Lions Tour History: UK & Ireland Games
- A look at the British & Irish Lions' history on home soil as they prepare to face Argentina in Dublin.
- The British & Irish Lions are set to play Argentina in Dublin, marking their first match in Ireland.while primarily a touring side, the Lions have a history of...
- In 1951,the Lions,then known as the British Lions,played Cardiff RFC in Wales,winning 14-12.
Explore the rich history of the British & Irish Lions’ games in the UK and Ireland, examining landmark moments and notable matches.Learn about the Lions’ upcoming clash wiht Argentina in Dublin and discover how this marks their inaugural match on Irish soil. Uncover the evolution of “Test” match status and review key games since 1951, including a look back at the 1977 Twickenham clash. News Directory 3 provides up-to-date reports on the Lions’ performance, detailing their home record and past encounters. The Lions, though primarily a touring side, have a compelling history of playing home games. Discover what’s next for the Lions and any future matches against France.
British & Irish Lions: A History of Matches in the UK and Ireland
Table of Contents
A look at the British & Irish Lions’ history on home soil as they prepare to face Argentina in Dublin.
The British & Irish Lions are set to play Argentina in Dublin, marking their first match in Ireland.while primarily a touring side, the Lions have a history of playing in the UK, though not always in full Test matches.
Early Matches and Landmark Moments
In 1951,the Lions,then known as the British Lions,played Cardiff RFC in Wales,winning 14-12. They also faced a Wales XV after their 1955 tour, securing a 20-17 victory. Though, the first officially endorsed British & Irish Lions team to play in the UK was in 1977 against the Barbarians at Twickenham, celebrating queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee. The Lions won 23-14,despite facing some past legends.
the Lions’ planned 1986 tour to South Africa was canceled due to political tensions. Instead, they played a match against “The Rest” at Cardiff Arms Park to celebrate the International Rugby Football board’s centenary. A global team including Serge Blanco, John Kirwan, Michael Lynagh, and Nick farr-Jones defeated the Lions 15-7.
In 1990, an unofficial “Four Home Unions” team played the Rest of Europe at Twickenham, raising money for Romania after Nicolae ceaușescu’s overthrow. The Four Home Unions won 43-18.
Return to Cardiff and Beyond
The British & Irish Lions returned to Cardiff in 2005 at the Millennium Stadium, drawing 25-25 against Argentina in a warm-up match. Sixteen years later, they hosted Japan at Murrayfield, winning 28-10 before their tour to South Africa.
Home Record and test Status
The British & Irish Lions have played seven matches at home,winning five,drawing one,and losing one. The definition of a “Test” match has evolved. While some matches, like the 2005 game against argentina, counted as full Tests, others, like the 2021 match against Japan, did not.
The Lions board stated that Test status is awarded only to matches against the host union’s national representative side,except in special cases. Thus, the upcoming match against Argentina will not be considered a Test.
A Foray into France
In 1989, an unofficial British & Irish Lions XV played an exhibition match against a French XV in paris, winning 29-27. There have been talks about the Lions playing France ahead of future tours, potentially becoming a regular fixture.