Alfs 2:18 Mon Nov 18
British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
|
I'm doing some background research of this infamous tour of 'The Invincibles' for a script. I vaguely remember the hoohaa but I was only 12 and much of it passed me by.
I'm wondering what the older, esteemed WHOers remember about it.
Did you agree/disagree with the RFU defying the government and allowing the tour to go ahead?
As the wins mounted up did the nation begin to pay attention?
Should politics have a place in sport at all?
If you're unfamiliar with the story it's truly an incredible and inspiring one and I hope it will be in a cinema near you in 2022 - when the Lions again tour S Africa.
|
|
|
Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
normannomates
2:39 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Just heard Tom Smith has stage 4 cancer..thats winded me.. Nice fella.
I hope he makes it.. That's pissed me off
|
normannomates
2:33 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
*ADRIAN.. HAHA
|
normannomates
2:32 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
ANDRIAN MORLEY IS.. WITHOUT QUESTION.. THE HARDEST CUNT I'VE EVER KNOWN... AND I'VE KNOWN PLENTY OF HARD CUNTS IN MY TIME
|
normannomates
2:29 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
What its All about though eh.. Brother's sticking together and mangling the oppo.. Can't beat it.
Hope you all well
|
normannomates
2:26 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
I liked Munch.. Pit Bull.. and Leonard..
I fucking despised the OB bully boys Dooley and Ackford.. Proper cunts
|
Alfs
1:36 Fri Nov 22
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
I've just discovered that the whole 99 thing is a myth - from the mouth of Willie John Mcbride.
Gutted.
|
10thofMay
4:21 Thu Nov 21
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Northern Sold 1:18 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
Sold,
Brilliant.
|
Valley Hammer
12:47 Thu Nov 21
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
I'll look forward to your work Alfa.
Just one point, though, the next Lions tour to SA is 2021. Better get your skates on.
|
Alfs
3:12 Wed Nov 20
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Great article, Sold. That anecdote will certainly find it's way into the script.
|
Northern Sold
3:09 Wed Nov 20
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Medway....ha ha ha!!!!! What the fuck was that all about!!!
|
gph
12:42 Wed Nov 20
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Lions went extinct in Britain about 15000 years ago, which I think is before 1974.
|
zebthecat
12:23 Wed Nov 20
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Northern Sold 1:18 Mon Nov 18
Loved that Sold.
Paddy Mayne was totally unhinged and going on tour with him must have been a nightmare but certainly not boring.
He did amazing things in WW2 and that situation was tailor made for someone like him where a clever guy who is easily bored and immune to danger can thrive.
|
medwayhammer1
12:04 Wed Nov 20
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Dont always agree with Norman, but he is bang on with his post...LEAGUE always had the superiour BIFF! If no one has seen this you got to check this out....properly kicking off between NZ and the Cook Islands at the fucking Hakka!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wakoZWSgXLY
|
Badhabit
11:04 Tue Nov 19
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Seem to recall the great man Willie John McBride taking the law into his own hands on finding a Bok messing on the wrong side of a ruck and sending him back over the top with a sweet upper cut. These guys were legends and gentlemen. I met Barry John about 1973 at a sports centre when I was on a schools rugby tour in the Cardiff area; the word was that he walked down the River Taff to get there!
|
Northern Sold
10:12 Tue Nov 19
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Bennett on those rock hard Bok grounds was virtually unplayable... couldn;t land a glove on him
|
Alfs
7:38 Tue Nov 19
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Barry John actually retired when he was at his peak (27). He hated all of the publicity and being famous bit. Legend has it that the final straw was that he walked into his local bank and the cashier curtsied.
Genius player and Phill Bennett did a formidable job in replacing him.
I read yesterday that the Lions of 74 got 75p a day expenses - how things have changed..
|
joyo
2:49 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Before my time, but saw a fantastic documentary on this tour few years ago.
|
Northern Sold
1:58 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Cough... John was the star of the 71 tour to NZ... he never went to the 74 tour (think he got himself a good job and could not afford to go??) so Phil Bennett took over 10 (Fly half) duties
|
Far Cough
1:33 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Sold, would this be the time of Barry John?
|
Northern Sold
1:30 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Remember there was shit loads of demonstrations with games getting invaded by protesters... as far as I remember the players were given a choice... a few decided not to go ... John Taylor the taff rings a bell?? Because it was a amateur game I remember the stories of whole communities in Wales doing fund raising to send their local boy on tour...different world
|
Sven Roeder
1:22 Mon Nov 18
Re: British Lions Tour of S Africa - 1974
|
Given the White Saffa’s love of sport I think it was the sporting boycotts that helped end apartheid.
The rugby lions went again in 1980 I believe and England in 1984.
S Africa were thrown out of the football World Cup in the early 1960’s and believe Sir Stanley Rous of the FA went there to try and negotiate their return to competition on a non racist basis.
The South Africans suggested sending an all white team to the 1966 World Cup and an all black one in 1970.
This was rejected
|
| 
