1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand

In 1966 the British Lions toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against Australia but lost all four internationals against the All Blacks.

1966 British Lions tour to
Australia and New Zealand
DateMay–Sep 1966
Coach(es)Wales John Robins
Tour captain(s)Wales David Watkins
Scotland Mike Campbell-Lamerton
Test series winners(v Australia) British Lions (2–0)
(v New Zealand)  New Zealand (4–0)
Top test point scorer(s)Scotland Stewart Wilson (30)
1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
Summary
P W D L
Total
35 23 03 09
Test match
07 03 00 04
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
2 2 0 0
 New Zealand
4 0 0 4
 Canada
1 1 0 0

Overall the tourists played thirty-five matches, winning twenty-three, losing nine and drawing three. In Australia the Lions played eight matches, winning seven and drawing the other. In New Zealand they played twenty-five matches, winning fifteen, drawing two and losing eight – in addition to their four test defeats they also lost to Southland, Otago, Wellington and Wanganui-King Country. They also played two matches in Canada, winning one and losing one.

The touring party was captained by Mike Campbell-Lamerton. The manager was Des O'Brien and for the first time a Lions touring team had a coach, John Robins, rather than an assistant manager.

Squad edit

Management edit

Backs edit

Forwards edit

Results edit

Complete list of matches played by the British Isles in Australia and New Zealand:[1]

  Test matches

 
The Lions in their second test v. New Zealand
 
The British Isles v. Wellington at Athletic Park
# Date Rival Score Ground/City Country
1 7 May   Western Australia 60–3 Perry Lakes Stadium, Perth Australia
2 11 May   South Australia 38–11 Norwood Oval, Adelaide Australia
3 14 May   Victoria 24–14 Olympic Park, Melbourne Australia
4 18 May   Country 6–3 Manuka Oval, Canberra Australia
5 21 May   New South Wales 6–6 Sydney Australia
6 28 May   Australia 11–8 Cricket Ground, Sydney Australia
7 31 May   Queensland 26–3 Lang Park, Brisbane Australia
8 4 Jun   Australia 31–0 Lang Park, Brisbane Australia
9 11 Jun   Southland 8–14 Rugby Park, Invercargill New Zealand
10 15 Jun   South Canterbury /
  Mid Canterbury /
  North Otago
20–12 Fraser Park, Timaru New Zealand
11 18 Jun   Otago 9–17 Carisbrook, Otago New Zealand
12 22 Jun New Zealand Universities 24–11 Lancaster Park, Christchurch New Zealand
13 25 Jun   Wellington 6–20 Athletic Park, Wellington New Zealand
14 29 Jun   Nelson /
  Marlborough /
  Golden Bay-Motueka
22–14 Trafalgar Park, Nelson New Zealand
15 2 Jul   Taranaki 12–9 Rugby Park, New Plymouth New Zealand
16 6 Jul   Bay of Plenty 6–6 Rugby Park, Rotorua New Zealand
17 9 Jul   North Auckland 6–3 Okara Park, Whangarei New Zealand
18 16 Jul   New Zealand 3–20 Carisbrook, Dunedin New Zealand
19 20 Jul   West Coast-Buller 25–6 Victoria Square, Westport New Zealand
20 23 Jul   Canterbury 8–6 Lancaster Park, Christchurch New Zealand
21 27 Jul   Manawatu /
  Horowhenua
17–8 Showgrounds, Palmerston North New Zealand
22 30 Jul   Auckland 12–6 Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand
23 2 Aug   Wairarapa /
  Bush
9–6 Memorial Park, Masterton New Zealand
24 6 Aug   New Zealand 12–16 Athletic Park, Wellington New Zealand
25 10 Aug   Wanganui /
  King Country
6–12 Cooks Gardens, Wanganui New Zealand
26 13 Aug   New Zealand Māori 16–14 Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand
27 17 Aug   East Coast /
  Poverty Bay
9–6 Rugby Park, Gisborne New Zealand
28 20 Aug   Hawke's Bay 11–11 McLean Park, Napier New Zealand
29 27 Aug   New Zealand 6–19 Lancaster Park, Christchurch New Zealand
30 31 Aug   New Zealand Juniors 9–3 Athletic Park, Wellington New Zealand
31 3 Sep   Waikato 20–9 Rugby Park, Hamilton New Zealand
32 6 Sep   Counties /
  Thames Valley
13–9 Massey Park, Papakura New Zealand
33 10 Sep   New Zealand 11–24 Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand
34 14 Sep   British Columbia 3–8 Vancouver Canada
35 17 Sep   Canada 19–8 Toronto Canada

References edit

  • Thomas, Clem; Thomas, Greg (2005). The History of The British and Irish Lions. Mainstream Books. pp. 133–141. ISBN 1-84596-030-0.
  1. ^ Lions tour 1966 on SkySports.com