1927 British Lions tour to Argentina

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1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
British lions tour argentina 1927.jpg
Date24 July – 21 August
Coach(es) James Baxter
Tour captain(s) Flag of Scotland.svg David MacMyn
Test series winners British Isles (4–0)
Top test point scorer(s) Flag of England.svg Ernie Hammett (40)
1927 British Lions tour to Argentina
Summary
PWDL
Total
9900
Test match
4400
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
4 4 0 0

During its second tour to Argentina, the British Isles team, formed by English and Scottish players, [1] played 9 matches in the country, winning all of them with more than 295 points scored and only 9 conceded. [2]

Contents

Background

C.D. Aarvold, E. Hammett and E.G. Taylor, covered on Argentine magazine El Grafico British-lions eg424 1927.jpeg
C.D. Aarvold, E. Hammett and E.G. Taylor, covered on Argentine magazine El Gráfico

The River Plate Rugby Union (RPRU, current "Argentine Rugby Union") had formed a commission to study how to bring a British team into the country. To do so they had to have the sum of m$n 25,000 (about £ 3,000 at that time) to pay the travel and subsistence costs of a staff of twenty-five people. [3] With contributions from clubs, newspaper companies, stores such as Gath and Chaves, British railroads and refrigerators and personal contributions, 30,000 pesos were collected. In mid-1926 the RFU received an invitation from the RPRU, requesting for a team of "first class players" to visit Argentina for three or four weeks. The delegation should be of 25 people including a manager and a referee. The RFU responded affirmatively after consulting the International Board.

On July 19, 1927, a team composed of twenty-three players from England, Scotland and Ireland under the direction of James Baxter, none other than the president of the RFU, and a first-class referee, arrived in Buenos Aires and settled in the headquarters of Hurlingham Club for a fixture of nine games.

Fulfilling the request of the RPRU, this British combined was considerably stronger than the one that had been assembled in 1910. No less than fifteen of the twenty-three players were internationals or future internationals. His captain, David MacMyn, was a leading Scottish forward who had been part of the team that won its first Grand Slam in 1925 and shared the title of the Five Nations with Ireland in 1926. During the long sea voyage to Argentina, MacMyn made good use of onboard time for his men to train and make a tactical plan for the tour.

We were all imbued with the desire to play as it should be played, and there was no laziness in our preparation on board the ship. We train hard. Every morning we had practice of scrum, backs, physical training of all kinds and swimming before lunch. At night we had many conversations in front of the blackboard and we made all kinds of plans. And so, the hard training and the free exchange of ideas stimulated us for the exhausting days that we had ahead.

David MacMyn in his travel diary [4]
The Lions playing a Universitario-Gimnasia y Esgrima combined in Plaza Jewell, Rosario, on 3 August British lions rosario 1927.jpg
The Lions playing a Universitario–Gimnasia y Esgrima combined in Plaza Jewell, Rosario, on 3 August

In their first games, the Lions played an Anglo-Argentine combined and the Argentine champion San Isidro, which had won eight consecutive domestic championships to date. The Lions won those games with no goals conceded.

The Lions before playing the last test v. Argentina on 21 August British lions fourth test arg 1927.jpg
The Lions before playing the last test v. Argentina on 21 August

The following game was the first test v. Argentina, played on 31 July at Gimnasia y Esgrima stadium. It was the first time Argentina wore the horizontal light blue and white jersey (after wearing blue and white jerseys alternatively since its first match in 1910) after a proposal by Gimnasia y Esgrima executive Abelardo Gutiérrez. [5] The match was attended by a record 12,000 spectators. After the match, MacMyn wrote: "The crowd was delighted. They were impressed by the fact that we played in silence, listening only to the captain's voice. Argentines have all the physical qualities required for rugby. They are big, strong and fast. They are tremendously enthusiastic –sometimes, excessively". [4]

After playing Argentina, the Lions moved to the city Rosario in Santa Fe Province to play a combined team composed by players of porteños clubs Universitario and Gimnasia y Esgrima due to the impossibility of joining a competitive team with the small number of players in Rosario. Players of both teams arrived in Rosario after a long journey by train from Retiro to Rosario Norte station, the same day of the match. Held in Plaza Jewell, home venue of Club Atlético del Rosario, the Lions defeated the combined team by 24–0 in a rainy day.

