The 1996 Great Britain Lions tour was a rugby league tour by the Great Britain team which took place from September to November 1996. The tour included games in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand, however due to the ongoing Super League war and with the Australian team under the control of the Australian Rugby League, the team did not play any matches in Australia. The tour was generally considered as a disaster, with Great Britain failing to win any games in New Zealand, and several players being sent home early from the tour in order to cut costs.[ citation needed ]
Great Britain coach Phil Larder selected a 32-man squad to take on the tour. A notable omission from the squad was Martin Offiah, who took part in the previous three Great Britain tours, but had told Larder he did not have the enthusiasm for another six-week tour. [1] Several changes were made to the initial squad selected, as Gary Connolly, Lee Jackson and Jason Robinson were informed they would not be allowed to play due to their contracts with the ARL. [2] There were also a number of other withdrawals, with John Bentley returning to rugby union, and Shaun Edwards, Paul Newlove and Steve McNamara all ruled out due to injury. [3]
Former Wigan second row forward Denis Betts, who was playing with the New Zealand-based Auckland Warriors in the Australian Rugby League premiership, made history with his selection. The 25 test veteran became the first player selected to tour while playing in the Australian premiership and not in the English premiership.
Larder's assistant coaches on the tour were Clive Griffiths and Gary Hetherington and the tour manager was Phil Lowe. Andy Farrell was appointed as the tour captain, with Denis Betts named as vice-captain.
25 September 1996 | PNG President's XIII | 8 – 34 | Great Britain | Rebiamul Oval, Mount Hagen [4] | |
Tries: Itam, Tiki Goals: | [5] | Tries: Senior, Bradbury, Hammond, Lowes, Smith (2) Goals: Prescott (5) | Attendance: 2,059 Referee: Anthony Kuni (Port Moresby) |
28 September 1996 |
Papua New Guinea | 30 – 32 | Great Britain |
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Tries: Ben Biri (2) Robert Sio David Gomia Stanley Gene Adrian Lam Goals: Elias Paiyo (3) | [6] | Tries: Kris Radlinski (2) Anthony Sullivan Bobbie Goulding Keiron Cunningham Goals: Bobbie Goulding (6) |
Papua New Guinea | Great Britain |
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2 October 1996 | Fiji President's XIII | 16 – 42 | Great Britain | Churchill Park, Lautoka [9] | |
Tries: Navale, Baravilala, Koroi Goals: Takaladau (2) | [10] | Tries: Hammond (3), Hayes, Senior, Critchley, Tollett, Cassidy Goals: Prescott (5) | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: T Nunu (Fiji) |
5 October 1996 |
Fiji | 4 – 72 | Great Britain |
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Tries: Samuela Marayawa Goals | [11] | Tries: Bobbie Goulding (3) Stuart Spruce (2) Alan Hunte (2) Daryl Powell (2) Anthony Sullivan Andy Farrell Keith Senior Mick Cassidy Goals: Bobbie Goulding (10) |
Fiji | Great Britain |
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10 October 1996 | Lion Red Cup XIII | 22 – 22 | Great Britain | Carlaw Park, Auckland [14] | |
Tries: Barlow, Hughes, Malietoa-Brown Goals: Lythe (5) | [15] | Tries: Sullivan, Spruce, Cunningham, Powell, Goals: Harris (3) | Attendance: 3,000 Referee: G Wallace (Auckland) |
15 October 1996 | New Zealand XIII | 30 – 22 | Great Britain | Fraser Park, Wellington [16] | |
Tries: Endacott (2), Ropati, Okesene, Taewa, A. Swann Goals: Murray (2) Whittaker | [17] | Tries: Hayes, Mather, Smith, Hammond Goals: Prescott (3) | Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Denis Hale (Auckland) |
18 October 1996 |
New Zealand | 17 – 12 | Great Britain |
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Tries: John Timu (2) Goals: Matthew Ridge (4) Field Goals: Matthew Ridge | [18] | Tries: Alan Hunte Denis Betts Goals: Bobbie Goulding (2) |
New Zealand | Great Britain |
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22 October 1996 | Māori | 40 – 28 | Great Britain | Lowe Walker Stadium, Whangārei [20] | |
Tries: Stevens, Nikau, Murray (2), Ramsey, Gardiner, Walker Goals: Howell (6) | [21] | Tries: Dwyer, Smith, Bradbury, Prescott, Lowes Goals: Prescott (4) | Attendance: 6,000 Referee: G Allcock (Auckland) |
25 October 1996 |
New Zealand | 18 – 15 | Great Britain |
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Tries: Ruben Wiki (2) Gene Ngamu Goals: Matthew Ridge (3) | [22] | Tries: Alan Hunte Denis Betts Goals: Bobbie Goulding (3) Field Goal: Bobbie Goulding |
New Zealand | Great Britain |
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1 November 1996 |
New Zealand | 32 – 12 | Great Britain |
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Tries: Sean Hoppe (2) Marc Ellis Ruben Wiki Gene Ngamu Matthew Ridge Goals: Matthew Ridge (4) | [24] | Tries: Denis Betts Adrian Morley Goals: Bobbie Goulding (2) |
New Zealand | Great Britain |
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Jason Thorpe Robinson is an English former dual-code international rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Playing as a wing or fullback, he won 51 rugby union international caps for England and is the first black man to captain the England team. He was part of the 2003 World Cup winning rugby union England team.
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents Great Britain in rugby league. Administered by the Rugby Football League (RFL), the team is nicknamed The Lions.
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby league football.
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Kristian John Radlinski MBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played mainly as a fullback. He played his entire professional career for his hometown club, Wigan Warriors, making over 300 appearances between 1993 and 2006, and also represented England and Great Britain at international level.
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Philip John Larder MBE, is an English rugby league and rugby union coach, and former player in both codes.
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James Leytham, also known by the nickname of "Gentleman Jim", was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s, 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Lancaster and Wigan (captain), as a wing, i.e. number 2 or 5.
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