1996 Great Britain Lions tour

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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 ]

Contents

Touring squad

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.

NameClubPositionAppearancesTests Tries Goals DGs Points
Denis Betts (vc) Auckland colours.svg Auckland Warriors Second-row6530012
David Bradbury Oldhamcolours.svg Oldham Second-row402008
Paul Broadbent Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles Prop650000
Mick Cassidy Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Second-row512008
Jason Critchley Cougscolours.svg Keighley Cougars Wing301004
Keiron Cunningham Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Hooker 652008
Bernard Dwyer Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Prop411004
Andy Farrell (c) Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Loose forward651004
Bobbie Goulding Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Scrum-half65423163
Karle Hammond Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Stand-off 6250020
Neil Harmon Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Prop400000
Iestyn Harris Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Stand-off 650306
Joey Hayes Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Wing312008
Alan Hunte Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Wing6540016
Chris Joynt Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Second-row640000
James Lowes Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Hooker 402008
Barrie-Jon Mather Western Reds colours.svg Western Reds Centre521004
Nathan McAvoy Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils Wing100000
Brian McDermott Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Prop410000
Steve Molloy Fevcolours.svg Featherstone Rovers Prop620000
Adrian Morley Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Second-row621004
Terry O'Connor Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Prop640000
Rowland Phillips Workingtoncolours.svg Workington Town Loose forward410000
Daryl Powell Cougscolours.svg Keighley Cougars Centre7530012
Steve Prescott Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Fullback 40117038
Kris Radlinski Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Fullback 652008
Jon Roper Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Wing300000
Paul Sculthorpe Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves Loose forward650000
Keith Senior Sheffeagles colours.svg Sheffield Eagles Centre6230012
Tony Smith Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers Scrum-half5240016
Stuart Spruce Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls Fullback 6530012
Anthony Sullivan Saintscolours.svg St. Helens Wing6430012
Tulsen Tollett Broncoscolours.png London Broncos Stand-off 501004

Papua New Guinea

25 September 1996 PNG President's XIII Papua New Guinea colours.svg 8 – 34 Great Britain colours.svg 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  Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg30 – 32Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
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)
Lae Oval, Lae [7] [8]
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Steve Clark Flag of Australia (converted).svg
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Papua New Guinea
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Great Britain
FB1 Robert Sio
RW2 James Kops
RC3 Marcus Bai
LC4 Robert Tela
LW5 David Gomia
FE6 Stanley Gene
HB7 Adrian Lam (c)
PR8 Ben Biri
HK9 Elias Paiyo
PR10 Raymond Kahl
SR11 Nande Yer
SR12 David Westley
LF13 Bruce Mamando
Substitutions:
IC14 Simon Kundi
IC15 Ruben Ruing
IC16 Max Tiri
IC17 Obert Batia
Coach:
FB1 Bullscolours.svg Stuart Spruce
RW2 Saintscolours.svg Joey Hayes
RC3 Wigancolours.svg Kris Radlinski
LC4 Saintscolours.svg Alan Hunte
LW5 Saintscolours.svg Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Wolvescolours.svg Iestyn Harris
SH7 Saintscolours.svg Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Sheffeagles colours.svg Paul Broadbent
HK9 Saintscolours.svg Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Wigancolours.svg Terry O'Connor
SR11 Auckland colours.svg Denis Betts
SR12 Saintscolours.svg Chris Joynt
LK13 Wigancolours.svg Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Castleford colours.svg Tony Smith
IC15 Workingtoncolours.svg Rowland Phillips
IC16 Cougscolours.svg Daryl Powell
IC17 Wolvescolours.svg Paul Sculthorpe
Coach:Bob Bennett
Flag of England.svg Phil Larder

Fiji

2 October 1996Fiji President's XIII Fijibaticolours.PNG 16 – 42 Great Britain colours.svg 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  Flag of Fiji.svg4 – 72Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
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)
Prince Charles Park, Nadi [12] [13]
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Jim Stokes Flag of New Zealand.svg
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Fiji
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Great Britain
FB1 Waisale Sovatabua
RW2P. Baravilula
RC3 Manoa Thompson
LC4 Joe Tamani
LW5S. Tulevu
FE6I. Ratudina
HB7 Kaleveti Naisoro
PR8 Pio Nakubuwai (c)
HK9M. Kaidroki
PR10 Malakai Kaunivalu
SR11 Josaia Dakuitoga
SR12 Ian Saigatu
LF13 Livai Nalagilagi
Substitutions:
IC14 Vula Dakuitoga
IC15 Samuela Marayawa
IC16 Waisale Vatubua
IC17 Ulaiasi Wainidroa
Coach:
FB1 Bullscolours.svg Stuart Spruce
RW2 Saintscolours.svg Alan Hunte
RC3 Wigancolours.svg Kris Radlinski
LC4 Cougscolours.svg Daryl Powell
LW5 Saintscolours.svg Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Wolvescolours.svg Iestyn Harris
SH7 Saintscolours.svg Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Sheffeagles colours.svg Paul Broadbent
HK9 Saintscolours.svg Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Bullscolours.svg Brian McDermott
SR11 Auckland colours.svg Denis Betts
SR12 Wolvescolours.svg Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Wigancolours.svg Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Castleford colours.svg Tony Smith
IC15 Sheffeagles colours.svg Keith Senior
IC16 Fevcolours.svg Steve Molloy
IC17 Wigancolours.svg Mick Cassidy
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Phil Larder

