1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand

none March 2014 April 2026 British Lions 1977 18 May  – 16 August WAL John Dawes WAL Phil Bennett NZL 3–1 WAL Phil Bennett (18) South Africa 1974 South Africa 1980 26 21 0 5 4 1 0 3 NZL 4 1 0 3 In 1977, the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. The Lions played 26 matches, including four internationals against the All Blacks. They lost the series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. The team played as the British Isles in their internationals against the All Blacks and the British Lions for the non-international games. Unlike all previous tours to New Zealand, the Lions did not play any matches in Australia, though one game was also played at Buckhurst Park, Suva, against Fiji. The Lions tourists left London on 10 May 1977 and returned on 19 August. Of their 26 matches on tour, they won 21 and lost 5. Although the Lions lost the test series against the All Blacks they were level 1–1 after the second international and came close to drawing the series; they led 9–6 going into injury time in the fourth test only to concede a match-winning try scored by Lawrie Knight. Outside the test series, the Lions beat all their New Zealand provincial opponents as well as the NZ Maori and NZ Juniors representative teams, losing only to the New Zealand Universities team four days before the first international – this was the first defeat for a Lions team since the 1971 tourists lost the second test to the All Blacks on the same Christchurch ground and ended an unbeaten run of thirty-nine matches for the Lions. It was during the Junior All Blacks game that the famous 'Mudman' image of Fran Cotton, waiting for the ball at a line-out while caked head-to-toe in mud, was taken. Captured by Colorsport's Colin Elsey, it became one of the iconic images of rugby union. On their way home, in August 1977, the Lions stopped off to play Fiji for the first time and suffered their fifth defeat of the tour, Fiji winning 25–21. A team selected from the Lions touring party played one further match, against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 10 September 1977, to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The Lions won by 23–14 in front of a capacity crowd, having led 15–0 at half-time.(Rothmans, Jenkins ed.pp140-141) Squad The touring party as originally announced contained 17 players from Wales (including the as-yet uncapped Elgan Rees and Brynmor Williams), 5 from England, 5 from Scotland and 3 from Ireland. Geoff Wheel had to withdraw on medical advice before the touring party left and was replaced by Moss Keane. Roger Uttley aggravated a back injury at the get-together prior to leaving and was subsequently replaced by Jeff Squire. Bill Beaumont, Charlie Faulkner and Alun Lewis joined the tour party later in New Zealand as replacements – Lewis never played international rugby for Wales. Several senior players made themselves unavailable to tour.https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/19435824/injuries-intolerable-hope-1977-british-irish-lions-tour-new-zealand-series-defeat-all-blacks Injuries & hope: The '77 Lions tour 23 May 2017 ESPN.com Management Manager George Burrell (Scotland) Coach John Dawes (Wales) Backs 22em Phil Bennett (Llanelli and Wales) Captain John D Bevan (Aberavon and Wales) David Burcher (Newport and Wales) Gareth Evans (Newport and Wales) Steve Fenwick (Bridgend and Wales) Mike Gibson (North of Ireland FC and Ireland) Bruce Hay (Boroughmuir and Scotland) Andy Irvine (Heriot's FP and Scotland) Alun Lewis (Cambridge