1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia

Tour background

The 1888 tour was organised by three professional English cricketers, James Lillywhite, Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury, but they could not obtain patronage from the Rugby Football Union who refused to patronise the tour, though the RFU was happy for the tour to go ahead, provided there was no infringement of the rules of amateurism. The team was led by England's Robert L Seddon and took in 35 games, though no test matches against international opposition. Of the games played the tourists won twenty seven, drew six and lost two matches.

The tour was undertaken by Shaw and Shrewsbury as a purely financial exercise with little regard to producing a "British Isles" team, and the team itself is more often recorded as an English team. The two managers were not unfamiliar with touring sides, having organised cricket teams to Australia, and the rugby tour was a follow on from the financially disastrous England Cricket tour of 1887.

The rugby tour was not an economic success either and lost both managers money. Worse was to occur when team captain Seddon, drowned on 15 August in an accident while sculling on the Hunter River in West Maitland. The captaincy was then passed to Andrew Stoddart a future England rugby captain and Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

A further economic issue that related to the tour was the burgeoning professional movement that was gathering momentum in England at the time. Rugby players and clubs in Britain were divided by the growing belief that players should be paid for their time playing their sport. The growing popularity of the now professional Association Football was causing many, especially in the North of England, to challenge the amateur standing of the union code.

One of the catalysts to the split between amateur union code and the future league code, was when Jack P. Clowes, a member of the 1888 tour, was designated a 'professional' sportsman after he accepted £15 to buy equipment shortly before he left for Australia. The other players on the tour were then required to sign an affidavit to state they were not to be paid for playing rugby when in Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to playing 35 game of rugby union, the Lions team also played 19 games of Victorian Rules Football (later known as Australian rules football). The Lions won 6 of the matches under the Australian rules, despite having no experience with the code prior to the tour.

The uniforms worn by the side on their first tour was a jersey displaying thick red, white and blue hoops, white shorts and dark socks.

Touring party

• Manager: A Shaw and A Shrewsbury

Full Backs

• Tommy Haslam (Batley)
• A.G. Paul (Swinton)

Three-Quarters

• Harry Collinge Speakman (Runcorn)
• Herbert Brooks (Edinburgh University), (Durham)
• Jack Anderton (Salford)
• Andrew Stoddart, (Blackheath)

Half backs

• Walter Bumby (Swinton)
• Johnny Nolan (Rochdale Hornets)
• W. "Willie" Burnet (Hawick)

Forwards

• Robert Seddon (Swinton) (captain)
• Charlie Mathers (Bramley)
• Sam Williams (Salford)
• Tom Banks (Swinton)
• Harry Eagles (Salford)
• Angus Stuart (Dewsbury – Scottish uncapped)
• W.H. Thomas (Cambridge University)
• Tom Kent (Salford)
• A.P. Penketh (Douglas), (Isle of Man)
• R. "Bob" Burnet (Hawick RFC)
• A. J. Laing (Hawick RFC)
• John Smith (Edinburgh University)
• Jack P. Clowes (Halifax)

Two-thirds of the touring party belonged to clubs that, within a few years, would become part of the Northern Rugby Football Union, founding the game of rugby league.

Results

Complete list of matches played by the British Isles in Australia and New Zealand:

Two different scoring systems were in use. For games played in New Zealand and the Australian states of Queensland and South Australia, a try was worth one point, a conversion was worth two points and a drop goal was worth three points. For games played in New South Wales, the points values were; try - two points, conversion - three points, drop goal - four points.

Match details

New Zealand April–May

The points system for matches in New Zealand was one point for a try. Umpires: WD Milne (O) Dr. Smith (B)

Umpires: WD Milne (O), Dr. J Smith (B)

Umpires: AM Ollivier (C), Dr. J Smith (B)

On Monday, 7 May at Lancaster Park, the British played a team of Canterbury footballers in a game under Victorian Rules (Australian Rules Football). The teams were 17-a-side rather than the twenty as was usual at the time. Players in both teams had an incomplete understanding of the rules. The result of the match was a win to the British. Scores: Canterbury nil. British Isles 6. Goals to Speakman 4, Eagles, Smith.

