1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand & Australia | |
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Date | 28 April – 3 October |
Coach(es) | Alfred Shaw Arthur Shrewsbury |
Tour captain(s) | Robert Seddon Andrew Stoddart |
1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia | |||||
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The 1888 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was a tour by a British rugby union team, known at the time as the "English Footballers", [1] throughout New Zealand and Australia. Although a private venture not organised by any official body, this was the first major tour of the Southern Hemisphere undertaken by a European rugby team. It paved the way for future tours by teams which are now known as British and Irish Lions.
The team boarded the SS Kaikoura at Gravesend on 9 March 1888, returning to England on the same ship on 11 November. [2] While in Australia and New Zealand the team played a number of state, provincial, and invitation sides, but did not play any international teams. They played 35 rugby matches, winning 27, drawing 6, and losing 2. Only four of the touring party had played, or would play, for their country; Seddon, Andrew Stoddart and Tom Kent for England, and Willie Thomas for Wales.
They also played a smaller number of Victorian rules (Australian rules) football matches, but the side had no prior experience of this before arriving in Australia. The team's legacy was honoured in 2013 when the team, along with initial captain Robert Seddon, were inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. [1]
The 1888 tour was organised by three professional English cricketers, James Lillywhite, Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury, [3] but they could not obtain patronage from the Rugby Football Union who refused to patronise by the tour, [4] though the RFU was happy for the tour to go ahead, provided there was no infringement of the rules of amateurism. [5] The team was led by England's Robert L Seddon and took in 35 games, though no test matches against international opposition. Of the games played the tourists won twenty seven, drew six and lost two matches.
The tour was undertaken by Shaw and Shrewsbury as a purely financial exercise with little regard to producing a "British Isles" team, and the team itself is more often recorded as an English team. The two managers were not unfamiliar with touring sides, having organised cricket teams to Australia, and the rugby tour was a follow on from the financially disastrous England Cricket tour of 1887.
The rugby tour was not an economic success either and lost both managers money. Worse was to occur when team captain Seddon, drowned on 15 August [6] in an accident while sculling on the Hunter River [7] in West Maitland. The captaincy was then passed to Andrew Stoddart a future England rugby captain and Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
A further economic issue that related to the tour was the burgeoning professional movement that was gathering momentum in England at the time. Rugby players and clubs in Britain were divided by the growing belief that players should be paid for their time playing their sport. The growing popularity of the now professional Association Football was causing many, especially in the North of England, to challenge the amateur standing of the union code. [8]
One of the catalysts to the split between amateur union code and the future league code, was when Jack P. Clowes, a member of the 1888 tour, was designated a 'professional' sportsman after he accepted £15 to buy equipment shortly before he left for Australia. The other players on the tour were then required to sign an affidavit to state they were not to be paid for playing rugby when in Australia and New Zealand. [9]
In addition to playing 35 game of rugby union, the Lions team also played 19 games of Victorian Rules Football (later known as Australian rules football). The Lions won 6 of the matches under the Australian rules, despite having no experience with the code prior to the tour. [10]
The uniforms worn by the side on their first tour was a jersey displaying thick red, white and blue hoops, white shorts and dark socks. [11]
Full BacksThree-QuartersHalf backs | Forwards
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Two-thirds of the touring party belonged to clubs that, within a few years, would defect to the Northern Rugby Football Union, founding the game of rugby league. [13]
