1975 lions tour

• Buy a gift voucher
• Redeem your gift voucher

From The Vaults

An exceptionally controversial tour in political terms, the success of the British and Irish Lions unbeaten tour of South Africa in the summer of 1974 is nevertheless regarded as one of the greatest achievements in northern hemisphere rugby.

Test Match Replacements

Of the 22 matches played in South Africa, 21 consecutive matches were won and the tourists' final match, the fourth test against the Springboks, was controversially drawn 13-all with a possible winning try for the Lions by the Irish flanker Fergus Slattery being denied by the referee in the final minutes. Unusually on a tour with so many outstanding players reaching the zenith of their careers, the Lions selectors only used 17 players in the four tests.

There was just one change in the backline when Andy Irvine, the Scottish full back, replaced Billy Steele on the right wing for the third and fourth tests. And in the forwards, there was just one enforced change after the Scottish second row forward, Gordon Brown, broke his right hand in the third test and was replaced by Chris Ralston [pictured] of England for the fourth test.

History has understandably concentrated on the stars of the test side. With the Welshmen JPR Williams at full back, JJ Williams on the wing, Phil Bennett at fly half and Gareth Edwards at scrum half, complemented by such legendary forwards as the Irish captain and second row forward Willie-John McBride, the props Ian 'Mighty Mouse' McLauchlan and Fran Cotton, and a back row led by Mervyn Davies, this was arguably the most formidable team ever to face South Africa on their home turf.

All successful tour parties in the era of long tours often lasting several months needed a supporting group of reserve players of sufficient calibre to step into the test side if needed and be committed to the aims of the tour party. By any standards the supporting players on the 1974 tour who did not appear in any of the test matches were a rare breed, and some of them remain among the greatest players produced by their countries.

English Lions

England were going through one of their traditional mixed patches in the mid-1970s but they had beaten South Africa, New Zealand and Australia over the previous two years. If Alan Morley, the Bristol winger who played two matches as a replacement late in the tour, and Geoff Evans, the Coventry centre, were less well known, Alan Old was a highly respected and experienced fly half. The presence of the Gloucester prop Mike Burton and the back row forwards, Tony Neary of Broughton Park and Andy Ripley [pictured] of Rosslyn Park, ensured that the Lions always fielded a competitive pack of forwards outside the test matches.

Only one Scotsman did not make the test side and he already occupied a legendary if most unlucky position in Lions tour history. Sandy Carmichael from the West of Scotland club would be Scotland's most capped player by the time he retired, but he was one of the two 1971 Lions props, Ireland's Ray McLoughlin being the other, who were so badly injured in the fractious victory against Canterbury before the first test that they took no further part in that historic tour. He played in ten provincial matches on the 1974 tour but was not able to break through into the test side.

Irish Captains

The 1974 Lions "reserve" team contained five Irishmen of whom three captained their country. In the backs, there were the lithe pacy winger Tom Grace, leading try scorer on the tour with 13 tries in 11 matches, the elusive scrum half and occasional winger John Moloney, and the great centre and former fly half Mike Gibson [pictured]. A veteran of the three previous Lions tours including twelve test matches, Gibson was called in as a replacement for the injured Alan Old midway through the tour. Remarkably none of these distinguished Irish captains could make the 1974 test side. In the forwards, the hooker Ken Kennedy, another veteran from the 1966 Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, and the flanker Stewart McKinney could not force their way in either.

The dominant side of the 1970s in the UK was Wales and they supplied six leading members of the 1974 test side. But there were three other Welshmen, worthy players if never superstars, who helped form the nucleus of this remarkable set of Lions support players - the London Welsh winger Clive Rees, the Llanelli centre Roy Bergiers, and the marauding Llanelli flanker Tom David.

The 1974 British and Irish Lions was unquestionably one of the greatest touring parties ever assembled, but it is fun to ponder whether this "reserve" Lions side, almost all in their original chosen positions, might even have defeated the Springboks in that test series. It was after all a time when Springbok rugby for many reasons, political and sporting, was at a low ebb.

Would even a Springbok side on home soil have fancied facing this team in a test match?

