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.
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' | ||
Kyūshū | 80 | 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 |