New Zealand

10 October 1996 Lion Red Cup XIII Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg 22 – 22 Great Britain colours.svg 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 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 30 – 22 Great Britain colours.svg 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)

First Test

18 October 1996
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg17 – 12Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Tries:
John Timu (2)

Goals:
Matthew Ridge (4)
Field Goals:
Matthew Ridge
[18]
Tries:
Alan Hunte
Denis Betts
Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (2)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland [19]
Attendance: 7,400
Referee: Bill Harrigan Flag of Australia (converted).svg
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New Zealand
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Great Britain
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Matthew Ridge (c)
RW2 Canberra colours.svg Sean Hoppe
RC3 Auckland colours.svg Richie Blackmore
LC4 Canterbury colours.svg John Timu
LW5 Cronulla colours.svg Richie Barnett
FE6 Auckland colours.svg Gene Ngamu
HB7 Auckland colours.svg Stacey Jones
PR8 South Queensland colours.svg Grant Young
HK9 Auckland colours.svg Syd Eru
PR10 Canberra colours.svg Quentin Pongia
SR11 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Tony Iro
SR12 Auckland colours.svg Stephen Kearney
LF13 South Sydney colours.svg Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC14 Auckland colours.svg Marc Ellis
IC15 Auckland colours.svg Joe Vagana
IC16 Canberra colours.svg Ruben Wiki
IC17 Auckland colours.svg Logan Swann
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Endacott
FB1 Bullscolours.svg Stuart Spruce
RW2 Saintscolours.svg Alan Hunte
RC3 Wigancolours.svg Kris Radlinski
LC4 Cougscolours.svg Daryl Powell
LW5 Saintscolours.svg Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Wolvescolours.svg Iestyn Harris
SH7 Saintscolours.svg Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Sheffeagles colours.svg Paul Broadbent
HK9 Saintscolours.svg Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Wigancolours.svg Terry O'Connor
SR11 Auckland colours.svg Denis Betts
SR12 Wolvescolours.svg Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Wigancolours.svg Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Castleford colours.svg Tony Smith
IC15 Saintscolours.svg Chris Joynt
IC16 Sheffeagles colours.svg Keith Senior
IC17 Rhinoscolours.svg Adrian Morley
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Phil Larder

22 October 1996 Māori  Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg40 – 28 Great Britain colours.svg 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)

2nd Test

3rd Test

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References

General

Specific

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  2. Hadfield, Dave (21 August 1996). "Larder looks to Roper and Hunte" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  3. Irvine, Christopher (21 September 1996). "Larder's strange faces in unfamiliar places". The Times. London. ProQuest   318624430.
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  5. PNG President's XIII vs Great Britain
  6. Report Papua New Guinea vs Great Britain
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  8. Hadfield, Dave (30 September 1996). "Farrell leads Lions out of Kumul fire" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  9. "1996 Tour Match: Fiji Presidents Select XIII 16 Great Britain 42". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  10. Fiji President's XIII vs Great Britain
  11. Fiji vs Great Britain
  12. "1996 Test Match: Fiji 4 Great Britain 72". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  13. Hadfield, Dave (7 October 1996). "Rugby League: Lions ready for tougher tasks in NZ". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
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  15. Lion Red Cup XIII vs Great Britain
  16. "1996 Tour Match: New Zealand Select XIII 30 Great Britain 22". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  17. New Zealand XIII vs Great Britain
  18. 1st Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
  19. "1996 First Test: New Zealand 17 Great Britain 12". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  20. "1996 Tour Match: New Zealand Maoris 40 Great Britain 28". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  21. Māori vs Great Britain
  22. 2nd Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
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  24. 3rd Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
  25. "1996 Third Test: New Zealand 32 Great Britain 12". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.