1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand


In 1959, the British Lions rugby union team toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost the international series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. They also played two matches in Canada, on the return leg of the journey.
Although New Zealand won the series, the results in three of the tests were close. The Lions scored four tries to nil in the first test but six penalties by Don Clarke saw the All Blacks win 18–17. Clarke also scored a late try and conversion to win the second test, 11–8. New Zealand won the third test comfortably by 22–8 to win the series but the fourth test, which the Lions won 9–6, could have gone the All Blacks way had Clarke not missed a late penalty attempt.
Overall the tourists played thirty-three matches, winning twenty-seven and losing six. In Australia the Lions played six matches, winning five and losing one, to New South Wales. In New Zealand they played twenty-five matches, winning twenty and losing five – in addition to their three test defeats they also lost to Otago and Canterbury. They also played two matches in Canada, winning both.
The tour was notable for the 842 points scored in 33 games, a record number of points for a Lions tour and for the 22 tries scored by Tony O'Reilly, also a Lions tour record.
The touring party was captained by Ronnie Dawson. The manager was A. W. Wilson and the assistant manager was O.B. Glasgow.

Touring party

Management

Test matches
DateOpponentLocationResultScore
23 MayVictoriaMelbourne, AustraliaWin53–18
30 MayNew South WalesSydneyLoss14–18
2 JuneQueenslandBrisbane, AustraliaWin39–11
6 JuneBrisbane, AustraliaWin17–6
9 JuneNew South Wales Country DistrictsTamworth, AustraliaWin27–14
13 JuneSydneyWin24–3
20 JuneHawke's BayNapier, New ZealandWin52–12
24 JuneEast Coast-Poverty BayGisborne, New ZealandWin23–14
27 JuneAucklandAucklandWin15–10
1 JulyNew Zealand UniversitiesChristchurch, New ZealandWin25–13
4 JulyOtagoDunedin, New ZealandLoss8–26
8 JulySouth Canterbury, North Otago & Mid CanterburyTimaru, New ZealandWin21–11
11 JulySouthlandInvercargill, New ZealandWin11–6
18 JulyDunedinLoss17–18
22 JulyWest Coast / BullerGreymouth, New ZealandWin58–3
25 JulyCanterburyChristchurchLoss14–20
29 JulyMarlborough, Nelson, Golden Bay & MotuekaBlenheim, New ZealandWin64–5
1 AugustWellingtonWellington, New ZealandWin21–6
5 AugustWanganuiWanganui, New ZealandWin9–6
8 AugustTaranakiNew Plymouth, New ZealandWin15–3
11 AugustManawatu / HorowhenuaPalmerston North, New ZealandWin26–6
15 AugustWellington, New ZealandLoss8–11
19 AugustKing Country / CountiesTaumarunui, New ZealandWin25–5
22 AugustWaikatoHamilton, New ZealandWin14–0
25 AugustWairarapa-BushMasterton, New ZealandWin37–11
29 AugustChristchurchLoss8–22
2 SeptemberNew Zealand JuniorsWellingtonWin29–9
5 SeptemberNew Zealand MāoriAucklandWin12–6
9 SeptemberThames Valley / Bay of Plenty, New ZealandRotoruaWin26–24
12 SeptemberNorth AucklandWhangarei, New ZealandWin35–13
19 SeptemberAucklandWin9–6
British ColumbiaCanadaWin16–11
Eastern CanadaCanadaWin70–6

The matches

First Australia Test

Australia: JK Lenehan, AR Morton, JM Potts, LJ Diett, KJ Donald, AJ Summons, DM Connor, PK Dunn, PG Johnson, KJ Ellis ; JH Carroll, AK Millar ; PT Fenwicke Captain, K Outterside, John Thornett
British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, M Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, AB Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, S Millar, GK Smith, WA Mulcahy, RH Williams, A Ashcroft, J Faull

Second Australia Test

Australia: JK Lenehan, AR Morton, AR Kay, LJ Diett, KJ Donald, AJ Summons, DM Connor ; KJ Ellis, PG Johnson, PK Dunn ; JH Carroll, AK Millar, JE Thornett, K Outterside, PT Fenwicke Captain
British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, D Hewitt, M Price, AJF O'Reilley, AB Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, S Millar, WR Evans, RH Williams, NAA Murphy, RWD Marques, GK Smith

First New Zealand Test

New Zealand: DB Clarke, PT Walsh, RF McMullen, TR Lineen, BE McPhail, RH Brown, RJ Urbahn ; WJ Whineray Captain, RC Hemi, IJ Clarke, SF Hill, BE Finlay, PFH Jones, EAR Pickering, IN MacEwan
British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, MJ Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, ABW Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, BGM Wood, WR Evans, RH Williams, GK Smith, J Faull, NA Murphy

Second New Zealand Test

New Zealand: DB Clarke, ES Diack, RF McMullen, TR Lineen, RW Caulton, JF McCullough, KC Briscoe, WJ Whineray Captain, DS Webb, IJ Clarke, SF Hill, IN MacEwan, CE Meads, RJ Conway, KR Tremain
British Lions: TE Davies, JRC Young, MC Thomas, WM Patterson, AJF O'Reilley, MJ Price, REG Jeeps, S Millar, AR Dawson Captain, HF McLeod, RH Williams, WR Evans, A Ashcroft, RWD Marques, NA Murphy

Third New Zealand Test

New Zealand: DB Clarke, RH Brown, TR Lineen, RW Caulton, JF McCullough, RJ Urbahn, MW Irwin, RC Hemi, WJ Whineray Captain, SF Hill, IN MacEwan, KR Tremain, RJ Conway, CE Meads
British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, MJ Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, JP Horrocks-Taylor, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, BGM Wood, WR Evans, RH Williams, HJ Morgan, J Faull, GK Smith

Fourth New Zealand Test

New Zealand: DB Clarke, BE McPhail, TR Lineen, AH Clarke, RW Caulton, JF McCullough, RJ Urbahn, MW Irwin, RC Hemi, WJ Whineray Captain, SF Hill, CE Meads, EAR Pickering, RJ Conway, KR Tremain
British Lions: TE Davies, PB Jackson, D Hewitt, KJF Scotland, AJF O'Reilley, ABW Risman, AA Mulligan, TR Prosser, AR Dawson Captain, HF McLeod, RH Williams, WA Mulcahy, NA Murphy, J Faull, HJ Morgan