University and London Welsh) uncapped 1 1 Ian McGeechan (Headingley and Scotland) Dougie Morgan (Stewart's Melville FP and Scotland) Elgan Rees (Neath) uncapped 1 1 Peter Squires (Harrogate and England) Brynmor Williams (Cardiff) uncapped 1 1 J.J. Williams (Llanelli and Wales) Forwards 22em Bill Beaumont (Fylde and England) Gordon Brown (West of Scotland and Scotland) Terry Cobner (Pontypool and Wales) Fran Cotton (Sale and England) Willie Duggan (Blackrock College and Ireland) Trefor Evans (Swansea and Wales) Charlie Faulkner (Pontypool and Wales) Nigel Horton (Moseley and England) Moss Keane (Lansdowne and Ireland) Allan Martin (Aberavon and Wales) Tony Neary (Broughton Park and England) Philip Orr (Old Wesley and Ireland) Graham Price (Pontypool and Wales) Derek Quinnell (Llanelli and Wales) Jeff Squire (Newport and Wales) Peter Wheeler (Leicester and England) Clive Williams (Aberavon and Wales) Bobby Windsor (Pontypool and Wales) uncapped 1 1 Elgan Rees, Brynmor Williams and Alun Lewis were uncapped at the time of the 1977 tour; Rees and Williams were subsequently capped by Wales. Results DateOpponentLocationResultScore18 MayWairarapa BushMemorial Park, MastertonWon41–1321 MayHawke's BayMcLean Park, NapierWon13–1125 MayPoverty Bay / East CoastRugby Park, GisborneWon25–628 MayTaranakiWestown Park, New PlymouthWon21–131 JuneKing Country / WanganuiTaumarunui Domain, TaumarunuiWon60–94 JuneManawatu / HorowhenuaShowgrounds Oval, Palmerston NorthWon18–128 JuneOtagoCarisbrook, DunedinWon12–711 JuneSouthlandRugby Park, InvercargillWon20–1214 JuneNew Zealand UniversitiesLancaster Park, ChristchurchLost9–2118 JuneNew ZealandAthletic Park, WellingtonLost12–1622 JuneHanan Shield DistrictsFraser Park, TimaruWon45–625 JuneCanterburyLancaster Park, ChristchurchWon14–1329 JuneWest Coast-BullerWestportWon45–02 JulyWellingtonAthletic Park, WellingtonWon13–65 JulyMarlborough / Nelson BaysLansdowne Park, BlenheimWon40–239 JulyNew ZealandLancaster Park, ChristchurchWon13–913 JulyNew Zealand MaorisEden Park, AucklandWon22–1916 JulyWaikatoRugby Park, HamiltonWon18–1320 JulyNew Zealand JuniorsAthletic Park, WellingtonWon19–923 JulyAucklandEden Park, AucklandWon34–1530 JulyNew ZealandCarisbrook, DunedinLost7–193 August Counties / Thames ValleyPukekohe Stadium, PukekoheWon35–106 AugustNorth AucklandOkara Park, WhangāreiWon18–79 AugustBay of PlentyRotoruaWon23–1613 AugustNew ZealandEden Park, AucklandLost9–1016 AugustFijiBuckhurst Park, SuvaLost21–25 Test matches First Test 18 June 1977 NZL 16–12 British Isles Report Try: GoingJohnstoneBattyCon: Williams (2) Pen: Bennett (3)Irvine Athletic Park, Wellington 43,000 P. McDavitt (New Zealand) New Zealand: Colin Farrell, Bryan Williams, Bruce Robertson, Bill Osborne, Grant Batty, Duncan Robertson, Sid Going, Brad Johnstone, Tane Norton (c), Kent Lambert, Andy Haden, Frank Oliver, Kevin Eveleigh, Ian Kirkpatrick, Lawrie Knight British Lions: Irvine, Squires, Fenwick, McGeechan, J. J. Williams, Bennett (c), B. Williams, Orr, Windsor, Price, Martin, Keane, Cobner, T. Evans, Duggan Second Test 9 July 1977 NZL 9–13 British Isles Report Pen: Williams (3) Try: J. J. WilliamsPen: Bennett (3) Lancaster Park, Christchurch 50,000 B. Duffy (New Zealand) New Zealand: Colin Farrell, Bryan Williams, Bill Osborne, Lyn Jaffray, Mark Taylor, Doug Bruce, Sid Going, Brad Johnstone, Tane Norton (c), Billy Bush, Andy Haden, Frank Oliver, Kevin Eveleigh, Ian Kirkpatrick, Lawrie Knight British Lions: Irvine, J. J. Williams, Fenwick, McGeechan, G. Evans, Bennett (c), B. Williams, Cotton, Wheeler, Price, Beaumont, Brown, Cobner, Quinnell, Duggan