1910 saw two Tours take place simultaneously, one in South Africa and the other in Argentina to mark the 100th anniversary of the Revolucion de Mayo, with England full-back John Raphael captaining the latter side.

Raphael’s side won all six matches, including Argentina’s first ever Test on 12 June 1910.

The Belgian-born sportsman, who has been described as having a ‘beautiful kick’ and ‘good turn of speed’ had before that played nine times for England was also a strong cricketer and he made 77 first-class appearances for Surrey and Oxford University. Raphael died due to wounds sustained at the Battle of Messines in World War I.

1910 Tommy Smyth (Lion #183, Ireland) v South Africa

British & Irish Lion #183 Tommy Smyth captained the outfit on the 1910 Tour to South Africa, having impressed for Ireland in the years prior to that.

Smyth, though, missed out on the first Test due to injury as the Lions were defeated 14-10. He returned for the second Test, where the tourists put in an outstanding performance to secure their first win over the Springboks in South Africa since 1896.

The Lions lost the decider but they and Smyth, who was the first of ten Irish Tour skippers, had made their mark.

1910 Jack Jones (Lion #132, Wales) v South Africa

In the absence due to injury of Tour skipper Tommy Smyth in the opening Test of the 1910 Tour Jack Jones, affectionately known as The Prince of Centres, led the side out.

The only survivor from the 1908 Tour of Australia and New Zealand, Jones reached the top of the Lions appearances table at the time with 41 – levelling Englishman Frank Stout.

Jones also made 14 appearances for Wales while his brothers David and James both also played for Wales – making them one of only two families to ever provide three brothers to the international side.

1908 Boxer Harding (Lion #111, Wales) v New Zealand

Arthur ‘Boxer’ Harding, a surprisingly nimble forward possessing good passing and kicking attributes, was first chosen for Wales 1902 where he faced England at Blackheath.

He later was chosen to face the Original All Blacks on New Zealand’s first tour of Britain in 1905 after making his first Lions Tour appearance in 1904. Four years later, Harding was chosen to captain the Lions on their 26-match Tour of Australia and New Zealand, where the tourists won 19 of the 26 contest but none of the three Tests.

1904 Teddy Morgan (Lion #114, Wales) v Australia & New Zealand

Welsh international wing Teddy Morgan took over the captaincy on the 1904 Tour of Australia and New Zealand after original choice David Bedell-Sivright broke his leg in the opening game.

In a highly successful Tour, The British & Irish Lions won all three Tests against Australia but lost the contest with the All Blacks.

Morgan, who made 16 appearances for Wales, is believed to have led his team in singing the Welsh national anthem in response to the All Blacks’ haka during the 1905 tour of the Original All Blacks to Britain – the first time a national anthem had been sung at a sporting event.

1904 David Bedell-Sivright (Lion #86, Scotland) v New Zealand & Australia

Regarded as one of rugby’s original enforcers, David Bedell-Sivright earned his reputation as a fearsome competitor and leader in large part due to his captaincy in 1904.

His bruising performances for Scotland after making his international debut in 1900 earned him his first British & Irish Lions call-up in 1903 to South Africa, where injury robbed him of a Test cap.

Bedell-Sivright would return as skipper a year later for the trip to Australia and New Zealand, making one Test appearance before injury struck again as a broken leg ended his Tour.

He continued to lead Scotland on his return from his second Lions Tour, helping his country to a 6-0 victory against South Africa in 1906 before retiring from international duty.

1903 Mark Morrison (Lion #93, Scotland) v South Africa

Described by South African adversary Jimmy Sinclair as “a real roughhouse of a man, and a great leader”, Mark Morrison was chosen as captain for the 1903 Tour to South Africa.

A no-nonsense forward forged in Scotland, Morrison made 19 appearances during the two-month Tour but his efforts were not enough to prevent the Lions losing the Test series 1-0.

Morrison also held the Scotland record for the most appearances by a captain (15) for 60 years, leading his country to Home Nations Championship wins in 1901, 1903 and 1904.

1899 Frank Stout (Lion #77, England) v Australia

While not named as the original captain for the 1899 Tour to Australia, Frank Stout took on the honour from Matthew Mullineux after The British & Irish Lions lost the first Test.

