RugbyRebels

I had no idea this match had ever been played....

From wikipedia:

The Lions team was selected by the Four Home Unions committee which organises Lions tours. The Lions would have toured South Africa in 1986 if the regular schedule had been followed, but in December 1985 the South African Rugby Board announced they would not be inviting the Lions side to tour South Africa the following year. Political objections to South Africa's apartheid policies including a potential boycott of the 1986 Commonwealth Games and state of emergency in South Africa at the time lay behind this decision. The Lions squad was managed by Clive Rowlands and coached by Mick Doyle.[1] The 21 players selected were issued with Lions' blazers and ties and considered to be official British Lions.[2]

I was at the similar one the following week - that one was 5 Nations vs RotW
Godfather took me to my first trip to Twickenham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Nati ... _Unions_XV

As a 10 year old, I had absolutely no idea about the politics around it

Donny osmond wrote: ↑Sat Jun 14, 2025 11:59 am I had no idea this match had ever been played....

was it in Cardiff? If so, I was there.

eta
it was and I was. Poor game, unfortunately...it pissed down. Schalk Berger's dad played, also called Schalk Berger

The infamous Robert Jones at 9, the box-kicking culprit.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 3:00 pm The infamous Robert Jones at 9, the box-kicking culprit.

Great player. One of the great 9's imo. I'm sure he'd rather be remembered for his rapid long pass and breaking ability. Think the box kicking was a geech tactic for the 89 lions.

Do you think it's the sort of game that could be played today? As in, if a Lions tour got cancelled, do you reckon everyone would agree to some sort of one off invitational?

Yes, but they’d brand it as Barbarians because sponsors.