Umpires: AM Ollivier (C), Dr. J Smith (B)

Umpires: S Nicholls (W), S Williams (B).

Umpires: E Davy (R), Dr. J Smith (B)

Umpires: GT Bayly (T), Dr. J Smith (B)

Umpires: J Arneil (A), Dr. J Smith (B)

(Queen's Birthday) Umpires: J Arneil (A), Dr. J Smith (B)

Australia rugby June

The points system for matches in Australia was two points for a try. Umpires: JF McManamey (NSW) Dr. Smith (B)

Umpires: McManamey (NSW), T Banks (B)

Umpires: Clapin (SJ), T Banks (B)

Australian rules June–July

Report Report Report Report Report

Rugby in Adelaide

Umpires: Giles (A) and T Banks (B)

Australian rules late July

The tourists returned to Victoria for six further Victorian Rules matches. Report Report Report

Australia rugby August

Prior to their return to Sydney, the tourists played a game under Rugby rules in Melbourne. The locals were members of the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club. For final preparation and selection they had played a Probables versus Possibles match on the Saturday, 28 July. Umpires: Dr. Willmott (M), Dr. J Smith (B)

Umpires: P Allen (Sydney), Dr Smith (B)

(Past & Present) Umpires: Allen (SGS), Dr. J Smith (B)

