1979 England rugby union tour of Japan, Fiji and Tonga explained

Team:England
Destination:Japan and South Pacific
Yearstart:1979
Matchplayed:7
Matchwon:7
Matchdraw:0
Matchlost:0
Testplayed:4[1]
Testwon:4
Testdraw:0
Testlost:0
Played1:2
Won1:2
Draw1:0
Lost1:0
Played2:1
Won2:1
Draw2:0
Lost2:0
Played3:1
Won3:1
Draw3:0
Lost3:0

In 1979 an rugby union touring team toured Japan, Fiji and Tonga. The tourists won all their seven matches, scoring 270 points and conceding only 93. Only the first international against was close, with Japan leading 19–15 going into injury time – a converted try by Peter Squires allowed England to win the match.

England did not award full international caps for the matches against Japan, Fiji and Tonga and the tourists played under the name of England XV rather than England in those games. The Welsh referee Clive Norling travelled with the party and refereed five of the matches. The leading tour points scorer was Huw Davies, with 60 points, and the leading try-scorers were John Carleton (9 tries) and Mike Slemen (7 tries).

The visit to Tonga was the first time that a major rugby nation had visited the country.

Matches

Scores and results list England's points tally first.

Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Status
Japan 'B' 36 7 10 May 1979 Tokyo Tour match
21 19 13 May 1979 Kintetsu Hanazono Stadium, Osaka First 'Test'
Kyūshū80 3 16 May 1979 Tour match
38 18 20 May 1979 Olympic Stadium, Tokyo Second 'Test'
Fiji Juniors 39 22 25 May 1979 Tour match
19 7 29 May 1979 National Stadium, Suva 'Test' Match
37 17 1 June 1979 Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nukualofa 'Test' Match

Touring party

Full back

Three-quarters

Half-backs

Forwards

References

Notes and References

  1. not official test-matches for Rugby Football Union