Complete list of matches played by the British Isles in Australia and New Zealand: [14] [15]
# | Date | Rival | City | Country | Result | Score |
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1 | 28 April | Otago RU | Dunedin | New Zealand | Won | 8–3 |
2 | 2 May | Otago RU | Dunedin | New Zealand | Won | 4–3 |
3 | 5 May | Canterbury RU | Christchurch | New Zealand | Won | 14–6 |
4 | 9 May | Canterbury RU | Christchurch | New Zealand | Won | 4–0 |
5 | 12 May | Wellington RU | Wellington | New Zealand | Drew | 3–3 |
6 | 14 May | Henry Roberts XV | Wellington | New Zealand | Won | 4–1 |
7 | 16 May | Taranaki RU | New Plymouth | New Zealand | Lost | 0–1 |
8 | 19 May | Auckland RU | Auckland | New Zealand | Won | 6–3 |
9 | 24 May | Auckland RU | Auckland | New Zealand | Lost | 0–4 |
10 | 2 June | NSW Waratahs | Sydney | Australia | Won | 18–2 |
11 | 7 June | Bathurst | Bathurst | Australia | Won | 13–6 |
12 | 9 June | NSW Waratahs | Sydney | Australia | Won | 18–6 |
13 | 11 June | Sydney Juniors | Sydney | Australia | Won | 11–0 |
14 | 12 June | The King's School | Parramatta | Australia | Drew | 10–10 |
15 | 16 July | Adelaide | Adelaide | Australia | Won | 28–3 |
16 | 1 August | Melbourne | Melbourne | Australia | Won | 15–5 |
17 | 4 August | NSW Waratahs | Sydney | Australia | Won | 16–2 |
18 | 6 August | Sydney Grammar School | Sydney | Australia | Drew | 3–3 |
19 | 8 August | Bathurst | Bathurst | Australia | Won | 20–10 |
20 | 11 August | University of Sydney | Sydney | Australia | Won | 8–4 |
21 | 18 August | Queensland Reds | Brisbane | Australia | Won | 13–6 |
22 | 21 August | Queensland Juniors | Brisbane | Australia | Won | 11–3 |
23 | 23 August | Ipswich | Ipswich | Australia | Won | 12–1 |
24 | 25 August | Queensland Reds | Queensland | Australia | Won | 7–0 |
25 | 29 August | Newcastle | Newcastle | Australia | Won | 15–7 |
26 | 8 September | Auckland RU | Auckland | New Zealand | Won | 3–0 |
27 | 12 September | Auckland | Auckland | New Zealand | Drew | 1–1 |
28 | 15 September | Hawke's Bay | Napier | New Zealand | Won | 3–2 |
29 | 17 September | Wairarapa RU | Masterton | New Zealand | Won | 5–1 |
30 | 20 September | Canterbury RU | Christchurch | New Zealand | Won | 8–0 |
31 | 22 September | Otago RU | Dunedin | New Zealand | Drew | 0–0 |
32 | 27 September | South Island | Dunedin | New Zealand | Won | 5–3 |
33 | 29 September | South Island | Christchurch | New Zealand | Won | 6–0 |
34 | 2 October | Taranaki RU | Hawera | New Zealand | Won | 7–1 |
35 | 3 October | Wanganui RU | Wanganui | New Zealand | Drew | 1–1 |
Played in | Pl | W | D | L | Ps | Pc |
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New Zealand | 19 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 82 | 33 |
Australia | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 68 |
Total | 35 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 300 | 101 |
This list of sports fixtures or results is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2024) |
The points system for matches in New Zealand was one point for a try.
Saturday, 28 April |
Otago | 3–8 | British Isles |
Drop: Morrison | Report [16] | Try: Kent, Anderton Con: Anderton 0/1, Haslam 0/1 Drop: Speakman 2 |
(The Old) Caledonian Ground, Dunedin Attendance: 10,000 Referee: W Wyinks Umpires: WD Milne (O) Dr. Smith (B) |
Team details [16] |
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Otago: Fullback: W. Thomas; Three-quarter backs: W. Noel, T. Lynch, C. J. Davie; Half-backs: J. Thomson, D. Simpson; Forwards: E. E Morrison (captain), C. Beck, A. Gibson, J. W. W. Hunter, R. Martin, W. Turnbull, W. McFarlane, J. Montgomery, H. Treseder. British Isles: Fullback: JT Haslam; Three-quarter backs: AE Stoddart, HC Speakman, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon (captain), WH Thomas, T Banks, R Burnet, T Kent, H Eagles, C Mathers, S Williams, AJ Laing. |
Wednesday, 2 June 3:00pm |
Otago | 3–4 | British Isles |
Try: Keogh Con: Lynch 1/1 | Report [17] | Try: Banks, Nolan, J Anderton Con: J Anderton 1/1, AG Paul 0/1 |
(The Old) Caledonian Ground, Dunedin Attendance: 8,000 Referee: W Wyinks Umpires: WD Milne (O), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [17] |
