1996 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1996 Great Britain Lions tour was a rugby league tour by the Great Britain team which took place from September to November 1996. The tour included games in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand, however due to the ongoing Super League war and with the Australian team under the control of the Australian Rugby League, the team did not play any matches in Australia. The tour was generally considered as a disaster, with Great Britain failing to win any games in New Zealand, and several players being sent home early from the tour in order to cut costs.

Touring squad

Great Britain coach Phil Larder selected a 32-man squad to take on the tour. A notable omission from the squad was Martin Offiah, who took part in the previous three Great Britain tours, but had told Larder he did not have the enthusiasm for another six-week tour.[1] Several changes were made to the initial squad selected, as Gary Connolly, Lee Jackson and Jason Robinson were informed they would not be allowed to play due to their contracts with the ARL.[2] There were also a number of other withdrawals, with John Bentley returning to rugby union, and Shaun Edwards, Paul Newlove and Steve McNamara all ruled out due to injury.[3]

Former Wigan second row forward Denis Betts, who was playing with the New Zealand-based Auckland Warriors in the Australian Rugby League premiership, made history with his selection. The 25 test veteran became the first player selected to tour while playing in the Australian premiership and not in the English premiership.

Larder's assistant coaches on the tour were Clive Griffiths and Gary Hetherington and the tour manager was Phil Lowe. Andy Farrell was appointed as the tour captain, with Denis Betts named as vice-captain.

Name Club Position Appearances Tests Tries Goals DGs Points
Denis Betts (vc) Auckland WarriorsSecond-row6530012
David Bradbury OldhamSecond-row402008
Paul Broadbent Sheffield EaglesProp650000
Mick Cassidy Wigan WarriorsSecond-row512008
Jason Critchley Keighley CougarsWing301004
Keiron Cunningham St. HelensHooker652008
Bernard Dwyer Bradford BullsProp411004
Andy Farrell (c) Wigan WarriorsLoose forward651004
Bobbie Goulding St. HelensScrum-half65423163
Karle Hammond St. HelensStand-off6250020
Neil Harmon Leeds RhinosProp400000
Iestyn Harris Warrington WolvesStand-off650306
Joey Hayes St. HelensWing312008
Alan Hunte St. HelensWing6540016
Chris Joynt St. HelensSecond-row640000
James Lowes Bradford BullsHooker402008
Barrie-Jon Mather Western RedsCentre521004
Nathan McAvoy Salford Red DevilsWing100000
Brian McDermott Bradford BullsProp410000
Steve Molloy Featherstone RoversProp620000
Adrian Morley Leeds RhinosSecond-row621004
Terry O'Connor Wigan WarriorsProp640000
Rowland Phillips Workington TownLoose forward410000
Daryl Powell Keighley CougarsCentre7530012
Steve Prescott St. HelensFullback40117038
Kris Radlinski Wigan WarriorsFullback652008
Jon Roper Warrington WolvesWing300000
Paul Sculthorpe Warrington WolvesLoose forward650000
Keith Senior Sheffield EaglesCentre6230012
Tony Smith Castleford TigersScrum-half5240016
Stuart Spruce Bradford BullsFullback6530012
Anthony Sullivan St. HelensWing6430012
Tulsen Tollett London BroncosStand-off501004

Papua New Guinea


28 September 1996
Papua New Guinea  30 – 32  Great Britain
Tries:
Ben Biri (2)
Robert Sio
David Gomia
Stanley Gene
Adrian Lam
Goals:
Elias Paiyo (3)
[6] Tries:
Kris Radlinski (2)
Anthony Sullivan
Bobbie Goulding
Keiron Cunningham

Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (6)
Lae Oval, Lae[7][8]
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Steve Clark
Papua New Guinea
Great Britain
FB1Robert Sio
RW2James Kops
RC3Marcus Bai
LC4Robert Tela
LW5David Gomia
FE6Stanley Gene
HB7Adrian Lam (c)
PR8Ben Biri
HK9Elias Paiyo
PR10Raymond Kahl
SR11Nande Yer
SR12David Westley
LF13Bruce Mamando
Substitutions:
IC14Simon Kundi
IC15Ruben Ruing
IC16Max Tiri
IC17Obert Batia
Coach:
FB1 Stuart Spruce
RW2 Joey Hayes
RC3 Kris Radlinski
LC4 Alan Hunte
LW5 Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Iestyn Harris
SH7 Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Paul Broadbent
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Terry O'Connor
SR11 Denis Betts
SR12 Chris Joynt
LK13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Tony Smith
IC15 Rowland Phillips
IC16 Daryl Powell
IC17 Paul Sculthorpe
Coach:Bob Bennett
Phil Larder

Fiji


5 October 1996
Fiji  4 – 72  Great Britain
Tries:
Samuela Marayawa







Goals
[11] Tries:
Bobbie Goulding (3)
Stuart Spruce (2)
Alan Hunte (2)
Daryl Powell (2)
Anthony Sullivan
Andy Farrell
Keith Senior
Mick Cassidy
Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (10)
Prince Charles Park, Nadi[12][13]
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Jim Stokes
Fiji
Great Britain
FB1Waisale Sovatabua
RW2P. Baravilula
RC3Manoa Thompson
LC4Joe Tamani
LW5S. Tulevu
FE6I. Ratudina
HB7Kaleveti Naisoro
PR8Pio Nakubuwai (c)
HK9M. Kaidroki
PR10Malakai Kaunivalu
SR11Josaia Dakuitoga
SR12Ian Saigatu
LF13Livai Nalagilagi
Substitutions:
IC14Vula Dakuitoga
IC15Samuela Marayawa
IC16Waisale Vatubua
IC17Ulaiasi Wainidroa
Coach:
FB1 Stuart Spruce
RW2 Alan Hunte
RC3 Kris Radlinski
LC4 Daryl Powell
LW5 Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Iestyn Harris
SH7 Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Paul Broadbent
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Brian McDermott
SR11 Denis Betts
SR12 Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Tony Smith
IC15 Keith Senior
IC16 Steve Molloy
IC17 Mick Cassidy
Coach:
Phil Larder

New Zealand



First Test

18 October 1996
New Zealand  17 – 12  Great Britain
Tries:
John Timu (2)

Goals:
Matthew Ridge (4)
Field Goals:
Matthew Ridge
[18] Tries:
Alan Hunte
Denis Betts
Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (2)
Ericsson Stadium, Auckland[19]
Attendance: 7,400
Referee: Bill Harrigan
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB1 Matthew Ridge (c)
RW2 Sean Hoppe
RC3 Richie Blackmore
LC4 John Timu
LW5 Richie Barnett
FE6 Gene Ngamu
HB7 Stacey Jones
PR8 Grant Young
HK9 Syd Eru
PR10 Quentin Pongia
SR11 Tony Iro
SR12 Stephen Kearney
LF13 Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC14 Marc Ellis
IC15 Joe Vagana
IC16 Ruben Wiki
IC17 Logan Swann
Coach:
Frank Endacott
FB1 Stuart Spruce
RW2 Alan Hunte
RC3 Kris Radlinski
LC4 Daryl Powell
LW5 Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Iestyn Harris
SH7 Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Paul Broadbent
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Terry O'Connor
SR11 Denis Betts
SR12 Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Tony Smith
IC15 Chris Joynt
IC16 Keith Senior
IC17 Adrian Morley
Coach:
Phil Larder


2nd Test

25 October 1996
New Zealand  18 – 15  Great Britain
Tries:
Ruben Wiki (2)
Gene Ngamu
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (3)
[22] Tries:
Alan Hunte
Denis Betts
Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (3)
Field Goal:
Bobbie Goulding
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB1 Matthew Ridge (c)
RW2 Sean Hoppe
RC3 Ruben Wiki
LC4 John Timu
LW5 Richie Barnett
FE6 Gene Ngamu
HB7 Stacey Jones
PR8 Grant Young
HK9 Syd Eru
PR10 Quentin Pongia
SR11 Tony Iro
SR12 Stephen Kearney
LF13 Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC14 Marc Ellis
IC15 Joe Vagana
IC16 Richie Blackmore
IC17 Logan Swann
Coach:
Frank Endacott
FB1 Stuart Spruce
RW2 Alan Hunte
RC3 Kris Radlinski
LC4 Daryl Powell
LW5 Anthony Sullivan
SO6 Iestyn Harris
SH7 Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Paul Broadbent
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Terry O'Connor
SR11 Denis Betts
SR12 Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Barrie-Jon Mather
IC15 Karle Hammond
IC16 Steve Molloy
IC17 Chris Joynt
Coach:
Phil Larder

