1974 Great Britain Lions tour

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.

1974 Great Britain Lions tour
Date	26 May 1974 – 13 August 1974
Manager	Reg Parker
Coach(es)	Jim Challinor
Tour captain(s)	Chris Hesketh
Top point scorer(s)	John Gray (111)
Top try scorer(s)	David Redfearn (18)
Summary	P W D L
Total	28 21 00 07
Test match	06 03 00 03
Opponent	P W D L
Australia	3 1 0 2
New Zealand	3 2 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour	1970
Next tour	1979

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

26 May 1974

Darwin

North Queensland	5 – 30	Great Britain

30 May 1974

Cairns

Central Queensland	0 – 38	Great Britain

2 June 1974

Rockhampton

Wide Bay	12 – 24	Great Britain

4 June 1974

Maryborough

Ipswich	8 – 36	Great Britain

6 June 1974

Ipswich

Queensland	12 – 13	Great Britain

9 June 1974

Brisbane

First Test

Australia	12 – 6	Great Britain
Tries: Orr Goals: Langlands (4)	[5]	Goals: Clawson (2), Watkins

15 June 1974

Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 30,280 Referee: Don Lancashire

Toowoomba	16 – 42	Great Britain

16 June 1974

Toowoomba

Brisbane	20 – 15	Great Britain

18 June 1974

Brisbane

North Coast	9 – 19	Great Britain

20 June 1974

Grafton

North Division NSW	14 – 38	Great Britain

23 June 1974

Tamworth

West Division NSW	10 – 25	Great Britain

26 June 1974

Orange

New South Wales	12 – 9	Great Britain

29 June 1974

Sydney

Illawarra	22 – 26	Great Britain

30 June 1974

Wollongong

Second Test

Australia	11 – 16	Great Britain
Tries: Coote, Fulton, Lang Goals: Cronin	[6]	Tries: Chisnall, Dixon, Gill Goals: Gray (3) Drop goals: Gray

6 July 1974

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 48,006 Referee: Keith Page

Monaro	7 – 34	Great Britain

7 July 1979

Queanbeyan

Riverina	10 – 36	Great Britain

10 July 1974

Wagga Wagga

Newcastle	14 – 24	Great Britain

13 July 1974

Newcastle

Third Test

Australia	22 – 18	Great Britain
Tries: Coote, Langlands, McCarthy, Williamson Goals: Langlands (5)	[7]	Tries: Dyl, Richards Goals: Gray (6)

20 July 1974

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 55,505 Referee: Keith Page

Southern NSW	16 – 10	Great Britain

21 July 1974

Gosford

New Zealand

North Island	17 – 37	Great Britain

24 July 1974

Huntly

First Test

New Zealand	13 – 8	Great Britain
Tries: Stirling Goals: Collicoat (5)	[8]	Tries: Bevan, Nash Goals: Clawson

27 July 1974

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 10,466 Referee: John Percival

Maoris	16 – 19	Great Britain

30 July 1974

Rotorua

Wellington	11 – 39	Great Britain

1 August 1974

Wellington

Second Test

New Zealand	8 – 17	Great Britain
Goals: Collicoat (4)	[9]	Tries: Dyl, Hesketh, Redfearn Goals: Gray (4)

4 August 1974

Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch Attendance: 6,316 Referee: Peter Yaxley

South Islands	2 – 33	Great Britain

6 August 1974

Greymouth

Third Test

New Zealand	0 – 20	Great Britain
	[10]	Tries: Bevan (2), Dyl, Hesketh Goals: Gray (4)

10 August 1974

Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 11,574 Referee: John Percival

Auckland	11 – 2	Great Britain

13 August 1974

Auckland

References

1. Mather, Harold (5 March 1974). "Dream comes true for Hesketh". The Guardian. London. p. 25. ProQuest 185792319.
2. Mather, Harold (13 March 1974). "Leeds are let down by backs". The Guardian. London. p. 21. ProQuest 185663378.
3. "Oxley is league's choice". The Guardian. London. 16 May 1974. p. 28. ProQuest 185632872.
4. "Brain damage suspected". The Canberra Times. 3 July 1974. p. 28 – via Trove.
5. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
6. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
7. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
8. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
9. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
10. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.