The 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa was the first after the end of apartheid in that country, and the first professional tour. South Africa were world champions, having won the World Cup, but were in decline at the time. Nevertheless the Lions were underdogs, but convincingly won the first test 25-16 thanks to Matt Dawson's try. Despite scoring three tries in the second test, the Springboks suffered from some woeful goal kicking and failed to land any goals, whilst for the Lions Neil Jenkins scored 5 penalties and Jerry Guscott dropped a goal to win the match 18-15 and take the series. The third test proved a match too far for the squad and they lost 35-16. 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The official 2005 Lions logo The British and Irish Lions is a Rugby Union side comprising a pick of the best players from the four Home nation unions, i. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Results of The 1995 Rugby World Cup Hosted by South Africa Final Saturday, June 24, 1995 Ellis Park, Johannesburg: New Zealand 12 The score at the fulltime whistle was 12-12; a heroic defensive effort by the Springboks kept Jonah Lomu from scoring. ... Matthew James Sutherland Dawson (born 31 October 1972) is an English rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Wasps having played most of his career for Northampton Saints. ... Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions. ... Jeremy Guscott (born 7 July 1965) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ...

The Lions squad was captained by Martin Johnson, managed by Fran Cotton, and coached by Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer. Martin Johnson Martin Osborne Johnson (born 9 March 1970) is a former England rugby union player and captain. ... Fran Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former rugby union prop forward who played for Sale, England and the British Lions. ... Ian McGeechan (born on October 30, 1946) is a hugely successful rugby coach of the Northampton Saints, the Scotland national rugby union team and the British and Irish Lions. ... A former headmaster and chemistry teacher, Jim Telfer has won fame as a Scottish forwards coach who gave punishing training sessions to his players. ...

Lions Squad

The original 35 man squad was:

• Captain and second row

• • Martin Johnson (Leicester and England).
• Full backs
  • Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd and Wales).
  • Tim Stimpson (Newcastle and England).
• Wingers
  • Nick Beal (Northampton and England).
  • John Bentley (Newcastle and England)
  • Ieuan Evans (Llanelli and Wales).
  • Tony Underwood (Newcastle and England)
• Centres
  • Allan Bateman (Richmond and Wales).
  • Scott Gibbs (Swansea and Wales).
  • Will Greenwood (Leicester).
  • Jeremy Guscott (Bath and England).
  • Alan Tait (Newcastle and Scotland)
• Fly-halves
  • Paul Grayson (Northampton and England).
  • Gregor Townsend (Northampton and Scotland).
• Scrum-halves
  • Matt Dawson (Northampton and England)
  • Austin Healey (Leicester and England)
  • Rob Howley (Cardiff and Wales).
• Props
  • Peter Clohessy (Queensland and Ireland).
  • Jason Leonard (Harlequins and England).
  • Graham Rowntree (Leicester and England).
  • Tom Smith (Watsonians and Scotland)
  • David Young (Cardiff and Wales).
• Hookers
  • Mark Regan (Bristol and England)
  • Barrie Williams (Neath and Wales)
  • Keith Wood (Harlequins and Ireland).
• Second Row
  • Jeremy Davidson (London Irish and Ireland).
  • Simon Shaw (Bristol and England).
  • Doddie Weir (Newcastle and Scotland).
• Back Row
  • Neil Back (Leicester and England).
  • Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps and England).
  • Richard Hill (Saracens and England).
  • Eric Miller (Leicester and Ireland).
  • Scott Quinnell (Richmond and Wales)
  • Tim Rodber (Northampton & England)
  • Rob Wainwright (Watsonians and Scotland).