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Otago (blue): Fullback: W Thomas (Oamaru); Three-quarter backs: WH Noel (Montecillo), T Lynch (Pirates), J Davie (Kaikorai); Half-backs: JB Thomson (University), P Keogh (Kaikorai); Forwards: C Beck (Montecillo), A. Gibson (Taieri), JWW Hunter (University), R Martin (Dunedin), EE Morrison (High School), W McFarlane (Union), JR Montgomery (High School), H Treseder (Zingari-Richmond), W Turnbull (Dunedin). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: AE Stoddart, HC Speakman, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, WH Thomas, T Banks, R Burnet, T Kent, H Eagles, C Mathers, S Williams, AJ Stuart. |
Saturday, 5 May 2:45pm |
Canterbury | 6–14 | British Isles |
Try: Harley Con: Weekes 1/1 Drop: Helmore | Report [18] | Try: Haslam 2, Bumby 2, Stoddart Con: Anderton 2/3, Paul 1/2 Drop: Paul |
Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Rev. John Hoatson Umpires: AM Ollivier (C), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [18] |
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Canterbury (red): Fullback: W Richards (Merivale); Three-quarter backs: LW Harley (Christchurch), A Hobbs (East Christchurch), ER Webb (Christchurch) ; Half-backs: GHN Helmore, (captain, North Canterbury), H Roberts (East Christchurch); Forwards: WD Bean (North Canterbury), W Dow (East Christchurch), J Fuller (Christchurch), HE Hiddlestone (Merivale), JA Horner (Merivale), W Sutherland (Sydenham), JM Turnbull (Christchurch), AJ Weekes (Sydenham), M Riley (Sydenham). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, AE Stoddart, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Burnet, W Bumby; Forwards: RL Seddon, S Williams, H Eagles, C Mathers, T Kent, AJ Stuart, WH Thomas, AP Penketh, R Burnet. |
On Monday, 7 May at Lancaster Park, the British played a team of Canterbury footballers in a game under Victorian Rules (Australian Rules Football). The teams were 17-a-side rather than the twenty as was usual at the time. Players in both teams had an incomplete understanding of the rules. The result of the match was a win to the British. Scores: Canterbury nil. British Isles 6. Goals to Speakman 4, Eagles, Smith. [19]
Wednesday, 9 May 3.04pm |
Canterbury | 0–4 | British Isles |
Reports [20] [21] | Try: Nolan 3, AP Penketh Con: Paul 0/4 |
Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 2,500-3,500 Referee: Rev. John Hoatson Umpires: AM Ollivier (C), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [20] |
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Canterbury (red): W Broughton (Christchurch); Three-quarter backs: LW Harley (Christchurch), A Hobbs (East Christchurch), HC Wilson (North Canterbury) ; Half-backs: GHN Helmore, (captain, North Canterbury), H Roberts (East Christchurch); Forwards: WD Bean (North Canterbury), W Dow (East Christchurch), J Fuller (Christchurch), HE Hiddlestone (Merivale), JA Horner (Merivale), W Sutherland (Sydenham), JM Turnbull (Christchurch), AJ Weekes (Sydenham), M Riley (Sydenham). British Isles: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, AE Stoddart, HC Speakman; Half-backs: J Nolan, W Bumby; Forwards: RL Seddon, H Eagles, S Williams, C Mathers, T Kent, AJ Stuart, WH Thomas, AP Penketh, T Banks. |
Saturday, 12 May |
Wellington | 3–3 | British Isles |
Drop: Thomson | Reports [22] [23] | Try: Haslam Con: Paul 1/1 |
Basin Reserve, Wellington Attendance: 6,000-7,000 Referee: CA Knapp Umpires: S Nicholls (W), S Williams (B). |
Team details [22] [23] |
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Wellington (black and gold): Fullback: DR Gage (Poneke); Three-quarter backs: F Fairbrother (Wellington), AD Thomson (Wellington), JA Warbrick (Wellington); Half-backs: C Moore (Poneke), M Moorhouse (Poneke); Forwards: JM King (captain, Athletic), F Moore (Athletic), R Malcolm (Athletic), S Cockroft (Union), M Hyland (Union), TR Ellison (Poneke), H McIntyre (Poneke), G Wiliams (Poneke), L Storey (Poneke). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, HC Speakman, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon (captain), H Eagles, T Kent, AP Penketh, C Mathers, WH Thomas, R Burnet, T Banks, AJ Stuart. |
Monday, 14 May 3pm |
H Roberts' XV | 4–1 | British Isles |
Reports [24] [25] |
Basin Reserve, Wellington Attendance: 2,500 Referee: H McCardell Umpires: E Davy (R), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [24] [25] |
