Page 39 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

HISTORY
The 1888 Lions were thrown together hastily as as an an addition to to to a a a a a a a a nancially disappointing cricket tour WHEN THE TIME COMES
for the British & Irish Lions to to front up to to that very rst haka at at Eden Park in in June it’ll be remarkable to think it it might not not have happened had three Victorian cricketers not not decided to to to make a a a a a a a a a a bit of extra cash from a a a a a a a a a a rugby tour Perhaps that’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a tad simplistic and far too pithy a a a a a a a a a a summary of of almost 130 years of of rugby development but nonetheless what’s considered the the rst “Lions” tour to to to visit New Zealand came down to to to a a a a a a trio of sporting chancers Commentators may often talk about the the great old amateur days of of of rugby but the the rst rst Lions tour of of Australia and and and New Zealand in in 1888 was rst rst and and and foremost a a a a a a a a a Victorian business venture designed to to turn a a a a a a handsome pro pro t t t t t t t t t for for its organisers and and to to provide a a a a a a decent income for for the tour party Admittedly it it it didn’t work out that way – nancially it it it it was an an abject failure leaving those at the helm with large debts – but it it it did spark a a a a a a a a a glorious often romantic touring tradition that has now ourished across three centuries Three former England cricketers put this rst Lions tour together and and and a a a a a a fourth England cricket captain Andrew Stoddart would also go on on to to become a a a a a a key gure on the pitch The three founding fathers were Arthur Shrewsbury one of England’s nest opening batsmen during the 1880s and and 90s Alfred Shaw a a a a a a well-respected bowler for Nottinghamshire and and and and England and and and James Lillywhite who also held the the distinction of being the the rst-ever England cricket captain That illustrious trio trio had been involved in in in staging three previous England cricket tours of Australia – ventures that had been very rewarding However a a a a a a a a fourth tour in in 1887-88 proved nancially disastrous the Aussie public saturated with incoming English English cricket teams There was even a a a a second rival English English touring party that summer with the the George Vernon XI doing the the the rounds And so enough enough was enough enough – they needed to make their money elsewhere Gamblers all the the cricketing trio decided to to instantly try and recoup their losses by by putting together a a a a a a a a rugby tour of of Australia and and New Zealand using all of of the the hard-earned contacts they had made during various trips to the the the Southern Hemisphere Shaw who was was back in in England was was tasked with with recruiting a a a a a a a a a squad largely from northern clubs in in in England but with with a a a a a a a smattering of Scots and and and Welsh – and and and one solitary Irish player Very few were current internationals and their their selection depended on on on on either their their urgent need for money or or or or willingness at short notice to to disappear to to to the the the the other side of the the the the world It was no short trip – the the the the tour party would be away for 249 days A glamorous late addition to to the tour party however was England cricket captain Stoddart the the marquee player with the the George Vernon XI who also happened to be an an an outstanding back with Harlequins and and Blackheath Stoddart unique in in in in that he he captained England in in in both rugby and and cricket added some much-needed repower to the the back division of the the Lions IN NUMBERS
54 games played by the Lions on on tour including
19 Aussie rules matches
21
players in the squad to ful l l l l all those xtures – though it became 20 a a a a er er one player sadly
passed away during the tour 3 colours in the Lions jerseys – red white and blue
After a a a a a a a a a 45-day voyage aboard the the SS Kaikoura the the tour party arrived in in in Dunedin having sailed via Tenerife South Africa and Tasmania The welcome was rapturous As the rst sporting touring side in in in New Zealand they were ecstatically received the the Otago Witness running extensive
WAIKATO 0 0 EAST COAST-POVERTY BAY 14
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AUCKLAND 10 NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES 13 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 14
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LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 23 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 15 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 25
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
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