Martin Johnson Martin Osborne Johnson (born 9 March 1970) is a former England rugby union player and captain. ... Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions. ... Tim Stimpson (born 10 September 1973) is a rugby union international full back who plays for Leeds Tykes, having previously played for Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers and Perpignan. ... Nick Beal (born 2 December 1970) is a rugby union player who played at Fullback for Northampton Saints, England and the Lions. ... John Bentley (born June 1860 in Turton was a Englishman who was the fourth full-time Secretary of Manchester United and Manager of the club. ... A great winger for Wales in the 1990s, who marked his last days with a British Lions tour to South Africa in 1997. ... Tony Underwood (born 17 February 1969) is a former England rugby union wing three-quarter back. ... Scott Gibbs (Born 23 January 1971 in Bridgend) is a former rugby player who represented Wales and the Lions in Union and Wales and Great Britain in League. ... Will Greenwood (born October 20, 1972 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English rugby union player. ... Jeremy Guscott (born 7 July 1965) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ... Paul James Grayson (born 30 May 1971 in Chorley) is the head coach of Northampton Saints rugby union club. ... Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE (born 26th April 1973 in Edinburgh) is a professional rugby union player and coach at The Borders Rugby Club, he has played at fly-half, full back and laterly centre. ... Matthew James Sutherland Dawson (born 31 October 1972) is an English rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Wasps having played most of his career for Northampton Saints. ... For the car brand, see Austin_Healey. ... Rob Howley (born 13 October 1970) is a former Welsh rugby union scrum-half and captain. ... Jason Leonard MBE (born August 11, 1968) is a former English rugby union player, who holds the world record for international appearances. ... Graham Christopher Rowntree (born. ... Tom Smith (born 31 October 1971) Smith was born in London, England, but declared for Scotland. ... Mark Ronnie Regan made his England debut in 1995 against South Africa. ... Keith Wood (born 27 January 1972 in Limerick) is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, Harlequins and Munster. ... Simon Shaw (born 1 September 1973) is a rugby union player who plays at Second row for Wasps and England. ... George Doddie Weir, born July 4, 1970 in Edinburgh, is a Rugby Union player, in the lock position. ... Neil Back (born January 16, 1969) is a former international rugby union footballer for England, who also plays for Leicester Tigers. ... Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio (better known as Lawrence (born 10 August 1972) is the former captain of the English national rugby union team. ... Richard Hill (born 23 May 1973) is a rugby union footballer who plays at flanker for Saracens and England. ... Eric Miller is a house music DJ, producer and remixer born in Chicago, Illinois. ... Scott Quinnell (born 20 August 1972 in Llanelli) is a former Welsh international rugby union player, who was a Number 8 for Wales, Llanelli RFC, the Llanelli Scarlets and the Lions. ... Tim Rodber (born July 2, 1969) is an English rugby union player. ...

Matches

• May 24 Eastern Province XV 11 British Lions 39 (Port Elizabeth)
• May 28 Border 14 Lions 18 (East London)
• May 31 Western Province 21 British Lions 38 (Cape Town)
• June 4 Mpumalanga 14 Lions 64 (Witbank)
• June 7 Northern Transvaal 35 Lions 30 (Pretoria)
• June 11 Gauteng Lions 14 Lions 20 (Johannesburg)
• June 14 Natal 12 Lions 42 (Durban)
• June 17 Emerging Springboks 22 Lions 51 (Wellington)

May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... Port Elizabeth is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, at 33°58′ S 25°36′ E. The city is located on Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining, as the last day of May. ... The central area of Cape Town as seen from Table Mountain. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... Witbank is situated on the highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... The central area of Pretoria. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... Durban is a vibrant cosmopolitian city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ...

First Test

• 21 1st TEST: South Africa 16 Lions 25(Cape Town)

• Planet-Rugby stats

South Africa: 15. Joubert 14. Small 13. Mulder 12. Lubbe 11. Snyman 10. Honiball 9. van der Westhuizen 1 du Randt 2 Drotske 3 Garvey 4 Andrews 5 Strydom 6 Kruger 7 Venter 8 Teichmann (capt). Replacements: Bennett (Unused: Dalton, Otto, Swanepoel, Theron, Wessels) June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... Matthew James Sutherland Dawson (born 31 October 1972) is an English rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Wasps having played most of his career for Northampton Saints. ... James Small was a British inventor instrumental in the invention of the modern-style iron plough in the 19th century. ... Joost van der Westhuizen (born 20 February 1971) is a former South African rugby union player who was the Springboks first choice scrum half in the late 1990s and a leading try scorer. ... Jacobus Petrus du Randt, better known as Os du Randt (born 8 September 1972 in Elliot, South Africa), is a South African rugby player who plays as a loosehead prop for the Springboks, Cats (Super 12), and Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup). ... Mark Andrews (born May 19, 1926) is an American politician from the state of North Dakota. ...