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H Roberts' XV (played in Poneke colours, red and black): Fullback: R Sim (Poneke); Three-quarter backs: F Fairbrother (Wellington), AD Thomson (Wellington), DR Gage (Poneke); Half-backs: H Roberts (captain, Poneke), C Moore (Poneke); Forwards: F Moore (Athletic), S Cockcroft (Union). J Hyland, (Union), TR Ellison (Poneke), H Mclntyre (Poneke), L Storey (Poneke), EMD Whatman (Masterton), J Crowell (Athletic), J McCleary (Union). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, HC Speakman, H Brooks; Half-backs: J Anderton, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, H Eagles, W Burnet*, AP Penketh, C Mathers, WH Thomas, R Burnet, S Williams, AJ Laing. |
Wednesday, 16 May 2:51pm |
Taranaki | 1–0 | British Isles |
Try: H Good Con: Coghill 0/1 | Report [26] |
New Plymouth Racecourse Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Fred Bayly Umpires: GT Bayly (T), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [26] |
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Taranaki: Fullback: RH Kivell; Three-quarter backs: A Good, A Bayly (captain), H Coghill; Quarter-back: C Bayly; Wing forwards: R Tate, H Hine; Forwards: H Good, T Joll, W Snook, W Cheyne, CE Major, JB Veale, A Pearce, J Whitehead. British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: H Brooks, HC Speakman, JT Haslam; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Anderton; Forwards: RL Seddon, WH Thomas, AP Penketh, R Burnet, T Kent, H Eagles, AJ Stuart, S Williams, W Burnet. |
Saturday, 19 May |
Auckland | 3–6 | British Isles |
Try: McKenzie Con: McCausland 1/1 | Report [27] | Try: Seddon, Anderton Con: Paul 2/2 |
Tramway Company’s Grounds, Potter’s Field, Epsom, Auckland. Attendance: 6,000 Referee: T Macky Umpires: J Arneil (A), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [27] [28] |
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Auckland (blue and white): Fullback: RB Lusk (Gordon); Three-quarter backs: R. Whiteside (captain, Ponsonby), K McCausland (Gordon), C Madigan (Grafton); Halfbacks: J. Conway (Ponsonby), A. Braund (Ponsonby), W Elliott (Grafton); Forwards: TB O'Connor (Auckland), M Keefe (Ponsonby), O Wells (Grafton), JG Lecky (Grafton), C Marshall (North Shore), F Twiname (Grafton), W Hobson (Ponsonby), RH McKenzie (Grafton). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, HC Speakman, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, C Mathers, H Eagles, T Kent, AJ Stuart, AP Penketh, AJ Laing, R Burnet, S Williams. |
Thursday, 24 May (Queen's Birthday) 2:30pm |
Auckland | 4–0 | British Isles |
Try: Elliott Con: McCausland 0/1 Drop: Hobson | Report [29] |
Tramway Company’s Grounds, Potter’s Field, Epsom, Auckland. Attendance: 8,000 Referee: T Macky Umpires: J Arneil (A), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [29] |
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Auckland (blue and white): Fullback: RB Lusk (Gordon); Three-quarter backs: T Brown (Grafton), K McCausland (Gordon), C Madigan (Grafton); Halfbacks: J. Conway (Ponsonby), A. Braund Ponsonby), W Elliott (Grafton); Forwards: TB O'Connor (Auckland), M Keefe (Ponsonby), O Wells (Grafton), JG Lecky (Grafton), C Marshall (North Shore), F Twiname (Grafton), W Hobson (Ponsonby), RH McKenzie (Grafton). British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, HC Speakman, J Anderton; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, C Mathers, H Eagles, T Kent, AJ Stuart, AP Penketh, WH Thomas, R Burnet, S Williams. |
The points system for matches in Australia was two points for a try.
Saturday, 2 June |
New South Wales | 2–18 | British Isles |
Try: Hale | Reports [30] [31] | Try: Bumby 3, Eagles, Seddon, Stoddart Con: Anderton 1/4, Paul 1/2 |
Association Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 13,000 Referee: RW Thallon Umpires: JF McManamey (NSW) Dr. Smith (B) |
Team details [31] |
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New South Wales: Fullback: HY Braddon; Three-quarter backs: CG Wade, JE Moulton, HM Baylis; Half-backs: PB Colquhoun, E Cameron; Forwards: CL Tange, JAK Shaw, H Lee, LEF Neill, W Belbridge, A Hale, L Wade, E Rice, J Gee. British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, AE Stoddart, W Burnet; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Anderton; Forwards: RL Seddon, WH Thomas, S Williams, AJ Stuart, T Kent, R Burnet, AP Penketh, H Eagles, C Mathers. |
Thursday, 7 June |
Bathurst | 6–13 | British Isles |
Try: J Meagher, Lydiard, Butler Con: J Fish 0/2, Read 0/1 | Reports [32] [33] | Try: Eagles 2, Seddon, Nolan, Speakman Con: Anderton 1/4, Haslam 0/1 |