Bibliography

Notes

References

References

1. "IRB Hall of Fame 2013 Induction: "The British & Irish Lions and Australia"". International Rugby Board.
2. Thomas, Clem. (2013). "125 Years of the British and Irish Lions: The Official History". Random House.
3. Griffiths (1987), pg 9:3.
4. Griffiths (1990), pg 15.
5. [http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/780.html Robert Seddon rugby statistics] scrum.com. Accessed 7 March 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20200323013452/http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/780.html Archived] 2009-05-03.
6. [http://www.lionsrugby.com/5710.php?PHPSESSID=1f0db26c9ca845611524170106c51d0f Seddon's last hurrah] Lionsrugby.com. Accessed 7 March 2009. [https://archive.today/20120915060355/http://www.lionsrugby.com/5710.php?PHPSESSID=1f0db26c9ca845611524170106c51d0f Archived] 2009-05-03.
7. [https://www.lionsrugby.com/history/1888/04/28/1888-1899-touring-tradition-begins/ 1888 – The Touring tradition begins] on Lions website
8. Smart, Ted ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Rugby: The Definitive Guide to World Rugby Union''; Carlton Books (1997) {{ISBN. 1-85868-076-X
9. (27 June 2013). "The forgotten story of ... the 1888 Lions tour". The Guardian.
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080607011421/http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/412.php Lions change their stripes] on Lions website, 17 April 2005
11. "Cricinfo – Players and Officials – Arthur Paul".
12. Geoffrey Moorhouse. (2013). "At the George: And Other Essays on Rugby League". Faber & Faber.
13. [http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/lions_results.html British & Irish Lions results] on Rugby Football History
14. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4428407.stm Early Lions: Squads and results (1888–1938)] on BBC Sport, 18 May 2005
15. (2024). "Rugby Victoriana". Scratching Shed.
16. (28 Apr 1888). "Football - England v. Otago". National Library of New Zealand.
17. (3 May 1888). "The English Football Team - Second Match Against Otago". National Library of New Zealand.
18. (7 May 1888). "Football - England versus Canterbury". National Library of New Zealand.
19. (8 May 1888). "Football - The English Team - The Victorian Game". National Library of New Zealand.
20. (10 May 1888). "Football - England versus Canterbury". National Library of New Zealand.
21. (10 May 1888). "Anglo-Colonial Football". National Library of New Zealand.
22. (14 May 1888). "Football - England v. Wellington". National Library of New Zealand.
23. (14 May 1888). "Football - Wellington v. The English Team". National Library of New Zealand.
24. (15 May 1888). "Football - England v. Roberts' Team". National Library of New Zealand.
25. (15 May 1888). "Football - England v. Roberts' Team". National Library of New Zealand.
26. (17 May 1888). "Football - The English Team in New Zealand - The Taranaki Match". National Library of New Zealand.
27. (21 May 1888). "Football - England v. Auckland - The First Match". National Library of New Zealand.
28. (12 May 1888). "Athletic Sports". National Library of New Zealand.
29. (25 May 1888). "England v. Auckland - The Return Football Match". National Library of New Zealand.
30. (4 Jun 1888). "International Football Match". National Library of Australia.
31. (4 Jun 1888). "Saturday's Sports". National Library of Australia.
32. (7 Jun 1888). "Grand Football Match". National Library of Australia.
33. (7 Jun 1888). "The English Football Team at Bathurst". National Library of Australia.
34. (11 Jun 1888). "International Football Match". National Library of Australia.
35. (11 Jun 1888). "The Play". National Library of Australia.
36. (11 Jun 1888). "The Teams". National Library of Australia.
37. (12 Jun 1888). "Football - England v. 18 Juniors". National Library of Australia.
38. (12 Jun 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
39. (13 Jun 1888). "The Englishmen in Parramatta". National Library of Australia.
40. (14 Jun 1888). "The English Footballers at Parramatta". National Library of Australia.
41. (9 Jun 1888). "Late Sporting". National Library of Australia.
42. (16 Jun 1888). "International Football Match". National Library of Australia.
43. (18 Jun 1888). "Football - The First International Match - England v Carlton". National Library of Australia.
44. (20 Jun 1888). "International Football". National Library of Australia.
45. (20 Jun 1888). "Sporting Notes". National Library of Australia.
46. (21 Jun 1888). "Sporting Notes - Football - England v. Bendigo". National Library of Australia.
47. (20 Jun 1888). "Football - England v Castlemaine". National Library of Australia.
48. (22 Jun 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
49. (23 Jun 1888). "Football - International - England v. South Melbourne". National Library of Australia.
50. (25 Jun 1888). "Football - South Melbourne v. England". National Library of Australia.
51. (28 Jun 1888). "Sporting News - England v Maryborough". National Library of Australia.
52. (28 Jun 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
53. (30 Jun 1888). "Football - South Ballarat v. Englishmen". National Library of Australia.
54. (2 Jul 1888). "Fitzroy v. England". National Library of Australia.
55. (2 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Fitzroy". National Library of Australia.
56. (4 Jul 1888). "Football - Port Melbourne v. England". National Library of Australia.
57. (9 Jul 1888). "International Football - England v. South Adelaide". National Library of Australia.
58. (11 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Port Adelaide". National Library of Australia.
59. (13 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Adelaide". National Library of Australia.
60. (16 Jul 1888). "Football - Norwood v. England". National Library of Australia.
61. (16 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. South Australia". National Library of Australia.
62. (16 Jul 1888). "Anglo-Australian Football". National Library of Australia.
63. (17 Jul 1888). "Sporting Items - Horsham v. England". National Library of Australia.
64. (20 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Horsham". National Library of Australia.
65. (21 Jul 1888). "Football - Ballarat Imperial v. England". National Library of Australia.
66. (20 Jul 1888). "Sporting News". National Library of Australia.
67. (23 Jul 1888). "Football - Ballarat v. England". National Library of Australia.
68. (26 Jul 1888). "Sporting Notes". National Library of Australia.
69. (26 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Kyneton". National Library of Australia.
70. (28 Jul 1888). "Football - England v. Kyneton". National Library of Australia.
71. (30 Jul 1888). "England v. Essendon". National Library of Australia.
72. (30 Jul 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
73. (2 Aug 1888). "Rugby Union". National Library of Australia.
74. (2 Aug 1888). "Football - Rugby Union Game - England v. Melbourne". National Library of Australia.
75. (2 Aug 1888). "England v. Melbourne Rugby Union". National Library of Australia.
76. (31 Jul 1888). "International Rugby Football". National Library of Australia.
77. (6 Aug 1888). "Football - England v. Combined Seniors". National Library of Australia.
78. (6 Aug 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
79. (6 Aug 1888). "International Football Match". National Library of Australia.
80. (4 Aug 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
81. (7 Aug 1888). "Football". National Library of Australia.
82. (7 Aug 1888). "Football - England v. Sydney Grammar School (Past and Present)". National Library of Australia.