Under his leadership, the tourists went on to triumph in the final three Tests and win the series 3-1 overall, with Stout finishing the Tour with 21 appearances and four tries in total.

The England international forward, who won 14 caps for his country, was also selected for the 1903 Tour to South Africa and once again played in every Test for the tourists.

1899 Matthew Mullineux (Lion #63, England) v Australia

British & Irish Lion #63 Matthew Mullineux had his first taste of the famous red jersey in 1896 on the Tour to South Africa, with the scrum-half featuring in one Test.

His influence ramped up significantly for his second Lions trip three years later, taking to the field in Australia as captain and Tour manager, playing ten games including the first Test.

After the Wallabies triumphed 13-3 in the series opener, Mullineux dropped himself in favour of Charlie Adamson and the Lions went on the win 3-1 under the leadership of Frank Stout.

Mullineux had also scored four tries in 12 matches on the 1896 Tour to South Africa before going on to earn the Military Cross during the First World War as a chaplain in the British Army.

1896 Johnny Hammond (Lion #30, England) v South Africa

The original captain for the 1896 Tour to South Africa, British & Irish Lion #30 Johnny Hammond enjoyed an extensive career in the famous red jersey despite never playing for England.

He went on his first Tour in 1891 to South Africa, playing all 20 games on that trip including the three Tests as the Lions returned home unbeaten.

Hammond was then named skipper five years later as the Lions secured a 3-1 series victory, although injury meant he only played in two of the Tests as Tom Crean took over.

His third and final Tour was also to South Africa in 1903, this time as a team manager.

1896 Tom Crean (Lion #53, Ireland) v South Africa

The honour of captaining The British & Irish Lions on the 1896 Tour to South Africa was bestowed on Thomas Crean after Johnny Hammond suffered an injury early in the trip.

The Irishman played 21 times on the Tour in total, including in all four Tests, as he guided the tourists to a 3-1 series victory – even scoring a try in the second match with the Springboks.

In addition to his success with the Lions, Crean also featured nine times for Ireland before fighting in both the Second Boer War and World War One, earning the Victoria Cross.

1891 Bill Maclagan (Lion #32, Scotland) v South Africa

One of the longest-serving international rugby players during the early development of the sport, Bill Maclagan played 25 times for Scotland between 1878 and 1890.

He went on to lead The British & Irish Lions on the 1891 Tour to South Africa, scoring eight tries in 19 appearances on the trip and helping the Lions to a 3-0 series victory.

His 13 seasons of international rugby was a Scottish record for 60 years and his contribution to the game was recognised in 2009 with his induction into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

1888 Andrew Stoddart (Lion #13, England) v New Zealand & Australia

Andrew Stoddart played ten times for England – captaining the Red Rose on four occasions – and was also a gifted sporting all-rounder, playing international cricket and impressing at Australian Rules football.

He wasn’t the initial captain for the 1888 Lions Tour to New Zealand and Australia but, as one of only three other players on the trip with previous international experience, he took over the role when Robert Seddon tragically died a boating accident halfway through the Tour.

Stoddart has the perhaps unique distinction of captaining England in three different sports – rugby, cricket and Aussie Rules – as well as skippering the first-ever Barbarians team and he met future wife Emily Luckham while on Tour with the Lions.

1888 Robert Seddon (Lion #11, England) v New Zealand & Australia

As one of only four players with international experience on the first ever British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia and New Zealand, Robert Seddon was an obvious pick to lead the tourists.

The England forward was an automatic selection for Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw in 1888 and he earned the respect of all of his teammates with his leadership on and off the field.

His story ended in tragedy though as Seddon drowned while sculling on the Hunter River halfway through the Tour, with Andrew Stoddart taking over the captaincy of the Tour.

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Measuring success for British & Irish Lions tour more than just winning

Andy Farrell is focused on the end result in Australia but series also represents a major cultural and commercial enterprise

W hat is the best measure of success for a British & Irish Lions tour? The three men with a seat at the top table during Andy Farrell’s inaugural press conference on Thursday had their own answer. For Farrell, it is all about the score in the Test series. The rest, the warm‑up Test, the tour games, are all just part of the preparation.

“It is about being successful,” he said over and over again. The rest of it, which he described as the “brand of rugby” and “all those bits”, are someone else’s business. Farrell is in it for the winning, same as he has been ever since he made his rugby league debut for Wigan in 1991.