The Lions returned to Buenos Aires to play the second test v. Argentina, winning 46–0 at GEBA, then playing another combined team (composed by players of Belgrano A.C. and Buenos Aires F.C.). The team would play two games more against the national team, the last of them on 21 August. [4]

Touring team

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Team kit
PlayerPositionClubBorn / National team1st
test
2nd
test
3rd
test
4th
test
Roger Wakefield Forward Cambridge Univ. (uncapped)
Jack Wallens Fullback Flag of England.svg  England Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
AF Hamilton Smythe Three-Quarter (uncapped)Green check.svg
Robert Kelly Three-Quarter Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Edward Taylor Wing Oxford Univ. Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Carl Aarvold Wing Cambridge Univ. Flag of England.svg  England [n1 1] Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Peter Douty Scrum-half Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Green check.svgGreen check.svg
George McIlwaine Flanker Cambridge Univ. South Africa [n1 2] Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
AD Allen F. Prop Cambridge Univ. (uncapped)Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Granville Coghlan Lock Cambridge Univ. England [n1 2] Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Thomas Gubb Lock Oxford Univ. South Africa [n1 2] Green check.svg
Donald Troup Lock/Flanker Oxford Univ. (uncapped)Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Eric Coley Flanker Flag of England.svg  England [n1 3] Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Theodore Pike Flanker Lansdowne IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Green check.svg
Douglas Law Hooker Flag of England.svg  England Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Charles Payne Prop IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
David MacMyn (C) Number 8 London Scottish Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Ernie Hammett Three-Quarter Flag of England.svg  England Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
James Farrell Lock Bective Rangers IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Wilf Sobey Scrum-half Old MillhilliansFlag of England.svg  England [n1 4] Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Jules Malfroy Scrum-half Cambridge Univ. New Zealand [n1 2]
Roger Spong Fly-half Old MillhilliansFlag of England.svg  England [n1 3] Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Guy Wilson Wing Flag of England.svg  England [n1 3] Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Notes
  1. Capped in 1928.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Uncapped
  3. 1 2 3 Capped in 1929.
  4. Capped in 1930.

Matches

Match summary

  • Full list of matches [6] played by the British Lions in Argentina: [7]
  •   indicates test matches
Argentina v britishlions geba (6) 1927.jpg
Argentina v britishlions geba (1) 1927.jpg
The Lions in action during the third test v. Argentina at Gimnasia y Esgrima
#DateRivalCityVenueScore
124 JulAnglo–Argentinos [n2 1] Hurlingham Hurlingham Club
27–0
227 Jul San Isidro Buenos Aires Belgrano A.C.
14–0
331 JulFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Buenos Aires Gimnasia y Esgrima
37–0
43 Aug GEBA / CUBA Combined Rosario Plaza Jewell
24–0
57 AugFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Buenos Aires Gimnasia y Esgrima
46–0
610 Aug Belgrano / Buenos Aires Combined Buenos Aires Belgrano A.C.
44–3
714 AugFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Buenos Aires Gimnasia y Esgrima
34–3
815 AugCombinado de Clubes [n2 2] Buenos Aires Gimnasia y Esgrima
29–3
921 AugFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Buenos Aires Gimnasia y Esgrima
43–0
Notes
  1. Selection of Argentine players with English bornplace or origin. At those times, it was usual to play an end of season match of that nature.
  2. Combined team of unknown local clubs.
Balance
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66002989

First test

31 July 1927
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg0–37 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Isles
Report Try: Aarvold, Hammett,
Kelly, MacMyn,
Payne, Spong,
Wilson (2)
Con: Hammett (3)
Pen: Hammett
Drop: Spong
Gimnasia y Esgrima, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Thomas Vile (Wales)
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Argentina
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British Isles
ArgentinaBritish Isles
César PollanoFB15FBJack Wallens
César VázquezW14WGuy Wilson
Arturo Rodríguez Jurado (c)C13CErnest Hammett
Fabio LucioniC12C Robert Kelly
W. BraddonW11W Carl Aarvold
Alberto ZappaFH10FH Roger Spong
Reginald CooperSH9SHWilf Sobey
Antonio PasalaguaN88N8 David MacMyn (c)
Antonio HobsonF7F Theodore Pike
Miguel McCormickF6F George McIlwaine
Rodolfo SerraL5LDonald Troup
Josée Cuesta SilvaL4L Jimmy Farrell
Ray CameronP3PArthur Allen
Jorge ConrardH2HDouglas Law
Enrique BustamanteP1PCharles Payne