Third Test 30 July 1977 NZL 19–7 British Isles Report Try: KirkpatrickHadenCon: WilsonPen: Wilson (2)Drop: Robertson Try:DugganPen: Irvine Carisbrook, Dunedin 34,000 D. Millar (New Zealand) New Zealand: Bevan Wilson, Bryan Williams, Bruce Robertson, Bill Osborne, Brian Ford, Doug Bruce, Lyn Davis, John McEldowney, Tane Norton (c), Billy Bush, Andy Haden, Frank Oliver, Graham Mourie, Ian Kirkpatrick, Lawrie Knight British Lions: Irvine, J. J. Williams (rep McGeechan), Burcher, Fenwick, G. Evans, Bennett (c), B. Williams (rep Morgan), Cotton, Wheeler, Price, Beaumont, Brown, Cobner, Quinnell, Duggan Fourth Test 13 August 1977 NZL 10–9 British Isles Report Try: Knight Pen: Wilson (2) Try: MorganCon: MorganPen: Morgan Eden Park, Auckland 58,000 D. Millar (New Zealand) New Zealand: Bevan Wilson, Bryan Williams, Bruce Robertson, Bill Osborne, Brian Ford (rep Mark Taylor), Doug Bruce, Lyn Davis, John McEldowney (rep Billy Bush), Tane Norton (c), Kent Lambert, Andy Haden, Frank Oliver, Graham Mourie, Ian Kirkpatrick, Lawrie Knight British Lions: Irvine, Rees, Fenwick, McGeechan, G. Evans, Bennett (c), Morgan, Cotton, Wheeler, Price, Beaumont, Brown, Neary, Squire, Duggan vs Fiji 16 August 1977 FIJ 25–21 British Isles Try: Narisia (2) Rauto Kaunikoro Racika Con: RautoDrop: Tikoisuva Try: Bennett Beaumont BurcherCon: Bennett (3)Pen: Bennett Buckhurst Park, Suva 20,000 S. Koroi (Fiji) Fiji: Kemueli Musunamasi, Joape Kaunikoro, Senitiki Nasave, Qele Ratu, Wame Gavidi, Pio Bosco Tikoisuva (c), Samisoni Viriviri, Josefa Rauto, Atonio Racika, Nimilote Ratudina, Ilaitia Tuisese, Ilisoni Taoba, Rupeni Qaraniqio, Vuata Narisia, Viliame Ratudradra British Lions: Irvine, G. Evans, McGeechan, Burcher, Bennett (c), Bevan, Lewis, Faulkner, Windsor, Price, Beaumont, Martin, Neary, T. Evans (rep Brown), Squire Tour matches 18 May 1977 Wairarapa Bush 13–41 Lions Masterton A. Taylor McGlashan, Paton Squires, J. J. Williams (3), Burcher (2), Cobner (2) Kjestrup Bennett (3) Kjestrup Bennett 21 May 1977 Hawke's Bay 11–13 Lions McLean Park, Napier W. Adlam Stuart, Taylor Irvine Tocker Fenwick (3) 25 May 1977 Poverty Bay-East Coast 6–25 Lions Gisborne M. Farnworth McGeechan (2), G. Evans Morgan (2) W. Isaac (2) Morgan (3) 28 May 1977 Taranaki 13–21 Lions New Plymouth P. McDavitt O'Sullivan Irvine, J. J. Williams Irvine, Bennett Martin Irvine (2), Bennett Martin (2) 1 June 1977 King Country-Whanganui 9–60 Lions Taumarunui J. Walker Snowden Irvine (5), J. J. Williams (2), Bennett, Quinnell, Squire, B. Williams Hill Bennett (8) Hill 4 June 1977 Manawatu-Horowhenua 12–18 Lions Palmerston North Tom Doocey B. Williams, Fenwick, Hay, C. Williams Fenwick Rollerson (3) Morris Bibliography Thomas Clem Clem Thomas Thomas Greg The History of The British and Irish Lions 2005 Mainstream Books 1-84596-030-0 175–183 Hopkins John Life with the Lions – The Inside Story of the 1977 New Zealand Tour 1977 Stanley Paul & Co Ltd 0-09-131740-1 Vivian Jenkins Vivian Jenkins Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1978–79 Macdonald and Jane's 0-354-09047-X 18–31 References External links http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/asp/container_pages/normal_menu/rmArticle.asp?IDID=158 The 1977 Lions rugbymuseum.co.nz 11 February 2008 https://archive.today/20130222234415/http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/asp/container_pages/normal_menu/rmArticle.asp?IDID=158 22 February 2013 dead dmy-all Category:British & Irish Lions tours of New Zealand British Lions Category:Rugby union tours of Fiji 1977 1977 British Lions Lions Tour British Lions Lions