Mike Gibson (full back) - Clive Rees; Geoff Evans; Roy Bergiers; Alan Morley (three-quarters) - Alan Old (fly half); John Moloney (scrum half)

Mike Burton; Ken Kennedy; Sandy Carmichael (front row); Chris Ralston; Tom David (second row) - Tony Neary; Andy Ripley; Stewart McKinney (back row)

• Once were Lions - Jeff Connor & Martin Hannan (HarperSport 2009)
• A Statistical History of Springbok Rugby - Teddy Shnaps (Don Nelson Publishers 1989)
• The Unbeaten Lions - John Reason (Rugby Books, London 1974)
• Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1975-76 - Editor: Vivian Jenkins (Queen Anne Press Limited 1975)
• Scrapbooks and match spreadsheets in World Rugby Museum and Richard Steele Collections

About the Author

A professional musician and arts administrator, Richard Steele has been on the committee of the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham since 2005 and is the co-author of the RFU's 150th anniversary book England Rugby 150 Years.

18 July 2023

Uncapped half backs in Lions tests 1891-1939

30 July 2021

Remembering the Aston brothers and the 1891 Lions

12 July 2021

1971 Lions march on in New Zealand

Treat a Friend

Get the latest updates

50 Year Anniversary of 1974 Lions Tour

• June 08, 2024
• Ultimate Rugby

THE HISTORY 

They are not just an iconic rugby team, they are one of the greatest teams in world sport, ever. And today marks a very special anniversary for The British & Irish Lions.

Fifty years ago today, the legendary unbeaten 1974 team started their tour of South Africa.

They remain, half a century later, revered in Lions history and folklore. In 22 matches, they won 21 and drew one – the last Test match of the series – to become known as the ‘Invincibles’.

A feat that has yet to be matched, this Lions vintage heralded a new dawn for the Lions and laid the foundations for what they are today. Led by the brilliant Willie John McBride, this epic achievement is still regarded as the best tour in rugby history.

It’s what makes the Lions unique, special and unmatched. We are celebrating this incredible achievement and looking forward to watching the next chapter unfold in Australia next year.

This is why so many fans make the pilgrimage – in honour of the crest, the red jersey and their place in history. Your place awaits.

In this Article

Latest News

Never miss a try, transfer or tackle!

40 years on...The remarkable images that tell the story of the 'invincible' 1974 Lions who humiliated South Africa

On the 40th anniversary of the tour, we remember one of the most courageous teams who ever played the game

• 20:08, 18 JUN 2014
• Updated 12:26, 19 JUN 2014

Get the latest Welsh Rugby news analysis and interviews

We have more newsletters

They were the rugby team that pulverised and humiliated brutal South Africa in their own back yard.

Packed with Welsh legends like Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams JJ Williams, Mervyn Davies and Phil Bennett, the 1974 British Lions were dubbed the “Invincibles” after triumphing in 21 of 22 matches on their South African tour.

Now, on the 40th anniversary of the tour, a new book asks whether the success of the class of 74 puts them ahead of the Lions of 1971, whose series victory in New Zealand has never been repeated.

The 74 side, whose infamous “99 call” saw them match South African brutality punch for punch, were denied the honour of an historic whitewash by South African referee Max Baise, who blew up four minutes early with the Lions two metres from the South African try line.

However, it remains one of rugby's most remarkable achievements to this day.

Here, 40 years on, we've opened up the archives to tell the story of one of the most iconic Test series with these wonderful images.

This is the story of arguably the greatest ever rugby tourists - a group of men who mixed god-given rugby talent with almost unrivalled courage.

Pictures: The story of the 1974 Lions

More like this...

The most iconic rugby pictures in history

The 50 greatest rugby players of the modern era...Who comes out on top?

A backdrop of tragedy and unrest in 1974

The pressures brought to bear during the '74 tour were not only sporting.

The team, led by Willie John McBride, courted controversy by competing against a Springboks side that for many embodied the hated Apartheid state.

Just two years after the tour the regime shot protesting schoolchildren in Soweto as they demonstrated over the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools.

It’s thought 176 people were killed. Lifelong Welsh rugby fan and former First Minister Rhodri Morgan opposed the tour.

But Mr Morgan, who believes the achievement of McBride’s men does not quite match how the 71 Lions “conquered Everest”, said: “What you couldn’t help noticing was the huge amount of support the Lions had from the black population of South Africa.

“It changed the psychology of South Africa because the He-Man muscularity of the Springboks was at least equalled, if not pulverised from time to time, by the use of the 99 call.”