Second test

7 August 1927
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg0–46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Isles
Try: Aarvold (4), Kelly (2),
McIlwaine, MacMyn,
Payne, Spong
Con: Hammett (6)
Drop: Hammett
Gimnasia y Esgrima, Buenos Aires
Referee: Thomas Vile (Wales)
ArgentinaBritish Isles
A. JacobsFB15FB Peter Douty
Martín AyerraW14W Carl Aarvold
Carlos ReyesC13CErnest Hammett
César VázquezC12C Robert Kelly
G.E.F. CookeW11W Edward Taylor
Marco HernáandezFH10FH Roger Spong
Reginald CooperSH9SHWilf Sobey
Julián SommerN88N8 David MacMyn (c)
Arturo Rodríguez Jurado (c)F7FEric Coley
Roberto BottingF6F George McIlwaine
Ray CameronL5L Granville Coghlan
José Cuesta SilvaL4L Jimmy Farrell
Alfredo RigantiP3PArthur Allen
Jorge ConrardH2HDouglas Law
Enrique BustamanteP1PCharles Payne

Third test

14 August 1927
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg3–34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Isles
Goal from mark: TorinoTry: Douty, Hamilton-Smythe (2),
McIlwaine, Taylor (3)
Con: Hammett (5)
Pen: Hammett
Gimnasia y Esgrima, Buenos Aires
Referee: Thomas Vile (Wales)
ArgentinaBritish Isles
C. DerkheimFB15FBJack Wallens
Norberto EscaryW14W Carl Aarvold
Carlos ReyesC13CErnest Hammett
Marco HernándezC12CArthur Hamilton-Smythe
Llewellyn MakinW11W Edward Taylor
Francisco TorinoFH10FH Roger Spong
Reginald CooperSH9SH Peter Douty
Roberto BottingN88N8 David MacMyn (c)
Arturo Rodríguez Jurado (c)F7FDonald Troup
Antonio PasalaguaF6F George McIlwaine
Rodolfo SerraL5LTom Gubb
José Cuesta SilvaL4L Jimmy Farrell
Alfredo RigantiP3PCharles Payne
Vicente GrimoldiH2HDouglas Law
Enrique BustamanteP1PArthur Allen

Fourth test

21 August 1927
Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg0–43 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Isles
Try: Aarvold (3), Coghlan,
Kelly (2), McIlwaine,
MacMyn, Sobey,
Spong, Wilson
Con: Wilson (5)
Gimnasia y Esgrima, Buenos Aires
Referee: Thomas Vile (Wales)
ArgentinaBritish Isles
A. JacobsFB15FBJack Wallens
César VázquezW14W Carl Aarvold
Carlos ReyesC13C Robert Kelly
Marco HernándezC12CGuy Wilson
Norberto EscaryW11W Edward Taylor
Francisco TorinoFH10FH Roger Spong
Reginald CooperSH9SHWilf Sobey
Roberto BottingN88N8 David MacMyn (c)
Salvador MullerF7FEric Coley
Arturo Rodríguez Jurado (c)F6F George McIlwaine
José Cuesta SilvaL5L Granville Coghlan
Rodolfo SerraL4L Jimmy Farrell
Alfredo RigantiP3PArthur Allen
Vicente GrimoldiH2HDouglas Law
Enrique BustamanteP1PCharles Payne

Aftermath

The British Lions tour on Argentina was a huge success, with a great number of people attending the games in spite of the large defeats to the national team. The RPRU obtained a profit of almost m$n 65,000, [8] which would be invested in mortgage titles to cost future tours with no help from the National State or other government subsidies.

In sporting terms, the tour of the British team of 1927 was of great importance for Argentine rugby, which gave a powerful boost to the expansion of the game in the country. 33 teams were registered to the Union to play at the 1927 domestic championships (four teams more than the previous edition). The boost given by the British team tour also encouraged the creation of new rugby clubs, such as Olivos in 1927 and Los Matreros one year later. [4]

Bibliography

References

  1. El Gráfico No. 424, 20 August 1927
  2. 1927 Argentina on British Lions website (Archive, 21 Jan 2012)
  3. 1927: Argentina by David Walmsley - Genesis Publications on Lions website, May 15, 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Lions (segundo viaje olvidado)" by Ricardo Sabanes on Periodismo Rugby, 24 May 2017
  5. "La pasión cumple 100 años", La Nación, 10 April 1999
  6. B & I Lions - Tour of Argentina 1927 - Full listing
  7. Los Lions en Argentina by Frankie Deges on Mundial XV website, 21 Jan 2013
  8. THE RIVER PLATE RUGBY UNION – INFORME SOBRE LA TEMPORADA 1927 on UAR website (Archive, 4 Mar 2016)