As the Lions chairman, Ieuan Evans, said, “that hunger, that determination to get over the line” seems to “ooze from Andy’s every pore”. Farrell is a hard man and listening to him talk you felt sure his side of the business is in good hands. He was not interested in questions about how crowded the schedule is, queries about whether he had enough time to work in, whether he was worried about being able to pick players from France’s Top 14 or if he was confident the team would be ready for the first Test. A Lions tour, he said, is a matter of whether you’ve “got the minerals” to win or not. Simple as that.

“You know, back in the day and not too long ago, teams were playing for five trophies and the backlog of games they had was astounding compared to what we have now,” he said. “And did they complain? They didn’t complain. Because that’s how it was. Since then things have changed and people can have an excuse or a whinge, but this is touring in its purest form and for me it’s how touring should be. There’s no excuses not to be ready for that first Test match.”

If the Lions do lose it, well, “if you can’t pick yourself up off the floor you’re the wrong type of character anyway”.

Then there is the Lions’ CEO, Ben Calveley, who used to work for UK Sport, then the Six Nations and the Rugby Football Union. Calveley could not help himself talking about the Lions as a “property” rather than a team. He seemed most exercised by the idea of the deal they may strike for their next behind-the-scenes documentary of the tour. There is more appetite than ever for this sort of material, with Netflix launching its Six Nations documentary on Monday. As Calveley pointed out, the Lions have been doing it since 1997. “We will want to do something in ’25 that brings the fans as close to the action as they possibly can.”

He said it was not clear what form the documentary would take. “But the key for us is that we won’t want to do something the same as every other sporting property or just repeat what we’ve done on previous tours.”

Calveley’s pitch for the streaming services is that the Lions “can reach parts of the sports-loving public that other properties can’t and we’ve got to harness that for the good of the game”. By his measures, the grim 2021 tour to South Africa , held in the height of the pandemic, counted as a triumph on the grounds that “we saw record numbers of engagement from the fans, virtually”.

Last of all there was Evans, whose career spanned three Lions tours across the amateur and professional eras, and knows better than Calveley, and perhaps better than Farrell, too, that there is more to it than numbers, whether they are the ones the Lions rack up in those three Test matches or the sort that come with a pound sign in front of them and a lower-case “m” at the end. The Lions need to win, and to make money doing it, in order to exist, but they do not exist in order to do either. A Lions tour is a matter of hearts, minds and good times. It is the game’s great coming together.

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Evans spoke about performance and the need to win the Tests from the point of view of a man who won two of the series he played in but lost a third, 2-1 to the All Blacks, when they let a 10-0 lead slip in the deciding match.

“I remember the ’93 tour as one that got away, one we should have won, and one of my biggest disappointments in life. And I don’t want these players to look back on their tour and think: ‘That’s one that got away,’ because that is the worst feeling in the world.”

But he spoke, too, about the ethos behind the Lions and the idea that it is more than just another handful of matches in the professional calendar. It is a fillip for the sport and everyone in it.

“The Lions is not a development tour, but development is a by-product of being on that tour,” he said. “You come back as a better player because the environment demands it. Your fellow players demand it of you, the coaches demand it of you, the opposition demands it of you, the scrutiny demands it of you. Whoever goes will come back better for it.”

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Why 2025 Super Bowl Must Feature Detroit Lions against Houston Texans

Two teams had different approach to free agency this offseason.

• Author: John Maakaron

In this story:

I just need to see it.

The answers to a growing debate lie in a Super Bowl 59 matchup between the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans.

This offseason, the Lions continued their approach of targeting players who meet the exact criteria the front office and coaching has decided will be deployed when targeting external free agents.

Detroit did not target high-priced, big-name free agents that several fans would have raved about.

Holmes and Co. did not feel trading draft capital and giving Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed a long-term contract was in the best interests of the organization .

Houston, meanwhile, just traded for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Texans general manager Nick Caserio has clearly pushed the chips into the middle of the table, with the hopes of capitalizing on a successful 2023 season.

Notably, Houston also signed veteran defensive linemen Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry and traded for running back Joe Mixon in free agency.

Two opposing views are clearly on display.

A Super Bowl matchup would answer which general manager made the right decisions in free agency and help to settle if drafting and developing is the best strategy to win or is going "all-in" the right approach when the opportunity presents itself.

