1968 British Lions tour to South Africa

In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not successful in terms of international results, the Lions losing the Test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their 16 non-international matches, losing only to Transvaal. The touring party was captained by Tom Kiernan, coached by Ronnie Dawson and managed by David Brooks. Star back Barry John broke his collar bone in a dangerous tackle in the first Test.[1][2]

1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
Date26 May  – 28 August
Coach(es)Ronnie Dawson
Tour captain(s)Ireland Tom Kiernan
Test series winners South Africa (3–0)
Top test point scorer(s)Ireland Tom Kiernan (35)
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
Summary
P W D L
Total
20 15 01 04
Test match
04 00 01 03
Opponent
P W D L
 South Africa
4 0 1 3

As well as South Africa, games were played against South West Africa (the future Namibia, then part of South Africa) and Rhodesia (the future Zimbabwe).

Unlike the previous two tours to South Africa (1955 and 1962), this British Lions team did not stop off in Nairobi, Kenya, to play East Africa on the way home. However, one member of this tour party was later to play against that team; in 1975 Peter Stagg was living in Zambia and playing rugby for the Ndola Wanderers RFC when the Tuskers visited and he played for Zambia in their first international on 31 August 1975 at Kitwe. Six of the squad would ultimately change codes and play professional rugby league, they are; Mike Coulman, Ken Goodall, Keith Jarrett, Keri Jones, Maurice Richards, and Bryan West.

Squad

Backs:

Forwards:

Bob Lloyd (Harlequins and England) was selected in the original touring team but had to withdraw because of exam commitments and was replaced by Jarrett.[3]

Results
Date Venue ScoreOppositionResult
18 May 1968 Potchefstroom Lions20–12 Western Transvaal Won
22 May 1968 Newlands, Cape Town Lions10–6 Western Province Won
25 May 1968 Mossel Bay Lions24–6 South West Districts Won
29 May 1968 Port Elizabeth Lions23–14 Eastern Province Won
1 June 1968 Durban Lions17–5Natal Won
3 June 1968 Salisbury Lions32–6Rhodesia Won
8 June 1968 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lions20–25 South Africa Lost
12 June 1968 Upington Lions25–5North West Cape Won
15 June 1968 Windhoek Lions23–0South West Africa Won
18 June 1968 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Lions6–14Transvaal Lost
22 June 1968 Port Elizabeth Lions6–6 South Africa Draw
29 June 1968 Springs Lions37–9 Eastern Transvaal Won
3 July 1968 Pretoria Lions22–19Northern Transvaal Won
6 July 1968 Kimberley Lions11–3 Griqualand West Won
8 July 1968 Wellington Lions14–0Boland Won
13 July 1968 Newlands, Cape Town Lions6–11 South Africa Lost
17 July 1968 East London Lions26–6Border Won
20 July 1968 Bloemfontein Lions9–3 Orange Free State Won
22 July 1968 Cradock Lions40–12North East Cape Won
27 July 1968 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Lions6–19 South Africa Lost

Matches
18 May 1968 Western Transvaal 12–20 Lions Potchefstroom  
Pen: Durandt (3), Blignaut Try: Telfer (2), Turner, Davies
Con: Kiernan
Pen: Kiernan (2)		 Referee: A. Bird
22 May 1968 Western Province 6–10 Lions Newlands, Cape Town  
Pen: van der Merwe, Naude Try: Savage, Richards
Con: Kiernan (2)		 Referee: Max Baise
25 May 1968 South Western Districts 6–24 Lions Mossel Bay  
Pen: Kromhout (2) Try: Hinshelwood (2), Taylor, Jones
Con: Hiller (3)
Pen: Hiller (2)		 Referee: W. C. Malan
29 May 1968 Eastern Province 14–23 Lions Port Elizabeth  
Try: Nortje
Con: Carelse
Pen: Carelse (2), Adlam		 Try: Hinshelwood, Hiller
Con: Hiller
Pen: Hiller (3)
Drop: Turner (2)		 Referee: C. de Bruyn
1 June 1968 Natal 5–17 Lions Kings Park, Durban  
Try: McIntosh
Con: Swanby		 Try: Edwards, Bresnihan, Turner, Richards
Con: Kiernan
Pen: Kiernan		 Referee: W. T. F. Lane
3 June 1968 Rhodesia 6–32 Lions Salisbury  
Try: Smith
Pen: Martin		 Try: O'Shea (2), Hinshelwood, Jarrett, Thomas
Con: Kiernan (2), Jarrett (2)
Pen: Kiernan, Jarrett
Drop: Gibson		 Referee: P. Robertse
8 June 1968 South Africa 25–20 Lions Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
Try: Naude, de Villiers, du Preez
Con: Visagie (2)
Pen: Visagie (2), Naude (2)		 Try: McBride
Con: Kiernan
Pen: Kiernan (5)		 Referee: Max Baise
12 June 1968 North West Cape 5–25 Lions Upington  
Try: Bruwer
Con: Basson		 Try: Hinshelwood, Turner, Young, Telfer, Gibson
Con: Hiller (2)
Pen: Hiller (2)		 Referee: J. P. J. Schoeman

References
  1. "Barry John: Profile". Lionsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  2. Slot, Owen (17 June 2017). "What it takes to be a Lions captain - by the men who have done it" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. Reason 1968, p. 34.
  • Thomas, Clem; Thomas, Greg (2005). The History of The British and Irish Lions. Mainstream Books. pp. 141–148. ISBN 1-84596-030-0.

Bibliography
  • Reason, John (1968). The 1968 Lions : the British Isles tour of South Africa. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode. ISBN 0413272400.
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