Bathurst Cricket Ground, Bathurst Referee: RM Lindsay; Umpires: H Ford (Bath), Dr. Smith (Brit) |
Team details [32] |
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Bathurst: F Yeomans; Three-quarter backs: E Pruen, A Howard, P Sullivan; Half-backs: F Butler, C Lydiard; Forwards: P. Meagher, J Meagher, J. Hogan, J. Anderson. J. Fish, H Read, H Britten, T. Palmer, George Wiburd G Wiburd. British Isles: JT Haslam; Three-quarter backs: H Brooks, HC Speakman, W Burnet; Half-backs: J Anderton, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, C Mathers, AJ Laing, S Williams, T Kent, AJ Stuart, R Burnet, AP Penketh, H Eagles. |
Saturday, 9 June |
New South Wales | 6–18 | British Isles |
Try: Neill Con: Baylis Drop: Colquhoun | Reports [34] [35] | Try: Stoddart 2, Eagles 2, Brooks, Mathers Con: Anderton 1/2, Stoddart 1/3 |
Association Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 7,000 Referee: RW Thallon Umpires: McManamey (NSW), T Banks (B) |
Team details [34] [36] |
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New South Wales: Fullback: HM Baylis; Three-quarter backs: SA Tiley, H Lee, PB Colquhoun; Half-backs: F Hillyar, E Cameron; Forwards: CL Tange (captain), JAK Shaw, A Hale, LEF Neill, Jas O'Donnell, E Rice, J Gee, W Belbridge, G Wiburd. British Isles: Fullback: JT Haslam; Three-quarter backs: J Anderton, AE Stoddart, H Brooks; Half-backs: J Nolan, W Bumby; Forwards: RL Seddon, H Eagles, C Mathers, AJ Stuart, S Williams, R Burnet, WH Thomas, AP Penketh, AJ Laing. |
Monday, 11 June |
Sydney Juniors | 0–11 | British Isles |
Report [37] [38] | Try: Anderton, Williams, Speakman, Bumby Con: Anderton 1/4 |
Association Cricket Ground, Sydney Referee: Mr Hall Umpires: Clapin (SJ), T Banks (B) |
Team details |
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Sydney Juniors (18): Fullback: Wilson; Three-quarter backs: R Cameron, Lyons, Street, McPherson; Half-backs: Seymour, Finn, Foster; Forwards: L Scott, A Scott, Fraser, Clarkson, Hartley, McCallum, Griffin, Irving, Ireland, Francis. British Isles: Speakman replaced Brooks. |
Tuesday, 12 June |
King's School Past & Present | 10–10 | British Isles |
Try: Rice, Wade Con: P Baylis 2/2 | Reports [39] [40] | Try: Haslam, Anderton, Stoddart Con:Unnamed 0/5 |
Parramatta Cricket Ground |
Team details [41] [39] [40] |
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King's School Past & Presentselected from the following expected players: Ingram, White, Smith, Hall, Roberts, Manchie (School), Baylis, Tange, Hungerford (University), Wade (2), Baylis (2), Bennett, Forster, Rice, Rand, Weaver (Wallaroo) Priddle, Ingram, Burkitt. British Islesside announce prior to the matches against NSW and Juniors: Fullback: A Paul; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, AE Stoddart, W Burnet; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Anderton; Forwards: RL Seddon, C Mathers, H Eagles, A Penketh, R Burnet, T Kent, AJ Stuart, S Williams, WH Thomas. |
Carlton | |||||
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Saturday, 16 June, 2:45pm | Carlton | def. | British Isles | Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 22,000) | Preview [42] Report [43] [44] |
2.5 7.7 8.10 14.17 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.1 0.1 3.7 3.8 | Umpires: PH Roy | ||
Berry 3, Baker 2, Green 2, A. Coulson, Goer, Cook, Gellaty, M McInerney, McKechnie, Hutchison | Goals | Thomas, Smith, Banks | |||
Bendigo | |||||
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Wednesday, 20 June, 2:45pm | Bendigo | def. by | British Isles | Back Creek Cricket Ground (crowd: 4,000—5,000) | Preview [45] Report [46] |
0.0 0.8 0.8 1.14 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.4 3.5 5.16 5.16 | Umpires: Alf Laver | ||
J. Graham | Goals | Brooks, Speakman, Seddon, Eagles, Stuart | |||
Castlemaine | |||||
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Thursday, 21 June, 3:15pm | Castlemaine | def. | British Isles | Camp Reserve (crowd: 1,000—2,000) | Preview [47] Report [48] |
0.2 0.3 1.4 1.4 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.1 0.1 1.2 1.2 | Umpires: F Dickason | ||
Lawrenson | Goals | Nolan | |||
South Melbourne | |||||
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Saturday, 23 June | South Melbourne | def. | British Isles | South Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 7,500) | Preview [49] Report [50] |