Holmes has remained steadfast in his belief that his method is one that will reward Lions' fans with a Lombardi Trophy and will sustain success over a long period of time.

. @DetroitPodcast shared his thoughts on the difference between the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions regarding their Free Agency approach. #OnePride How long is the Detroit #Lions window for success open for? pic.twitter.com/4NGfsow0pW — Crunch Time with Jeff Iafrate & Booner (@officialctpod) April 4, 2024

“Just feel really good. And, you know, our number one choices, that’s our number one choices. There’s 31 other teams, 31 other boards. Our number one choices are probably not those other number one choices," Holmes told Fox 2 at the annual league meetings. "But it’s for our palate, and those were our number one choices.

Holmes continued, "I have a lot of faith and conviction in our process because we go through every single scenario. We go through the, man, ‘Do we add just this one $30 million player?’ We go through that scenario. We look at that and we go, ‘That’s just not gonna make sense for us for right now and the future.’ So we go through all of it and the best scenario for us and the players that we truly wanted, being able to get it, but it surely came from the preparation process.”

Admittedly, I am jealous of the Texans and their free agency approach .

It is not to say the Texans will automatically get past all the powerhouses in the AFC and be handed a Super Bowl win.

But other teams, like the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, have used free agency and trade deadline deals to upgrade their rosters ahead of strong playoff pushes and Super Bowl wins.

Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt, but 2024 will be a crucial litmus test for an organization that just appeared in the NFC Championship game.

“It’s the best player for us. It’s kind of what I was saying about the free agency. Yeah, we were able to get our plan A’s for us. We will get the best player for us, and that’s what’s so great about the draft, it’s 31 other teams," said Holmes. "The best player for us may not be the best player for those other teams.

"But if you look at it from a behavioral economics standpoint, if you’re shopping for some wine, the most expensive bottle of wine may not be the best tasting wine for your palate. You know? What’s the best tasting wine for our palate? That’s how we operate. We don’t really care what anybody else thinks. That’s how we operate and we’re gonna continue to go.”

The two teams have taken different approaches, but eventually could wind up competing against each other for the ultimate prize.

A matchup in the regular season could garner added attention or be slotted in primetime, as both figure to have winning records by the time they square off against each other in Houston.

While the Texans have won the offseason and garnered a lot of positive headlines, Detroit could have their opportunity to cement their legacy by capping off their rebuild with a Super Bowl win over the emerging AFC squad.

Though they are taking different avenues, the Lions and Texans are hopefully on a collision course to next year's Super Bowl.

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Lions to select best available player in 2024 NFL Draft

DETROIT -- The  Detroit Lions  have employed a distinct strategy over the past three NFL drafts.

It's one that has allowed the franchise to land five Pro Bowl players ( Penei Sewell , Aidan Hutchinson , Jahmyr Gibbs , Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta ) in that span, with Sewell -- the seventh overall pick in 2021 -- and St. Brown -- a fourth-round selection in 2021 -- also earning first-team AP All-Pro honors for the 2023 season.

This year, Detroit holds the 29th overall pick, and Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell say they have no plans to change their approach -- regardless of team needs.

"You guys know us by now. We're just gonna pick the best player [available]," Holmes said at last month's league meetings. "I know it's always, everybody wants to say, 'It's needs, needs, needs ... you gotta get needs' ... and it's a lot of appreciation for our process for free agency because I did always say about the whole needs train. Free agency is a time to do that.

"Free agency is a time to pull out the depth chart and start plugging holes and all that kind of stuff, but you guys have heard me talk openly about it. But when it comes to the draft, you can really make some mistakes when you're trying to reach for a need and you're missing out on really impact players."

This offseason, the biggest roster needs for the Lions were at cornerback, edge rusher, defensive tackle, offensive guard and a potentially a wide receiver after losing veteran receiver Josh Reynolds , who inked a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos  after free agency opened last month.

The Lions were aggressive addressing them -- particularly on defense -- with the signings of former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader , veteran outside linebacker Marcus Davenport and former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson .

They also traded for Super Bowl winning cornerback Carlton Davis III from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  and re-signed veteran CB Emmanuel Moseley , who, despite appearing in just one game last season due to a knee injury, the Lions think can help the team when at full strength.

