The 1970 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 14th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1970. A total of 24 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.

The tour was one of the most successful in Lions history, with the team winning all but two of the matches. It is also remembered for being the last time that Great Britain won an Ashes series against Australia.

Touring squad

On 4 March 1970, an initial 21 players were selected for the tour, with the remaining players to be named later in the month.[1] On 25 March, seven additional players were chosen to complete the 26-man squad, with Frank Myler named as captain (two of the originally selected players withdrew from the squad – John Mantle withdrew for "domestic reasons", while Jim Mills intended to emigrate to Australia to play for North Sydney).[2]

After the squad was selected, John Stephens withdrew from the tour due to injury, and was replaced by Dennis Hartley.[3] The tour manager was Jack Harding, with Johnny Whiteley as assistant manager and coach.[4]

Results

Australia

22 May 1970
Northern Territory 12 – 35 Great Britain
24 May 1970
North Queensland 20 – 23 Great Britain
26 May 1970
Central Queensland 2 – 30 Great Britain
28 May 1970
Wide Bay 7 – 45 Great Britain
30 May 1970
Queensland 7 – 32 Great Britain

First Test

6 June 1970
Australia 37 – 15 Great Britain
Tries: King (2), Morgan (2), McDonald
Goals: Langlands (9)
Drop goals: Hawthorne (2)
 [5]
 Tries: Flanagan, Laughton, Watson
Goals: Price (3)
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 42,807
Referee: Don Lancashire
7 June 1970
Toowoomba 13 – 37 Great Britain
10 June 1970
Brisbane 7 – 28 Great Britain
13 June 1970
New South Wales 17 – 17 Great Britain
14 June 1970
Monaro 11 – 34 Great Britain

Second Test

20 June 1970
Australia 7 – 28 Great Britain
Tries: King
Goals: McDonald
Drop goals: Hawthorne
 [6]
 Tries: Millward (2), Atkinson, Fisher
Goals: Millward (6)
Drop goals: Hynes, Millward
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 60,962
Referee: Don Lancashire
21 June 1970
Western Australia 11 – 40 Great Britain
23 June 1970
Sydney Colts 7 – 26 Great Britain
27 June 1970
Newcastle 16 – 49 Great Britain
28 June 1970
Riverina 11 – 12 Great Britain

Third Test

4 July 1970
Australia 17 – 21 Great Britain
Tries: McCarthy
Goals: McKean (7)
 [7]
 Tries: Atkinson (2), Hartley, Hynes, Millward
Goals: Millward (3)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 61,258
Referee: Don Lancashire
5 July 1970
Southern NSW 11 – 24 Great Britain

New Zealand

8 July 1970
Northern XIII 17 – 42 Great Britain

First Test

11 July 1970
New Zealand 15 – 19 Great Britain
Tries: Orchard
Goals: Ladner (6)
 [8]
 Tries: Laughton (2), Atkinson, Hynes, Millward
Goals: Hynes (2)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 15,948
Referee: John Percival
14 July 1970
Wellington XIII 8 – 60 Great Britain

Second Test

19 July 1970
New Zealand 9 – 23 Great Britain
Tries: Christian
Goals: Ladner (3)
 [9]
 Tries: Millward (2), Laughton, Myler, Reilly
Goals: Dutton (4)
Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch
Attendance: 8,600
Referee: John Percival
21 July 1970
West Coast 2 – 57 Great Britain

Third Test

25 July 1970
New Zealand 16 – 33 Great Britain
Tries: Bailey, Orchard
Goals: Ladner (5)
 [10]
 Tries: Lowe (2), Hepworth, Hesketh, Hynes, Smith, Watson
Goals: Dutton (5), Millward
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 13,137
Referee: John Percival
27 July 1970
Auckland 8 – 23 Great Britain

Aftermath

The tour was one of the most successful in Lions history, with the team winning 22 out of their 24 matches – their only defeat was the first Test against Australia, with the draw against New South Wales being the only other game they failed to win.[11] The tour made a profit of approximately £60,000.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Mather, Harold (5 March 1970). "Price is chosen for tour". The Guardian. London. p. 22. ProQuest 185364260.
  2. ↑ Mather, Harold (26 March 1970). "Myler captain for tour". The Guardian. London. p. 25. ProQuest 185406705.
  3. ↑ "Hartley in tour party". The Guardian. London. 7 April 1970. p. 17. ProQuest 185491202.
  4. ↑ "'We had arrogance and won Aussie hearts' - The incredible story of the infamous 1970 Lions Tour 50 years on". Hull Daily Mail. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ashes Series 1970 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ashes Series 1970 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Ashes Series 1970 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1970 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1970 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1970 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Johnny Whiteley recalls when Great Britain's Lions last roared in Australia". Sky Sports. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hardisty agrees terms with Sydney club". The Guardian. London. 29 July 1970. p. 16. ProQuest 185411190.
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