2.6 5.10 6.16 7.29 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.2 1.5 3.7 3.7 | |||
Reid, McShane, Kerr, Clinton, McKay, Dowdell, Young | Goals | Paul, Brooks, Eagles | |||
Maryborough | |||||
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Wednesday, 27 June, 3:00pm | Maryborough | def. | British Isles | Princes Park (crowd: 7,000) | Report [51] |
1.5 1.9 2.11 4.13 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.1 1.6 3.9 3.11 | |||
J Hoag, T Elliott, Casey, Grigg | Goals | Paul 3 | |||
South Ballarat | |||||
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Friday, 29 June | South Ballarat | def. | British Isles | Eastern Oval (crowd: 7,000—8,000) | Preview [52] Report [53] |
2.6 4.9 4.16 7.18 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.3 0.5 1.7 3.7 | Umpires: JJ Trait | ||
Lyon 2, Connaughton, Jacka, White, Doney, Moore | Goals | Paul, Chapman, Haslam | |||
Fitzroy | |||||
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Saturday, 30 June, 3:00pm | Fitzroy | def. | British Isles | Fitzroy Cricket Ground (crowd: 7,000—8,000) | Reports [54] [55] |
5.5 8.6 10.19 12.20 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.0 1.1 1.1 3.4 | Umpires: Welsford | ||
Nicholls 2, Docherty 2, Buckley 2, Schmidt 2, Brown, Rappiport, Tuner, unnamed | Goals | Williams, Brooks, Haslam | |||
Brown, Rappiport | Injuries | ||||
Port Melbourne | |||||
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Tuesday, 3 July | Port Melbourne | def. | British Isles | East Melbourne Cricket Ground (crowd: 600) | Report [56] |
0.4 2.6 4.9 7.15 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.5 4.8 5.11 6.11 | Umpires: PH Roy | ||
Hannaysee 3, Daly, Graham, Taylor, Hill | Goals | Haslam, Williams, Seddon, Penketh, Paul, (R or W) Burnet | |||
South Adelaide | |||||
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Saturday, 7 July, 3:03pm | South Adelaide | def. | British Isles | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 5,000) | Report [57] |
4.3 5.5 8.9 8.9 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.2 3.6 4.7 5.9 | Umpires: Blackman | ||
Heenan 2, Watling 2, Grogan, Sinclair, Hill, Martin | Goals | Speakman 2, Stuart, Penketh, Thomas | |||
Port Adelaide | |||||
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Tuesday, 10 July | Port Adelaide | def. by | British Isles | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 2,000) | Report [58] |
0.2 4.5 7.5 7.8 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.4 4.4 4.6 8.8 | Umpires: Sidoli | ||
Phillips 4, A Bushby, Miers, C Fry | Goals | Stoddart 3, Mathers 2, Thomas, Paul, Kent | |||
Adelaide | |||||
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Thursday, 12 July, | Adelaide | def. | British Isles | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 3,000) | Report [59] |
2.6 2.9 5.12 6.13 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.0 3.1 3.5 3.6 | Umpires: Blackman | ||
McIntyre 2, Carter 2, Holbrook, Shawyer | Goals | AE Stoddart 2, WH Thomas | |||
Norwood | |||||
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Saturday, 14 July, 3:03pm | Norwood | def. | British Isles | Adelaide Oval (crowd: 8,000) | Report [60] |
0.2 2.5 3.7 5.8 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.0 2.0 3.1 3.1 | Umpires: Birrell | ||
C Woods 3, Slattery, Haldane | Goals | Williams, Lawler, Stoddart | |||
Monday, 16 July 3:03pm |
Adelaide Twenty | 3–28 | British Isles |
Drop: Keats | Reports [61] [62] | Try: Stoddart 3, Anderton, Mathers, Haslam, Eagles, Williams, Unnamed 6 Con: Stoddart 2, Anderton, Kent, Burnet, Williams, Eagles |
Adelaide Oval Attendance: 2,500 Referee: H Brooks Umpires: Giles (A) and T Banks (B) |
Team details [60] [61] |
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AdelaideThe following were named in the Advertiser on the morning of the match: Grainger, Woodhard, Hayward, Martin, Baker, Scott, Furze, Arnot, Hose, Raynbird, Marryat, Clerk, Atkins, Keats, Hawly, Porter, Hunter, Kerr, Blaun, Darwell. Grainger attended the match but did not take the field. There were no Rugby clubs in Adelaide at the time. The team was selected after a scratch match on Saturday, 14 July. British IslesThe following are named in the Advertiser match report: J Anderton, (R and or W) Burnet, H Eagles, JT Haslam, T Kent, C Mathers, AE Stoddart, S Williams. |
The tourists returned to Victoria for six further Victorian Rules matches.