3rd Test

1 November 1996
New Zealand  32 – 12  Great Britain
Tries:
Sean Hoppe (2)
Marc Ellis
Ruben Wiki
Gene Ngamu
Matthew Ridge
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (4)
[24] Tries:
Denis Betts
Adrian Morley



Goals:
Bobbie Goulding (2)
Lancaster Park, Christchurch[25]
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Steve Clark
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB1 Matthew Ridge (c)
RW2 Sean Hoppe
RC3 Ruben Wiki
LC4 John Timu
LW5 Marc Ellis
FE6 Gene Ngamu
HB7 Stacey Jones
PR8 Grant Young
HK9 Syd Eru
PR10 Quentin Pongia
SR11 Tony Iro
SR12 Stephen Kearney
LF13 Tyran Smith
Substitutions:
IC14 Anthony Swann
IC15 Joe Vagana
IC16 Richie Blackmore
IC17 Logan Swann
Coach:
Frank Endacott
FB1 Stuart Spruce
RW2 Alan Hunte
RC3 Kris Radlinski
LC4 Daryl Powell
LW5 Barrie-Jon Mather
SO6 Karle Hammond
SH7 Bobbie Goulding
PR8 Paul Broadbent
HK9 Keiron Cunningham
PR10 Terry O'Connor
SR11 Denis Betts
SR12 Paul Sculthorpe
LK13 Andy Farrell (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Iestyn Harris
IC15 Adrian Morley
IC16 Chris Joynt
IC17 Bernard Dwyer
Coach:
Phil Larder

References

General

  • Fletcher, Raymond (1997). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1997. Headline Book Publishing. pp. 300–22. ISBN 978-0-7472-7764-4.

Specific

  1. Hadfield, Dave (14 August 1996). "Larder picks enthusiasm over Offiah". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  2. Hadfield, Dave (21 August 1996). "Larder looks to Roper and Hunte". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  3. Irvine, Christopher (21 September 1996). "Larder's strange faces in unfamiliar places". London. ProQuest 318624430. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "1996 Tour Match: PNG Presidents Select XIII 8 Great Britain Select XIII 34". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  5. PNG President's XIII vs Great Britain
  6. Report Papua New Guinea vs Great Britain
  7. "1996 Test Match: Papua New Guinea 30 Great Britain 32". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  8. Hadfield, Dave (30 September 1996). "Farrell leads Lions out of Kumul fire". The Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  9. "1996 Tour Match: Fiji Presidents Select XIII 16 Great Britain 42". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  10. Fiji President's XIII vs Great Britain
  11. Fiji vs Great Britain
  12. "1996 Test Match: Fiji 4 Great Britain 72". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  13. Hadfield, Dave (7 October 1996). "Rugby League: Lions ready for tougher tasks in NZ". The Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  14. "1996 Tour Match: Lions Red Cup XIII 22 Great Britain 22". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  15. Lion Red Cup XIII vs Great Britain
  16. "1996 Tour Match: New Zealand Select XIII 30 Great Britain 22". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  17. New Zealand XIII vs Great Britain
  18. 1st Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
  19. "1996 First Test: New Zealand 17 Great Britain 12". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  20. "1996 Tour Match: New Zealand Maoris 40 Great Britain 28". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  21. Māori vs Great Britain
  22. 2nd Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
  23. "1996 Second Test: New Zealand 18 Great Britain 15". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  24. 3rd Test - New Zealand vs Great Britain
  25. "1996 Third Test: New Zealand 32 Great Britain 12". wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
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