"I truly believe this was our best free agency haul that we've had since we've been here," Holmes said. "The reason why I say that is through our planning and process this year, we have these No. 1 targets, and we literally were able to get every single one of our No. 1 targets that we were out to get. It doesn't always work that way."

After a successful free agency, the Lions' preparation for this year's draft is no different than the past. There's no such thing as a perfect roster in the NFL, but Campbell said he's pleased with what they have so far.

"We're the best we've been in four years, and we feel like we've got a lot of those holes filled," he said.

He added: "Since we've been here, we've really man, draft the best player available. Don't let the ... 'man, we absolutely have to have a linebacker.' Don't let that ... just go for what you believe is gonna fit your team and what you feel like is the best player at the time," Campbell said at the league meeting. "And I don't think this year is any different.

"I think what's unique is those first two or three years, we did have a lot of holes, so it just naturally was like, 'Well, here we go, that worked out' because if you've got eight holes, your odds are pretty good that you're gonna get a guy that's gonna fill a hole."

The Lions allowed opponents to score a touchdown on 23% of their drives last year, which ranked 25th in the league. They also allowed 247.4 passing yards per game, which was the sixth-most in the NFL, while allowing 7.8 yards per attempt, which was second-most, and 34 completions of 20-plus air yards, which tied for second-most.

Additionally, the team released starting cornerback Cameron Sutton last month when they found out about a warrant for his arrest stemming from his alleged involvement in a domestic violence case .

With Sutton's absence, will the Lions to target a potential replacement in the draft? 

"Certainly, there's still some guys we're looking at in free agency that can bring in some competition and that may or may not be done before the draft," Campbell said of possibly adding another cornerback. "I know that it brings up a little more urgency for another player that can compete, but as far as everything else goes, we're ready to go into the draft and see if we come away with something in there."

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The best of Russian Capitals tour / 10D

►  Tours    ►  St Petersburg and Moscow tours   ► The best of Russian Capitals tour

  On this private tour, we have selected for you the best sights in the most popular tourist destinations in Russia: Moscow and St Petersburg. In Moscow, you will see the most iconic places in the Russian capital: Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills and Victory Park, as well as some of the most beautiful stations of the Moscow Metro. You will visit the main collection of Russian art in the country: the Tretyakov Gallery, and enjoy great views of the city from a cruise along the River Moscow. In addition to all this, you will also go to the VDNKh exhibition park, which will give you a taste of the Soviet Union with its many Soviet-era pavilions and spectacular monuments.

  You will get to St Petersburg via a high-speed train. In the Northern Capital, as St Petersburg is often called, you will visit the main sights in the city and two of the grandest imperial residences located just outside the city.  You will, of course, visit the famous Winter Palace where the tsars once resided and which now holds the State Hermitage Museum, and also see where most of the tsars were buried in the cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress. You will have a boat cruise around the city known as the Venice of the North due to its many canals and bridges and guided tours of two of the city’s cathedrals: the Saviour Cathedral on the Spilled Blood, which is wonderfully decorated with mosaics, and St Isaac’s Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in the world.

 From St Petersburg, you will have two trips. One to Pushkin (formerly Tsarkoe Selo) to visit the Catherine Palace and its famous Amber Rooms and the other to Peterhof to walk among the gardens of the estate, famous for its many fountains in various forms.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS TOUR

  You’ll see all the main sights of Moscow and St Petersburg in one trip. We included guided tours in the most iconic places of the cities such as the Moscow Kremlin, the State Hermitage Museum, and the Peterhof and Catherine Palaces (including the famous Amber Room).  You’ll get a sense of imperial, Soviet and modern Russia.

1 DAY | ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW

2 DAY | TOUR OF MOSCOW

  Breakfast in the hotel.

Victory Park - a memorial complex dedicated to the Second World War.  The main obelisk here is 141.8 metres symbolising the 1418 days of the Soviet Union’s participation in the Great Patriotic War as WWII is called in Russia.

Viewing Platform on Sparrow Hills - this is located opposite the main building of the Moscow State University - one of the buildings known as the Seven Sisters or Stalin’s Skyscrapers - and from here you can get a great view of central Moscow. 

Ulitsa Tverskaya - this is the main street in Moscow and in Soviet times it was completely renovated (and renamed in honour of Gorky) meaning that many of the buildings here are in the empire architectural style preferred by Stalin.

