The 1974 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 15th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1974. A total of 28 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.
Touring squad
In March 1974, a 26-man squad was selected for the tour, with Chris Hesketh appointed as captain.[1]
After the squad was selected, Keith Fielding withdrew from the tour as his wife was expecting a baby in June. He was replaced by John Butler.[2] Mike Nicholas was also forced to withdraw due to injuries sustained in the 1974 Challenge Cup final, and was replaced by Jimmy Thompson.[3]
Bill Ramsey and Maurice Richards were called up to replace injured players during the tour.[4]
Results
Australia
Darwin
|
2 – 41
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
North Queensland
|
5 – 30
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Central Queensland
|
0 – 38
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Wide Bay
|
12 – 24
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Ipswich
|
8 – 36
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Queensland
|
12 – 13
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
First Test
Australia
|
12 – 6
|
Great Britain
|
Tries: Orr Goals: Langlands (4)
|
[5]
|
Goals: Clawson (2), Watkins
|
Toowoomba
|
16 – 42
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Brisbane
|
20 – 15
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
North Coast
|
9 – 19
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
North Division NSW
|
14 – 38
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
West Division NSW
|
10 – 25
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
New South Wales
|
12 – 9
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Illawarra
|
22 – 26
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Second Test
Australia
|
11 – 16
|
Great Britain
|
Tries: Coote, Fulton, Lang Goals: Cronin
|
[6]
|
Tries: Chisnall, Dixon, Gill Goals: Gray (3) Drop goals: Gray
|
Monaro
|
7 – 34
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Riverina
|
10 – 36
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Newcastle
|
14 – 24
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Third Test
Australia
|
22 – 18
|
Great Britain
|
Tries: Coote, Langlands, McCarthy, Williamson Goals: Langlands (5)
|
[7]
|
Tries: Dyl, Richards Goals: Gray (6)
|
Southern NSW
|
16 – 10
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
New Zealand
North Island
|
17 – 37
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
First Test
New Zealand
|
13 – 8
|
Great Britain
|
Tries: Stirling Goals: Collicoat (5)
|
[8]
|
Tries: Bevan, Nash Goals: Clawson
|
Maoris
|
16 – 19
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Wellington
|
11 – 39
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Second Test
New Zealand
|
8 – 17
|
Great Britain
|
Goals: Collicoat (4)
|
[9]
|
Tries: Dyl, Hesketh, Redfearn Goals: Gray (4)
|
South Islands
|
2 – 33
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
Third Test
New Zealand
|
0 – 20
|
Great Britain
|
|
[10]
|
Tries: Bevan (2), Dyl, Hesketh Goals: Gray (4)
|
Auckland
|
11 – 2
|
Great Britain
|
|
|
|
References