1979 Great Britain Lions tour explained

1979 Great Britain Lions tour
Date:25 May 1979 –
13 August 1979
Manager:Harry Womersley
Dick Gemmell
Coach:Eric Ashton
Captain:Doug Laughton
Top Point Scorer:John Woods (171)
Top Try Scorer:Steve Evans (16)
Matchplayed:27
Matchwon:21
Matchdraw:1
Matchlost:5
Testplayed:6
Testwon:2
Testdraw:0
Testlost:4
Played1:3
Won1:0
Draw1:0
Lost1:3
Played2:3
Won2:2
Draw2:0
Lost2:1
Previous:1974
Next:1984

The 1979 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 16th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1979. A total of 27 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.

Touring squad

In March 1979, a 30-man squad was selected for the tour, with Doug Laughton appointed as captain.[1] The squad included Widnes prop Jim Mills, who was banned from playing in New Zealand due to an incident in 1975 when Mills played for Wales against New Zealand.[2] Despite an appeal to overturn the ban, the International Board confirmed the ban would be upheld.[3]

After the squad was selected, John Bevan and Stuart Wright were forced to withdraw due to injury, and were replaced by Roy Mathias and David Barends.[4] Ken Kelly also suffered an injury shortly before the tour departed, and was replaced by John Holmes.[5]

NamePositionClubAppsTestsTriesGoalsDrop goalsPointsNotes
Forward 16 5 0 8 1 17
Back 16 2 10 0 0 30
Forward 9 0 0 0 0 0
Forward 14 5 4 0 0 12
Back 19 6 16 0 0 48
Back 10 5 3 18 1 46
Back 15 0 6 0 0 18
Forward 14 5 2 0 0 6
Forward 14 4 5 0 0 15
Back 13 6 1 2 0 7
Back 17 6 8 0 0 24
Forward 13 0 3 0 0 9
Back 14 6 6 0 0 18
Forward 5 1 0 0 0 0
Forward 11 0 1 0 0 3
Forward 12 1 1 0 0 3
Forward 5 0 3 0 0 9
Back 17 1 10 0 0 30
Forward 5 1 2 0 0 6
Back 3 0 0 4 0 8
Back 13 0 1 8 0 19
Back 6 0 2 0 0 6
Forward 13 6 2 0 0 6
Forward 9 2 0 0 0 0
Back 10 1 1 0 0 3
Forward 12 4 1 0 0 3
Back 11 3 4 0 0 12
Back 15 5 6 0 0 18
Forward 12 0 0 0 0 0
Back 7 1 2 0 0 6
Forward 11 6 0 0 0 0
Forward 12 1 2 0 0 6
Back 17 4 12 67 1 171

Results

Australia

Third Test

New Zealand

Third Test

Notes and References

  1. News: Fitzpatrick . Paul . Dyl left out of overseas tour . The Guardian . 28 March 1979 . London . 27 . .
  2. News: Fitzpatrick . Paul . New Zealand adamant on Mills ban . The Guardian . 29 March 1979 . London . 27.
  3. News: Fitzpatrick . Paul . Mills tour ban stands . The Guardian . 14 June 1979 . London . 24 . .
  4. News: Fitzpatrick . Paul . Replacements have right credentials . The Guardian . 11 May 1979 . London . 26 . .
  5. News: Holmes called up for tour . The Guardian . 21 May 1979 . London . 28 . .