The British and Irish Lions are a combined rugby team made up of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Although officially established in 1910, Lions sides have been visiting the Southern Hemisphere since 1888 when the first team toured Australia and New Zealand.

Formally known as the British Isles, the team was nicknamed the Lions in the inter-war period after the emblem on the players’ jersey and lapel badges. The team visits Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on a rotational basis. The tours are hugely popular with Lions fans travelling in their thousands to follow the fortunes of their team.

This will mark the 11th tour to New Zealand by the Lions and the first rugby tour to New Zealand in the professional era. The Lions last toured New Zealand in 1993.

Out of a total of 35 Tests played between New Zealand and the Lions, New Zealand has won 26 to the Lions’ six with three drawn. The Lions’ only series victory in New Zealand was in 1971 when the tourists prevailed 2-1, with one drawn Test.

The All Blacks achieved their biggest winning margin against the Lions during their 1983 tour, beating the visitors 38–6. The Lions’ biggest Test win was on the 1993 tour when they beat the All Blacks 20-7.

Facts and stats

The British and Irish Lions will be making their 11th visit to New Zealand.

• An estimated 15,000 British and Irish Lions fans are coming to New Zealand to watch the Lions. The majority of fans will come for the three Tests.
• A cruise ship has been booked for the tour. The Pacific Sky, which can accommodate around 1,200 people, has been booked by UK travel agent, Gullivers Travel.
• An estimated 1,000 – 1,500 campervans will be travelling around the country during the tour. They will be joined by an estimated 150-180 tour buses.
• The British and Irish Lions team will be coached by England’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward who will bring 44 players and 27 management staff.
• The NZRU will be holding a public ballot for tickets to the Lions matches. People will have to register for the ballot in November and December this year. The ballot will be drawn in February next year.
• The Lions Tour is conservatively expected to generate more than $50 million to the New Zealand economy.
• There will be an estimated 150,000 tickets to Lions matches in the public ballot.

All Blacks records against the Lions

Highest score: 38-6 in 1983
Biggest winning margin: 32 (38-6) in 1983
Most tries in a Test: 9 in 1908
Most consecutive wins: 7 1977-93

By a Player
Most points in a Test: 18 (6p) Don Clarke 1959, 18 (1t, 4c, 2p) Alan Hewson 1983
Most tries in a Test: 3 Frank Mitchinson 1908, 3 Stu Wilson 1983
Most points in a career: 46 Alan Hewson
Most tries in a career: 5 Frank Mitchinson
Most conversions in a career: 8 Mick Williment
Most penalties in a career: 9 Don Clarke, 9 Alan Hewson
Most droppped goals: 2 Mac Herewini

Lions’ records against the All Blacks

Highest score: 20-7 in 1993
Biggest winning margin: 13 (20-7) in 1993
Most tries in a Test: 4 in 1959
Most consecutive wins: not more than one

By a Player
Most points in a Test: 18 (6p) Gavin Hastings 1993
Most tries in a Test: 2 Carl Aarvold 1930, 2 Malcolm Price 1959, 2 Gerald Davies 1971
Most points in a career: 40 (2c,12p) Gavin Hastings
Most tries in a career: 3 Carl Aarvold, 3 Gerald Davies
Most conversions in a career: 3 Barry John
Most penalties in a career: 12 Gavin Hastings
Most dropped goals: 2 Barry John

Lions’ records on tour in New Zealand

Highest score: 64-5 v Marlborough Nelson Golden Bay- Motueka 1959
Most tries in a match: 14 v West coast Buller 1959

By a Player
Most points on tour: 180 Barry John 1971
Most tries on tour: 17 Tony O’Reilly 1959
Most points in a match: 25 (8c,3p) Malcolm Thomas v Marlborough Nelson Golden Bay-Motueka 1959
Most tries in a match: 6 David Duckham v West Coast Buller 1971

The most points scored against the Lions in a provincial match in New
Zealand is: 18 (1t,1c,4p) by Robbie Deans for Canterbury in 1983.

Rugby points of interest

• Bill Rowlands played prop for Wairarapa Bush against the Lions in 1966, 1971, 1977 and 1983. Rowlands, a son-in-law of George Nepia, captained in the 1977 encounter.

• Irish midfield back Mike Gibson toured New Zealand with the 1966, 1971 and 1977 Lions’ teams, during which time he played 45 matches, scored 16 tries and 80 points. In between time he played in all seven matches played by the 1975 Irish side, scoring a further seven points.

• Colin Meads has played against the Lions a record 14 times including 11 Test matches, from three in 1959; four in 1966 and four in 1971. His three provincial matches were for King Country Counties in 1959, for Wanganui King Country in 1966 and 1971. He was captain for the four tests in 1971 and for the three provincial games. From these 14 matches he was on the winning side on eight occasions with five losses and a draw.

• The best provincial performances against the Lions have been recorded by Auckland with six victories and a draw; Otago five victories and a draw and Canterbury with four victories.