Labour MP for Neath Peter Hain, who orchestrated opposition, said the tour was a boost for the apartheid regime, which was the subject of ongoing sporting boycotts at the time.

Only former Welsh international John Taylor, who later became a rugby commentator, found he could not reconcile his sporting ambition with his conscience.

Hain said: “I spoke to Willie John McBride immediately before their departure and they were just completely resolute (about going).

“The one exception was John Taylor, who refused to go.”

Edwards admits the refusal to look beyond sport may sound “naive” and “selfish” to some, but adds: “The guys had decided they wanted to go and pit their wits against the best rugby players in the world and that’s what we did.”

Video: The legend of the '99' call

So, how do the 1974 Lions compare to the legends of '71?

Author Rhodri Davies’ book Undefeated – The Story of the 1974 Lions asks whether it’s time for the tour of South Africa to emerge from the shadows of Carwyn James’ 71 vintage and be recognised as the finest ever.

Davies said: “Their historic and iconic (71) series win was rightly lauded on its 40th anniversary, but it started me thinking about the subsequent tour – the 1974 Lions venture to South Africa – which if anything surpassed the feats of the 1971 vintage. Yet that tour has never been celebrated to the same extent. My question was why?”

Gareth Edwards, a key figure in both the New Zealand and South African success, says it’s impossible to choose between the teams.

Now in Ireland with team-mates from the 74 squad marking the 40th anniversary, Edwards said: “I don’t think you can compare like with like. Conditions were different in South Africa.

“For the forwards, the hard ground (in South Africa) made scrummaging very, very difficult,.

“And there’s the altitude – you have to play at 6,500ft in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein – which gave South Africa the advantage.”

Undefeated – The Story of the 1974 Lions is published by Y Lolfa today and priced £9.95.

Download our App: It's  totally free to download  -   simply click here to download to your iOS device  , or   click here to download it if you're on Android

• Rugby fun stuff
• Gareth Edwards
• JJ Williams
• JPR Williams
• Mervyn Davies
• Phil Bennett
• British and Irish Lions
• Most Recent

Press Enter or Return to begin your search.

Lions Tour – A story worth the wait

With an ever changing landscape as the pandemic rages on, one of the game's most iconic institutions seems under threat. Should they stay in the UK? Is it France? Or does that undermine the sanctity of all it stands for?

“Lions…., Lions…., Lions…”, echoed around the Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. The atmosphere was white hot on this particular South African Winter’s day in 2009. The world champion Springboks were 1-0 up against Paul O’Connell’s tourists after the “Beast” deconstructed the British & Irish Lions with a scrumming masterclass the week before in Durban. The Lions had come into the series with questions hanging over the future viability of the Lions after some substandard results from previous tours, this tour thankfully ended that conversation for good.

The second Test was officially the greatest live game I have ever watched, I have been very fortunate to attend some outstanding Test matches from a World Cup Final to the Springboks v The All Blacks, Tri-Nations games, Scotland v England, Six Nations games, Barbarians matches as well as many provincial and club finals and none of these can match this day. This particular Test was as brutal as you would see – perfectly summed up in the infamous Rossouw & O’Driscoll collision where nobody was giving an inch and the bone-crunching impact seemed to be felt by all watching. There were tries, some great running rugby, huge collisions all being played out in this cauldron of a sold-out stadium, all the ingredients for a classic Test match.  Both sides playing outstanding rugby with a dramatic late penalty by Morne Steyn sealing a Springbok win and series victory. It was an absolute privilege to be in attendance.

There is something extremely special about the British & Irish Lions, whether it is the history and tradition of the Lions, whether it is the fact that four countries come together to combine as one after knocking lumps out of each other year after year. Whether it is the fact that it is the rarity of the event in occurring every four years against a rugby calendar which seems to be much of the same, or just the plain fact that it is the last great rugby tour left, this is a tradition and tour that needs to be conserved. It has to be.

The Test series is key and let’s be honest, Test rugby is all about results, however with the Lions there seems to be more to it than just that. A Lions tour cannot only be judged on Tests, it equates to a good book – the actual story is so important not just the ending.  Whether it is an unlikely hero like Jeremy Davidson or Tom Smith on the 1997 tour, a fresh-faced O’Driscoll carving through the Wallaby backline in 2001, the 99 Call by arguably the greatest Test side of all time on the unbeaten 1974 tour to South Africa, or the classic controversial 2017 drawn series with the All Blacks, there are so many great memorable rugby moments involving this iconic side.

