1974 Great Britain Lions tour

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Date26 May 1974 –
13 August 1974
ManagerReg Parker
Coach(es)Jim Challinor
Tour captain(s)Chris Hesketh
1974 Great Britain Lions tour
Date26 May 1974 –
13 August 1974
ManagerReg 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 0 7
Test match
6 3 0 3
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
3 1 0 2
 New Zealand
3 2 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour1970
Next tour1979

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.

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]

During an injury crisis while in New Zealand, tour coach Jim Challinor was forced to come out of retirement just 6 days after turning 40. Although he scored a try in the game against South Island in Greymouth, he suffered an injury during the game that would ultimately result in the loss of a kidney.

Forward John Gray would cause a sensation in Australia and New Zealand with his goal kicking. To that point in rugby league's history, goal kicking was generally the, now known to be less accurate, front-on toe poking style of kick. Gray was the first around the corner kicker seen in Australia. He explained that it was easy to do as it was no different to kicking a soccer ball. Despite being more accurate, the style which is the standard in 2024 took its time to take hold in Australia and although there were around the corner kickers like Ross Conlon and dual rugby international Michael O'Connor in the 1980s, the style didn't really take off until the 1990s thanks to the accuracy of New Zealand kickers such as Matthew Ridge and Daryl Halligan as well as top line Rugby Union kickers such as Grant Fox (All Blacks) and Michael Lynagh (Australia). Gray would go on to play for both North Sydney and Manly-Warringah in the Sydney Premiership during the mid-late 1970s.

* (as sub) and Tests not included in Appearances

Name Position(s) Club Appearances
(as sub)
Tests
(as sub)
Tries Goals Drop goals Points Notes
Kevin AshcroftHooker Warrington13 (1)(1)2006
John AtkinsonWing Leeds880024
Alan BatesScrum-half, Loose forward Dewsbury18(3)2006
John BatesSecond-row Dewsbury2 (3)0000
John BevanWing, Centre, Fullback Warrington12 (1)4150045
Keith BridgesHooker, Prop Featherstone Rovers6 (2)10000
John ButlerUtility Rochdale14 (3)60018
Jim ChallinorCentre St Helens11003
Paul CharltonFullback Salford10 (1)640012
Eric ChisnallSecond-row, Prop, Hooker St Helens13 (1)43009
Terry ClawsonProp Oldham94024048
Colin DixonUtility Salford11 (2)640012
Les DylCentre, Wing Leeds125140042
David EckersleyFullback, Centre St Helens11 (1)1 (1)312033
Ken GillStand-off, Centre Salford11 (2)380024
John GrayProp, Second-row, Hooker Wigan10 (1)5 (1)2521111
Chris Hesketh (c)Centre, Stand-off Salford10 (4)640012
Jim MillsProp Widnes12 (1)32006
Roger MillwardUtility Hull Kingston Rovers8 (1)2 (1)818060
Steve NashScrum-half Featherstone Rovers8 (2)650116
George NichollsLoose forward, Second-row St Helens12640012
Steve NortonLoose forward, Second-row Castleford12 (2)2 (1)50015
Bill RamseyProp, Hooker, Second-row Bradford Northern5 (1)(1)25016
David RedfearnWing, Centre Bradford Northern134172055
Maurice RichardsWing, Fullback Salford8260018
Paul RoseSecond-row, Loose forward, Prop Hull Kingston Rovers11 (1)(1)50015
Jimmy ThompsonSecond-row, Prop, Hooker Featherstone Rovers13 (2)61003
David WatkinsCentre, Fullback Salford5 (2)1212030
David WillicombeCentre, Wing, Fullback Halifax11 (3)180024

Results

Statistics

References

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