Horsham | |||||
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Wednesday, 18 July, 3:00pm | Horsham | def. by | British Isles | Recreation Ground (crowd: 1,500) | Preview [63] Report [64] |
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.2 3.2 5.4 6.5 | Umpires: W Bolton | ||
Goals | Banks 4, Nolan 2 | ||||
Ballarat Imperial | |||||
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Friday, 20 July | Ballarat Imperial | def. | British Isles | Saxon Paddock | Report [65] |
0.2 3.7 3.11 4.15 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.2 | Umpires: Bourke | ||
Thomas 2, Dawson, unnamed | Goals | Stoddart | |||
Ballarat | |||||
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Saturday, 21 July | Ballarat | def. by | British Isles | Saxon Paddock | Preview [66] Report [67] |
4.3 4.3 4.8 4.8 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 1.0 4.4 4.4 5.8 | Umpires: P Luplau | ||
Ross, Gordon, Bodycombe, Ross | Goals | Kent, Burnet, last 3 unnamed | |||
Sandhurst (Bendigo) | |||||
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Wednesday, 25 July, 3:03pm | Sandhurst | def. by | British Isles | Back Creek Cricket Ground | Report [68] |
1.2 1.4 2.9 2.10 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.2 2.2 2.3 3.3 | Umpires: HS Skehan | ||
Magee 2 | Goals | Stoddart 2, Rushed | |||
Injuries | Eagles | ||||
A goal given to the British was allowed to stand, after some discussion, despite the contention that it had been inadvertently kicked through the goalposts by a Sandhurst player. |
Kyneton | |||||
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Thursday, 26 July | Kyneton | def. by | British Isles | Kyneton Racecourse (crowd: 2,000) | Preview [69] Report [70] |
0.2 0.5 0.? 1.8 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 2.4 2.4 2.? 2.7 | Umpires: Ohe / Oke | ||
Hobbs | Goals | Williams, Stoddart | |||
Essendon | |||||
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Saturday, 28 July | Essendon | def. | British Isles | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | Reports [71] [72] |
2.4 6.9 7.13 7.16 | Q1 Q2 Q3 Final | 0.1 1.1 3.3 3.5 | |||
Sebire 3, Tolmie, Turner, Meader, Fleming | Goals | Stoddart 3 | |||
Prior to their return to Sydney, the tourists played a game under Rugby rules in Melbourne. The locals were members of the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club. For final preparation and selection they had played a Probables versus Possibles match on the Saturday, 28 July. [73]
Wednesday, 1 August 3:03pm |
Melbourne | 3–9 | British Isles |
Try: Wakeham Con: Scarborough | Reports [74] [75] | Try: Stoddart, Nolan, Williams Con: Stoddart 3 |
East Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendance: 5,000-6,000 Referee: JST Hughes Umpires: Dr. Willmott (M), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [74] [76] |
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Melbourne: Fullback: HH Lee; Three-quarter backs: ED Spohr, G Miller, TL Scarborough; Halfbacks: AJ Murray, EE Wakeham; Forwards: JR Murray (captain), J Cowen, HH Morrell, A White, J Lindsay, HR Rice, AD Graham, G Outrim, W Williams. British Isles: Fullback: AG Paul; Three-quarter backs: HC Speakman, AE Stoddart, JT Haslam; Half-backs: W Bumby, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon (captain), C Mathers, H Eagles, R Burnet, AJ Laing, AP Penketh, T Kent, S Williams, WH Thomas. |
Saturday, 4 August 3:26pm |
New South Wales | 2–16 | British Isles |
Try: E Cameron Con: Baylis 0/1 | Reports [77] [78] [79] | Try: Mathers 2, Eagles, Stoddart, Nolan Con: AE Stoddart 2/5 |
Association Cricket Ground Attendance: 5,000 Referee: A Hale Umpires: P Allen (Sydney), Dr Smith (B) |
Team details [80] [77] |
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New South Wales: Fullback: HM Baylis (University); Three-quarter backs: PB Colquhoun (University), E Cameron (Balmain), R Cameron (Balmain); Half-backs: White (University), CY Caird (Wallaroo); Forwards: CL Tange (University), G Braund (Rosedale), JAK Shaw (University), TB Perry (Arfoma), F Belbridge (University), W Belbridge (University), LEF Neill (University), Newcombe, Jas McMahon (Rosedale). From the original team selection, five players withdrew due to their unavailability. British Isles: Fullback: W Burnet; Three-quarter backs: JT Haslam, AE Stoddart, J Anderton; Half-backs: J olan, W Bumby; Forwards: RL Seddon (captain), H Eagles, T Kent, S Williams, AG Paul, R Burnet, AJ Laing, WH Thomas, C Mathers. |
Monday, 6 August |
Sydney Grammar School (Past & Present) | 2–2 | British Isles |
Try: Fuller Con: Elphinstone 0/1 | Report [81] [82] | Try: Stoddart Con: Stoddart 0/1 |
Association Cricket Ground Referee: JAK Shaw Umpires: Allen (SGS), Dr. J Smith (B) |
Team details [83] [81] |
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Sydney Grammar School Past & Present: Fullback: Wood; Three-quarter backs: R Cameron, E Cameron, H Hillyar; Half-backs: AE Sefton, Elphinstone; Forwards: A Hale, Hawkens, LEF Neill, Abbott, McManamey, Fuller, Fairfax, G Barbour, F Belbridge, W Belbridge. British Isles: Fullback: W Burnet; Three-quarter backs: H Brooks, AE Stoddart, HC Speakman; Half-backs: J nderton, J Nolan; Forwards: RL Seddon, C Mathers, H Eagles, AJ Laing, R Burnet, WH Thomas, S Williams, T Kent, AG Paul. |
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and tennis, as well as regularly being used to hold concerts.
The Ashes series, similar to the cricket series of the same name, was a best-of-three series of test matches between Australia and Great Britain national rugby league football teams. It had been contested 39 times from 1908 until 2003 largely with hosting rights alternating between the two countries. Since 1973, Australia has won a record thirteen consecutive Ashes series.
