The 1966 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 13th tour of Australasia and took place from June to August 1966. A total of 30 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and a two-game series against New Zealand.
Great Britain failed to regain The Ashes against Australia following their home defeat in 1963, but had more success on the New Zealand leg of the tour, winning all eight games.
Touring squad
The 26-man touring squad was announced on 23 March 1966, with Harry Poole named as captain, and Ken Gowers selected as vice-captain.[1] A few days later, Alex Murphy withdrew from the squad due to business commitments, and was replaced by Ian Brooke.[2] Murphy's withdrawal meant that Brian Edgar was the only member of the squad who had toured previously with the Lions.[3]
Results
Australia
| Northern Territory |
7 – 17 |
Great Britain |
|
[4]
|
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| Far North Queensland |
7 – 48 |
Great Britain |
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[5]
|
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| North Queensland |
17 – 15 |
Great Britain |
|
[6]
|
|
| Central Queensland |
10 – 5 |
Great Britain |
|
[7]
|
|
| Sydney |
14 – 15 |
Great Britain |
|
[8]
|
|
| NSW North Coast |
20 – 52 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| Southern NSW |
17 – 8 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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First Test
| Australia |
13 – 17 |
Great Britain |
Tries: Banks
Goals: Barnes (5)
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[9]
|
Tries: Burgess, Hardisty, Watson
Goals: Keegan (3)
Drop goals: Bishop
|
| Northern NSW |
15 – 13 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| Wide Bay/Burnett |
22 – 30 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| Ipswich |
10 – 44 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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Second Test
| Australia |
6 – 4 |
Great Britain |
Goals: Barnes (3)
|
[10]
|
Goals: Keegan (2)
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| Western NSW |
11 – 38 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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Third Test
| Australia |
19 – 14 |
Great Britain |
Tries: Irvine (3), King, Lynch
Goals: Johns (2)
|
[11]
|
Tries: Hardisty (2)
Goals: Gowers (4)
|
| Riverina |
20 – 34 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| Monaro |
12 – 33 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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New Zealand
| Waikato |
8 – 47 |
Great Britain |
|
|
|
First Test
| New Zealand |
8 – 25 |
Great Britain |
Tries: Christian, Mincham
Goals: Kennedy
|
[12]
|
Tries: Brooke, Burgess, Clarke, Myler, Watson
Goals: Gowers
Drop goals: Gowers
|
| Wellington |
9 – 28 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| West Coast |
5 – 27 |
Great Britain |
|
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| Canterbury |
6 – 53 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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| Taranaki |
17 – 51 |
Great Britain |
|
|
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Second Test
| New Zealand |
14 – 22 |
Great Britain |
Goals: Wiggs (7)
|
[13]
|
Tries: Brooke (2), Aspinall, Burgess
Goals: Gowers (5)
|
External links
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- Wilf Spaven & J. Errock (tour managers)
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Australia
New Zealand
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