There are many threads to the Lions story, there are the mid-week or dirt tracker games – where local players get a chance to face an international side by representing their provincial side whether that be the Free State Cheetahs, the Hurricanes and Waratahs or teams like the Maori All Blacks or SA “A” providing a “fourth or unofficial” Test on tour. The true rugby fan still longs for the traditional tours, this is well documented however has become less likely due to professionalism, this has not stopped the demand and want for these types of tours.

A vital cog in the success of a Lions tour are the fans, there are, arguably no better fans without exception than Lions fans. The “sea of red” usually means away games feel like home games as these vocal supporters in their local club jerseys, replica red shirts and fancy dress outfits make the tour an unforgettable experience. The mixing of home and away fans is so special, whether in and around the stadiums over a pint, in fan parks with a song or two, a bit of banter at local rugby clubs or organised lunches & events. Some of my great memories include chatting to Fergus Slattery, Scott Hastings, Jason Leonard among other legends down at my local rugby club on the 1997 tour. Stories are shared and access to legends of the game create lifetime memories, the locals share their knowledge of where to eat and drink and where to visit as well as giving their opinion on their side and why they will win the series. Friendships of a lifetime no matter what side you support are forged while encountering the beauty of the host nation at the same time as adding revenue to the greater rugby system and host nation.

The fact that the tour has already been decreased by two games from ten games to eight is far from ideal and should certainly be reviewed for the next tour as the Lions need sufficient preparation to make it a fair contest, however this is a conversation for another day as there are currently bigger challenges at play.

In the current climate there are many things being discussed and supposedly on the table, from the tour going ahead with no fans, the Springboks playing the Lions in the UK (this would then be a Springbok tour and not a Lions tour), the Lions going on tour to France among other suggestions. While there is the odd positive in some of the ideas tabled there is no doubt that a Lions tour with fans to the powerhouses of the Southern Hemisphere is the only way to go.

It is a tour that is worth waiting for, the Springboks the current World Champions have waited their 12 years for a crack at the Lions and it is a once in a career opportunity to face them, players make career defining decisions around a Lions tour. On the flip-side the Lions get an opportunity to topple the World Champions on their own soil in the famous red jersey and is certainly a career highlight opportunity.

It is South Africa’s turn to host, showcase the country and let the Springbok & Lions players, management and fans experience and write their own story, whether this is delayed to later this year or next then so be it. Most importantly it needs to be safe but it is imperative that the tour is not diluted and goes ahead in its original format true to tradition with fans. This chapter of the story is one worth waiting for.

Filed under: British & Irish Lions Written by: Graeme Peacock Follow: @graemepeacock05 · @therugbymag

Latest Features

Stay up to date.

If you have enjoyed our writing, we would love you to follow us to stay up to date.

If you would like to receive an email when we add a new article to the site, please enter your address below.

Recommended

Match Analysis: All Blacks v Lions Third Test

British & Irish Lions

By Edward Kerr

Match Analysis: All Blacks v Lions - Second Test

Match Analysis: Hurricanes v Lions

Match Analysis: All Blacks v Lions - First Test

We're constantly writing new material, and we would love you to like or follow us to stay up to date.

• Live on Sky
• Get Sky Sports
• Sky Mobile App
• Kick It Out
• Black Lives Matter
• British South Asians in Football

Rugby Union

Lions tour 1974

The Lions enjoyed their best-ever tour as they returned from South Africa unbeaten.

Sunday 21 April 2013 13:18, UK

The most successful Lions team in history travelled to South Africa for a bruising series but ran out victors.

• Ronaldo hits 900th goal while San Marino win first game in 20 years
• Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Real Madrid make Rodri a priority target'
• VOTE! Who is Man Utd's best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson?
• Papers: Erith appointed Man Utd performance director
• England aim for series sweep in third and final Test vs Sri Lanka LIVE!
• Chelsea news: Gallagher believes he could have fitted into Maresca's side
• Chiefs beat Ravens after dramatic video review in NFL opener
• Newcastle rumours: Howe gets backing from club chief amid Mitchell row
• Reporter notebook: Tracksuit manager Carsley brings something different
• Arsenal news: Sterling labels Gunners 'perfect fit'
• Latest News

• Upgrade Now

Stream the Premier League and 1000+ EFL games this season with NOW!