British Lions. 15 Jenkins; 14. Evans 13. Guscott, 12 Gibbs, 11. Tait 10. Townsend, 9 Dawson. 1. Smith, 2 Wood 3. Wallace, 4. Johnson (capt), 5. Davidson; 6. Dallaglio, 7. Hill, 8. Rodber Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions. ... A great winger for Wales in the 1990s, who marked his last days with a British Lions tour to South Africa in 1997. ... Jeremy Guscott (born 7 July 1965) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ... Scott Gibbs (Born 23 January 1971 in Bridgend) is a former rugby player who represented Wales and the Lions in Union and Wales and Great Britain in League. ... Gregor Peter John Townsend MBE (born 26th April 1973 in Edinburgh) is a professional rugby union player and coach at The Borders Rugby Club, he has played at fly-half, full back and laterly centre. ... Matthew James Sutherland Dawson (born 31 October 1972) is an English rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Wasps having played most of his career for Northampton Saints. ... Tom Smith (born 31 October 1971) Smith was born in London, England, but declared for Scotland. ... Keith Wood (born 27 January 1972 in Limerick) is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, Harlequins and Munster. ... Martin Johnson Martin Osborne Johnson (born 9 March 1970) is a former England rugby union player and captain. ... Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio (better known as Lawrence (born 10 August 1972) is the former captain of the English national rugby union team. ... Richard Hill (born 23 May 1973) is a rugby union footballer who plays at flanker for Saracens and England. ... Tim Rodber (born July 2, 1969) is an English rugby union player. ...

Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

• 24 Free State 30 Lions 52 Bloemfontein

June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ...

Second Test

• 28 South Africa 15 Lions 18 (Durban)

• Planet-Rugby stats

• July 1 N Free State 39 British Lions 67 (Welkom)

(Some entries on this page have been duplicated on August 1. ... Durban is a vibrant cosmopolitian city in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions. ... Jeremy Guscott (born 7 July 1965) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ...

3rd Test: South Africa 35 Lions 16

Johannesburg, July 5 July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ...

British Lions: 15 Jenkins; 14 Bentley, 13 Gibbs, 12 Guscott, 11Underwood; 10. Catt, 9. Dawson (Northampton); 1 Smith, 2 Regan, 3 Wallace 4 Johnson (capt), 5 Davidson, 6 Dallaglio, 7 Back, 8 Rodber Neil Jenkins (born 8 July 1971) is a former rugby union footballer who played fly-half, centre, or full back for Pontypridd and Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions. ... John Bentley (born June 1860 in Turton was a Englishman who was the fourth full-time Secretary of Manchester United and Manager of the club. ... Scott Gibbs (Born 23 January 1971 in Bridgend) is a former rugby player who represented Wales and the Lions in Union and Wales and Great Britain in League. ... Jeremy Guscott (born 7 July 1965) is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British Lions. ... Tony Underwood (born 17 February 1969) is a former England rugby union wing three-quarter back. ... Mike Catt MBE (born in 17 September 1971) is an English rugby union footballer who plays for London Irish, having previously played for Bath. ... Matthew James Sutherland Dawson (born 31 October 1972) is an English rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Wasps having played most of his career for Northampton Saints. ... Tom Smith (born 31 October 1971) Smith was born in London, England, but declared for Scotland. ... Mark Ronnie Regan made his England debut in 1995 against South Africa. ... Martin Johnson Martin Osborne Johnson (born 9 March 1970) is a former England rugby union player and captain. ... Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio (better known as Lawrence (born 10 August 1972) is the former captain of the English national rugby union team. ... Neil Back (born January 16, 1969) is a former international rugby union footballer for England, who also plays for Leicester Tigers. ... Tim Rodber (born July 2, 1969) is an English rugby union player. ...

Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)