1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand

• Tom Helm, forward for Oldham

The two Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Sydney	Brisbane
Royal Agricultural Showground	Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Capacity: 50,000	Capacity: 35,000

Before the test series, the British played three matches against New South Wales, losing the first 14 – 28 and the second 20 – 27.

10,000 people saw the match on 29 May whose margin never went beyond more than five points.[10]

11 June

New South Wales	10 – 23	Northern Union
Tries: Jack Hickey, Dally Messenger Goals: Dally Messenger (2)		Tries: James Lomas (2), Frank Shugars Goals: James Lomas (4) Jim Leytham (1)

Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney Attendance: 27,000[11]

This was the third match and first win of the visitors' series against New South Wales, with their captain, Jim Lomas featuring prominently.[12]

Sydney's Royal Agricultural Showground was the venue for the first Ashes test on Australian soil.[13] Five former Wallaby teammates made their rugby league test debuts for Australia in this match: Charles Russell, John Barnett, Bob Craig, Jack Hickey, and Chris McKivat.

18 June

Australia	20 – 27	Northern Union
Tries: John Barnett Jack Hickey Dally Messenger Charlie Woodhead Goals: Dally Messenger (4)		Tries: Bill Jukes, (3) Jim Leytham (2) Billy Batten Johnny Thomas Goals: Jim Leytham (1) James Lomas (1) Johnny Thomas (1)

Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney Attendance: 42,000 Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

This day also featured a goal-kicking contest between the two sides' captains, Dally Messenger and Jim Lomas, won 3-2 by Lomas

2 July

Australia	17 – 22	Northern Union
Tries: John Barnett Dally Messenger Chris McKivat Robert Craig Bob Tubman Goals: Jack Hickey		Tries: Jim Leytham (4) Johnny Thomas Herbert Kershaw Goals: James Lomas (2) Johnny Thomas (2)

Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Attendance: 18,000[14] Referee: Jack Fihelly

This match also featured a goal-kicking contest, between Dally Messenger, Jim Lomas and Herb Brackenrigg, which the latter won. Queensland's Bill Heidke was awarded the captaincy for this match, the first non-New South Welshman to achieve this honour.[15] In the second test, Australia had gotten off to an early lead over the visitors at 11 nil. Jim Leytham's four tries in this match would remain an unbeaten Ashes record.[16]

The British had thus won the series in two tests.[17][18]

The British team in Brisbane.

It was decided that after the Ashes series, a combined "Australasia" team, comprising the best players of Australia and New Zealand would play a series of matches against the touring Britons. The Australian jersey's sky blue with maroon hoops had black hoops added to it for these matches.[19]

9 July

Australasia	13 – 13	Northern Union
Tries: V Farnsworth, E Courtney, C McKivatt Goals: H Messenger (2)		Tries: J Leytham, A Avery, B Winstanley Goals: J Lomas, J Thomas

Royal Agricultural Society Showground, Sydney Attendance: 45,000[20] Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

The British team were conveyed on to the ground by a group of "Jack tars" in port at Sydney who took the place of the horses that were to pull the drag.[21]

The first points came from an individual effort from Viv Farnsworth that led to him scoring in the corner. Great Britain replied with a penalty goal through Jim Lomas. Courtney got the next try, which Brackenrigg failed to convert. Then it was the visitors' turn to score, with a try to Leytham out wide. Lomas missed the kick, so Australasia were leading 8 – 5 at the half time break. They extended their lead to 13 – 5 before The British made a strong comeback to level the scores with a late try before full-time.[22]

13 July

Australasia	32 – 15	Northern Union
Tries: V Farnsworth, H Messenger, H Brackenrigg, B Spence Goals: H Messenger (5), H Brackenrigg (3), C McKivat (2)		Tries: Riley (2), B Winstanley Goals: J Thomas (3)

Wentworth Park, Sydney Attendance: 15,000[23]

At one stage Great Britain were leading 15 – 5 but at half time were trailing 15 – 17.[24] They scored no more points in the second half, as Australasia overran them.

In the evening following the match, the touring Britons left for New Zealand on the Maheno. The next time the two sides would meet was during the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

New Zealand wore the colours of Red and Yellow with Black bands for the Test match. It was the only time that they wore these colours.[31]

30 July

New Zealand	20 – 52	Northern Union
Tries: Ernie Buckland Ned Hughes Ronald MacDonald George Seagar Goals: Fred Jackson (4)		Tries: Albert Avery (3) Bert Jenkins (2) Herbert Kershaw (2) Jim Leytham (2) Jim Lomas Fred Smith Johnny Thomas Goals: Jim Lomas (6) Johnny Thomas (1) Field Goals: Jim Sharrock (1)

Domain Cricket Ground, Auckland Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Jack Stanaway

The touring British side had been invited to play another match in Australia, so left Auckland for Sydney on 1 August on the SS Maheno after a hearty send-off.[32]