1974 Lions reunite for anniversary celebration at Million Pound Lunch

The 1974 British & Irish Lions will forever hold a unique place in sporting history – and, 50 years on, 18 members of the famous squad came together to in an emotional reunion. [more]

The 1974 British & Irish Lions will forever hold a unique place in sporting history – and, 50 years on, 18 members of the famous squad came together to in an emotional reunion.

Led by captain Willie John McBride CBE, more than half of the playing squad joined forces near Belfast for the Million Pound Lunch – organised by Wooden Spoon – to celebrate the Lions’ only unbeaten Tour.

McBride and his team travelled to South Africa, to take on one of the world’s great rugby nations and, from mid-May to late July, won 21 matches out of 21, including the first three Tests to secure the series victory over the Springboks – a first in the 20th century.

All that remained was for the Lions to get up for one final game, the fourth Test in Johannesburg, which they drew 13-13. They were christened the Invincibles and became instant stars.

Every Lions team is special, but only one from the last century can claim to be invincible. This is the 1974 Lions side, led by Willie John McBride, that played 22, won 21, drew 1, and lost 0 in South Africa. It’s a journey that started #OnThisDay , May 15, with an opening… pic.twitter.com/Ih4eoaljcV — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 15, 2024

The lunch was organised to mark a celebration of a major fundraising milestone (£1 million) for the Ulster region of Wooden Spoon and the players travelled from across the British Isles to reflect on one of the greatest ever achievements in rugby.

The June 20 event at Hastings Culloden Hotel saw the likes of McBride, Sir Gareth Edwards, Sir Ian McGeechan, Fran Cotton, Roger Uttley and Mike Gibson come together, with guest speaker Martin Bayfield.

“We had some real legends of the game all in the one room,” said Peter Wood – the chair of Wooden Spoon Ulster, who organised the day.

“When I made my speech, I said ‘today, ladies and gentlemen, this is a historical event. Not because of us at Wooden Spoon, but because we have so many of this old team in one place at one time’.

“They are the godfathers of modern rugby. They are held up very high, it is like the 1966 England World Cup team. It has never been repeated, and may never be. That is the analogy I always use.”

The 1974 Lions last met 10 years ago, but sadly some members of the playing party have since passed – and the likes of JPR Williams, JJ Williams, Phil Bennett and Sandy Carmichael were fondly remembered.

Just as he was a player, McBride was at the heart of proceedings. The 84-year-old is the president of Wooden Spoon Ulster and has worked alongside Wood for more than two decades.

“It is a lovely combination event, we celebrated two great achievements,” Wood added.

“It is 50 years since that team and to celebrate £1m raised by our branch is very special for us. Our president is Willie John, so it all fell into place.

“We also had people who didn’t come 10 years ago. That time, we did two dinners – one in Belfast and one in Dublin – but it is just one this time.

• READ MORE: Lions Legend: Mervyn Davies

“This has taken up 18 months of my life. I started contacting the Lions that long ago, and that is probably why we have got so many of them.

“If you are talking about people like Ian McGeechan, Franny Cotton and Andy Irvine, they are all very busy guys and have a lot of commitments.

“Sir Ian missed the last one, he went on a speaking engagement to the Far East and when I met him not long after, he said it was the biggest mistake of his life. It gave him the opportunity to see them again.”

The Million Pound Lunch raised funds that will help support Wooden Spoon Ulster’s ongoing projects, such as a new cabin for Ballymena Bears Disability Tag rugby club, and a sensory room at Belfast Children’s hospice.

Wood added: “I got involved on the periphery in 1996, joined the committee in 1999, so this is my 25th anniversary.

“Willie John is our USP. The other person who was involved as joint-President for some time was Dr Jack Kyle, a 1950 Lion.

“He was a treat to deal with, he was a gent. And so were The 1974 Lions. They’re special players, and special men.”

Related Players

Related fixtures, latest news, the last 10 lions test captains, oxford landing announced as official wine partner, selector series - lions legends join supporters in picking their team for australia 2025, one year to go until lions third test.

Ask the publishers to restore access to 500,000+ books.

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Lions 1975 Media Guide (Detroit)

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

2 Favorites

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

For users with print-disabilities

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by ringthebell77 on October 3, 2022

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)