1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia

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1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand & Australia
British lions 1888.jpg
The British Isles touring squad
Date28 April – 3 October
Coach(es) Flag of England.svg Alfred Shaw
Flag of England.svg Arthur Shrewsbury
Tour captain(s) Flag of England.svg Robert Seddon
Flag of England.svg Andrew Stoddart
1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
Summary
PWDL
Total
35 270602
Test match
00000000

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.

Contents

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]

Tour background

The British Isles team. Taken on the Scotch Oval, close to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, on both of which the team played Australian Rules Football against local clubs 1888 British Lions.jpg
The British Isles team. Taken on the Scotch Oval, close to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, on both of which the team played Australian Rules Football against local clubs

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 team on board to Australia, from The Illustrated London News 1888 England team.jpg
The team on board to Australia, from The Illustrated London News

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]

British Lions and South Melbourne in front of the grandstand at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground. England and South Melbourne in front of the grandstand at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1888 from The Age 29 April 1933 pg 18.png
British Lions and South Melbourne in front of the grandstand at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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]

Kit left arm redbluehoops.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body redbluehoops.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm redbluehoops.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Team kit

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]

Touring party

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]

Results

Complete list of matches played by the British Isles in Australia and New Zealand: [14] [15]

#DateRivalCityCountryResultScore
128 April Otago RU Dunedin New Zealand Won8–3
22 May Otago RU Dunedin New ZealandWon4–3
35 May Canterbury RU Christchurch New ZealandWon14–6
49 May Canterbury RU Christchurch New ZealandWon4–0
512 May Wellington RU Wellington New ZealandDrew3–3
614 MayHenry Roberts XV Wellington New ZealandWon4–1
716 May Taranaki RU New Plymouth New ZealandLost0–1
819 May Auckland RU Auckland New ZealandWon6–3
924 May Auckland RU Auckland New ZealandLost0–4
102 June NSW Waratahs Sydney Australia Won18–2
117 JuneBathurst Bathurst AustraliaWon13–6
129 June NSW Waratahs SydneyAustraliaWon18–6
1311 JuneSydney JuniorsSydneyAustraliaWon11–0
1412 June The King's School Parramatta AustraliaDrew10–10
1516 JulyAdelaide Adelaide AustraliaWon28–3
161 AugustMelbourne Melbourne AustraliaWon15–5
174 August NSW Waratahs SydneyAustraliaWon16–2
186 August Sydney Grammar School SydneyAustraliaDrew3–3
198 AugustBathurst Bathurst AustraliaWon20–10
2011 August University of Sydney SydneyAustraliaWon8–4
2118 August Queensland Reds Brisbane AustraliaWon13–6
2221 AugustQueensland Juniors Brisbane AustraliaWon11–3
2323 AugustIpswich Ipswich AustraliaWon12–1
2425 August Queensland Reds Queensland AustraliaWon7–0
2529 AugustNewcastle Newcastle AustraliaWon15–7
268 September Auckland RU Auckland New ZealandWon3–0
2712 September Auckland Auckland New ZealandDrew1–1
2815 September Hawke's Bay Napier New ZealandWon3–2
2917 September Wairarapa RU Masterton New ZealandWon5–1
3020 September Canterbury RU Christchurch New ZealandWon8–0
3122 September Otago RU Dunedin New ZealandDrew0–0
3227 SeptemberSouth Island Dunedin New ZealandWon5–3
3329 SeptemberSouth Island Christchurch New ZealandWon6–0
342 October Taranaki RU Hawera New ZealandWon7–1
353 October Wanganui RU Wanganui New ZealandDrew1–1
Balance
Played inPlWDLPsPc
New Zealand1913428233
Australia16142021868
Total352762300101

Match details

New Zealand April-May

The points system for matches in New Zealand was one point for a try.

Saturday, 28 April
Otago 3–8 British Isles
Drop: MorrisonReport [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)
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)
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)

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)
Saturday, 12 May
Wellington 3–3 British Isles
Drop: ThomsonReports [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).
Monday, 14 May
3pm
H Roberts' XV4–1 British Isles
Reports [24] [25]
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: H McCardell
Umpires: E Davy (R), Dr. J Smith (B)
Wednesday, 16 May
2:51pm
Taranaki1–0 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)
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)
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)

Australia rugby June

The points system for matches in Australia was two points for a try.

Saturday, 2 June
New South Wales 2–18 British Isles
Try: HaleReports [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)
Thursday, 7 June
Bathurst6–13 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)
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)
Monday, 11 June
Sydney Juniors0–11 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)
Tuesday, 12 June
King's School Past & Present10–10 British Isles
Try: Rice, Wade
Con: P Baylis 2/2
Reports [39] [40] Try: Haslam, Anderton, Stoddart
Con:Unnamed 0/5
Parramatta Cricket Ground

Australian rules June-July

Carlton
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, HutchisonGoals Thomas, Smith, Banks
Bendigo
Wednesday, 20 June, 2:45pmBendigodef. 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. GrahamGoals Brooks, Speakman, Seddon, Eagles, Stuart
Castlemaine
Thursday, 21 June, 3:15pmCastlemainedef. 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
LawrensonGoals Nolan
South Melbourne
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, YoungGoals Paul, Brooks, Eagles
Maryborough
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, GriggGoals Paul 3
South Ballarat
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, MooreGoals Paul, Chapman, Haslam
Fitzroy
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, unnamedGoals Williams, Brooks, Haslam
Brown, RappiportInjuries
Port Melbourne
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, HillGoals Haslam, Williams, Seddon, Penketh, Paul, (R or W) Burnet
South Adelaide
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, MartinGoals Speakman 2, Stuart, Penketh, Thomas
Port Adelaide
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 FryGoals Stoddart 3, Mathers 2, Thomas, Paul, Kent
Adelaide
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, ShawyerGoals AE Stoddart 2, WH Thomas
Norwood
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, HaldaneGoals Williams, Lawler, Stoddart


Rugby in Adelaide

Monday, 16 July
3:03pm
Adelaide Twenty3–28 British Isles
Drop: KeatsReports [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)

Australian rules late July

The tourists returned to Victoria for six further Victorian Rules matches.

Horsham
Wednesday, 18 July, 3:00pmHorshamdef. 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
Friday, 20 July Ballarat Imperial def. British Isles Saxon PaddockReport [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, unnamedGoals Stoddart
Ballarat
Saturday, 21 July Ballarat def. by British Isles Saxon PaddockPreview [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, RossGoals Kent, Burnet, last 3 unnamed
Sandhurst (Bendigo)
Wednesday, 25 July, 3:03pm Sandhurst def. by British Isles Back Creek Cricket GroundReport [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 2Goals 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
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
HobbsGoals Williams, Stoddart
Essendon
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, FlemingGoals Stoddart 3

Australia rugby August

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
Melbourne3–9 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)
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)
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)

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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.

References

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