Novodevichy Convent - one of the oldest convents in Russia and it hasn’t changed much in terms of its architectural style over 500 years. It is protected by UNESCO.

Krutitskoe Podvorye - this unique corner of Moscow is like a time capsule taking you back centuries.

3 DAY | RED SQUARE AND MOSCOW KREMLIN

• Aleksandrovsky Gardens – city gardens located next to the kremlin which have several interesting statues.
• Red Square – Russia’s most famous and most beautiful square where you will find St Basil’s Cathedral.
• GUM - the Russian equivalent of Paris’s Galeries Lafayette or London’s Harrods with a Soviet atmosphere and an interesting history.
• Lenin’s Mausoleum – the resting place of the founder of USSR.
• Bolshoi Theatre – one of the most famous theatres in the world.
• Zaryadye Park - from here you can enjoy stunning views of the Kremlin from an artificial hill while also walking through a birch forest, swamp and tundra.
• Christ the Saviour Cathedral – the main cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Lubyanka Building – once the headquarters of the KGB, now home to the FSB.

4 DAY | SOVIET HERITAGE

  DAY 3 | ART AND ARCHITECTURE

5 day | train to st petersburg.

High-Speed train to St Petersburg , which takes about four hours.

Upon arrival in St Petersburg - transfer to your hotel.

6 DAY | TOUR OF ST PETERSBURG

• Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral – the oldest part of St Petersburg. The fortress’s cathedral is now a shrine holding the tombs of almost all emperors and empresses of Russia.
• Nevsky Prospekt – St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare.
• Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral – Russia’s equivalent of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, complete with a large colonnade.
• The Field of Mars – a memorial established after the Russian Revolution.
• Saviour on the Spilled Blood Cathedral (exterior) – a beautiful cathedral somewhat reminiscent of Moscow’s St Basil’s Cathedral, built on the site of the assassination of Emperor Alexander II.
• St Michael’s Castle (exterior) – a residence built for Emperor Paul, where he was subsequently assassinated.
• Anichkov Bridge – one of St Petersburg’s most beautiful bridges decorated with four statues of youths taming wild horses.
• Bronze Horseman – an equestrian statue of Peter the Great which has become a symbol of the city.
• St Isaac’s Cathedral – the largest cathedral in St Petersburg, the current version dates from 1818 and features a huge dome.

7 DAY | TOUR OF THE CATHERINE PALACE

8 DAY | TOUR OF PETERHOF 

9 DAY | ST PETERSBURG'S CATHEDRALS

10 DAY | DEPARTURE 

If you are departing Russia from Moscow we can organise for you train tickets from St Petersburg to Moscow and a transfer to the Moscow airport.

  DAY 10 | DEPARTURE ST

• The tour is available the whole year round starting on any day, but please take into account that the museum’s working hours and days-off vary so we reserve the right to change the itinerary while trying to save the excursion programme.
• Optional excursions should be booked before the start of the tour to schedule the itinerary.
• Transportation in Moscow, where travel by metro is designated, can be changed to a car upon request, but please note that the transport situation in Moscow is not very good, so you could get stuck in a traffic jam.
• Tickets to museums cannot be sold without an excursion with a guide.
• During state holidays and celebrations, Red Square may be closed (either partially blocked off or completely closed).
• The price of the tour may be increased during the period of the White Nights (11JUN-10JUL) and when the International Economic Forum (end of May or beggining of June) is being held in St Petersburg. Please check the price when booking.
• All excursions/guided tours included in the itinerary are private which means private guides and private transport along the programme - unless otherwise stated.
• Best time to travel on this route: from the end of April to mid-October and from December to mid-March.

•  CANCELLATION POLICY  •

Date of the tour, number of travellers, accommodation:.

• Private transport service according to the programme
• Private guide service according to the programme
• Second class tickets for the Premium train from Moscow to St Petersburg
• Entrance tickets to museums.
• Accommodation in a hotel of a category of your choice, central location, standard DBL rooms with breakfast.
• Russian local sim card with unlimited data
• 24h emergency support during the tour
• Visa support documents

• Plane tickets to/from Russia
• Tips for a guide or driver
• Meals (except breakfast)
• Evening performances such as the ballet at the Bolshoi.

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