1910 British Lions tour to Argentina

History

In 1910, a British side toured South Africa for the fourth time, being the eighth outing of a British touring side at this point. The South African tour was, however, the first official tour, in that it had the official sanction of the four home unions. Concurrently, RV Stanley, more famously known as Major Stanley of Oxford, later an England selector, organised a side to tour Argentina. John Raphael, the England fullback, was selected as the captain of this team, branded by Stanley as the England Rugby Union team. The hosts referred to the team as the Combined British, perhaps more appropriate given the squad included three Scots.

The tour was also part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the May Revolution. The people of Argentina termed it the "Combined British", also known as "Great Britain XV". Argentina made its international debut against this team under the name "The River Plate Rugby Football Union" on 12 June. The match was played at Sociedad Sportiva Argentina of Palermo and Argentina lost 28–3. The only try for the Argentine squad (the first international try) was scored by Buenos Aires F.C. player Frank Heriot. . Argentina's most notable players were captain Oswald St. John Gebbie and Barry Heatlie, a South African who played for the Springboks.

The Combined British played six matches, winning them all, including a victory over Argentina in their first ever test on 12 June 1910.

Team

Of those representing the Combined British, only four had played international rugby previously. They were:

• John Raphael, (Old Merchants Taylors', Oxford University, Surrey) played fullback for England (also a notable cricketer);
• Alex Palmer, (London Hospital, Harlequins) a New Zealander who played on the wing for England
• Barrie Bennetts, (Penzance RFC and Cornwall) played on the wing for England
• Anthony Henniker-Gotley, (Oxford University, Kent, Blackheath) played at halfback for England

Other members of the team were:

• Harold Gordon Monks (Liverpool Old Boys, Wigan RFC and Lancashire)
• Horace Evelyn Ward (Harlequins and Middlesex)
• E.S. Holmwood (Kent)
• William Lovat Fraser (Merchistonian FC)
• Edward Newman Fuller (Old Merchants Taylors', Cambridge University and Kent)
• John Francis Ashby (Cheshire)
• Robert Bertram Waddell (Glasgow Academicals RFC)
• Henry John Fraser
• Walter Legh Huntingford (United Services, Blackheath and Surrey)
• Robin Harrison (Northampton RFC, Midlands RFU and the South)
• Whalley Stranach (Guy's Hospital and Kent and English Trials)
• Stanley Herbert Smith (Cumberland)
• Martin Tweed (Guy's Hospital)
• Percy Robert Diggle (Oxford University and Cumberland)
• Peter Denny Strang (Old Merchants Taylors' and Surrey)
• SH Milnes
• Henry Whitehead (Manchester FC, Lancashire and North of England)

Match summary

Complete list of matches played by the British Isles in Argentina:

Test matches

Test details

Argentina: : J.E. Saffery, Cornelius MacCarthy, Oswald Gebbie, M. Heriot, Henry Talbot, W.A. Watson, Carlos Mold, Barry Heatlie, L.H. Gribbell, W.H. Hayman, F. Henrys, A. Bovet, A. Donelly, Alvan Reid

Notes

References

References

1. [http://www.britishlions.com/lions-history/old-lions-tours/2013/07/17/1910-argentina 1910: Argentina] {{Webarchive. link. (10 May 2018 by David Walmsley – Genesis Publications – May 15, 2013 on British Lions website)
2. The 1910 team has been termed as one of the three "lost lions" tours,David Walmsley (Author), Robby Elson (Editor), The Lions: The Complete History of the British and Irish Rugby Union Team, Genesis Publications (2005) {{ISBN. 0-904351-96-3
3. Dobson, Paul. (2 December 2004). "Argentina and the 'Lions' in the past". Planet Rugby.
4. [http://www.periodismo-rugby.com.ar/2017/05/16/lions-5/ "Lions": Los viajes olvidados] by Ricardo Sabanes, 16 May 2017
5. [http://www.clarin.com/deportes/rugby/centenario-debut_0_279572222.html "El centenario del debut"], ''Clarín'', 13 June 2010
6. [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1268948-de-festejo-tambien-pero-por-el-centenario "De festejo también, pero por el Centenario" by Jorge Búsico], ''La Nación'', 27 May 2010
7. [http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/lions_results.html British & Irish Lions results] on Rugby Football History
8. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4428407.stm Early Lions: Squads and results (1888–1938)] on BBC Sport, 18 May 2005
9. [http://www.mundialxv.com.ar/nota.php?id=1708 Los Lions en Argentina] by Frankie Deges on Mundial XV website, 21 Jan 2013
10. [https://www.lionsrugby.com/history/1903/07/09/1903-1910-successes-up-to-ww1/ 1903-1910 – SUCCESSES UP TO WWI] on British Lions website