Football in Australia refers to numerous codes which each have major shares of the mainstream sports market, media, broadcasting, professional athletes, financial performance and grassroots participation: Australian rules football, rugby league, rugby union and soccer. There are four pre-eminent professional football competitions played in Australia: the Australian Football League, the National Rugby League, Super Rugby and the A-League (soccer). Rugby League is the most watched sport in Australia based on television viewership, however, Australian football attracts larger live attendences. In the states of New South Wales and Queensland, rugby football is overall the most watched and receives the most media coverage, especially the Rugby League State of Origin contested between the two states referred to as "Australian sport's greatest rivalry". In recent times, there has been an increase in popularity in Australian football and corresponding decrease in popularity of Rugby union in New South Wales and Queensland. Soccer, while extending its lead in participation rate, particularly in the large cities, and improving its performance at the FIFA World Cup and at the FIFA Women's World Cup, continues to attract the overall lowest attendance, as well as media and public interest, of the four codes.
The Great Britain men's national Australian rules football team is known as the Great Britain Bulldogs. The team is made up of the best British born players selected from clubs of in England, Wales and Scotland, and occasional appearances from British players playing for clubs in Australia. In AFL Europe, separate national teams represent England, Wales and Scotland.
The New Zealand national Australian rules football team (Māori: tīmi whutupaoro Ahitereiria o Aotearoa; nicknamed the Falcons ; previously the Hawks, is the national men's team for the sport of Australian rules football in New Zealand. The International Cup team is selected from strict criteria from the best New Zealand born and developed players, primarily from the clubs of the AFL New Zealand. Test and touring squads are selected using similar criteria to other international football codes, additionally allowing players with a New Zealand born parent to play.
Women's Australian rules football, is the female-only form of Australian rules football, generally with some modification to the laws of the game. It is played by more than half a million women worldwide and with 119,447 Australian adult and 66,998 youth female participants in 2023 is the second most played code among women and girls in Australia behind soccer.
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In New Zealand, Australian rules football dates back to the 1860s, was home to the first club formed outside Australia in 1876 and was the first colony outside of Australia to take up the sport. The sport's official name was changed in 1890 to Australasian Football acknowledge New Zealand's participation and remained for some time even after the country was expelled from the Australasian Football Council. After a half century hiatus of organised competition, it has grown rapidly as an amateur sport. Today five of New Zealand's sixteen regions have organised competitions: Auckland ; Canterbury ; Wellington ; Waikato and Otago. A four-team national competition with a national draft has been contested at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland since 2016 for men and 2019 for women. The national team were crowned International champions at the 2005 Australian Football International Cup and competed annually against the AFL Academy between 2012 and 2019. Since the 2010s the game has also grown at junior level among New Zealand schools as the "Hawks Cup".
Australian rules football in England is a team sport and spectator sport with a long history. It is home to the longest running Australian rules fixture outside Australia, the match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities which has been contested annually since 1923. All other current competitions originated in 1989 with the founding of what is now AFL London, the longest running Australian rules football league in Europe. The current governing body, AFL England, was formed in 2012 and expanded the game in 2018 to include the additional regional divisions: AFL Central & Northern England and AFL Southern England.
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The Australian Football League, currently an 18 team competition, has a history of expansion since 1908 when its 8 club competition, formed as an 1897 breakaway from the rival Victorian Football Association, grew to 10 teams. Many clubs have been proposed since this time, particularly since the 1980s when the league began to expand nationally. Only 3 teams have left the competition in its history.
The Ballarat Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Swans is an Australian rules football and netball club. The football squad currently competes in the Ballarat Football League in the Ballarat region of Victoria, Australia.
The Kyneton Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the town of Kyneton, Victoria. Kyneton teams currently compete in the Riddell District Football League. The club transferred there after the 2023 season.
The 1899 British Isles tour to Australia was the fourth rugby union tour by a British Isles team and the second to Australia; though the first tour in 1888 was a private venture, making the 1899 tour the first official undertaking of Australia. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950.
Rugby union has a long history in Australia, with the first club being formed in 1863 at Sydney University. Today it holds tier one status with World Rugby and has over 82,000 players nationwide.
Australian regional rivalries refers to the rivalries between Australian cities, states and territories or regions.
Daylesford Football Netball Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football and netball club based in the Victorian town of Daylesford. The club plays in the Central Highlands Football League.
The MacMahon brothers were entrepreneurs in Australian show business. Chief among them were James MacMahon and Charles MacMahon, who together and separately toured a large number of stage shows. Their younger brothers, Joseph and William, were involved in many of those activities.
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia is an international rugby union tour scheduled to take place in Australia between June and August 2025. The British & Irish Lions, a team selected from players eligible to represent England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, are scheduled to play a three-match test series against the Australia national team, as well as matches against Australia's four Super Rugby franchises and one against an invitational side made up of players from Australia and New Zealand, with one additional opponent to be announced. Ireland coach Andy Farrell was appointed as the Lions' head coach for the tour in January 2024.