An Introduction to the Vintage British Isles Rugby Tour Collection

The Vintage British Isles Rugby Lions Tour Clothing Collection by Ellis Rugby celebrates the history of the great Lions tours.

In 1891 the first rugby tour of South Africa took place when a squad of 21 players received an invitation to play teams from the Western Provence Rugby Football Union. Bill Maclagan captained the tourists. The Rugby Football Union approached Maclagan to captain a British Team to South Africa. The team contained four Scottish players in which is now recognised as the first official British and Irish Lions tour. He played in 19 of the 20 matches, including all three tests.

The quality of the British Isles team was much greater than their South Africa hosts. The British team won 20 consecutive victories and only conceded one point. They defeated all 17 provincial teams and then won all three Test matches. This was the first unbeaten tour.

Springboks First Ever Test Match

The first Test in Port Elizabeth was the South Africa Springboks inaugural international fixture.

Moreover, on the bone hard grounds of South Africa, Randolph Aston, the Blackheath, Cambridge University, Barbarians FC and England international was a revelation. He was a big man at 15 stone and yet was deceptively quick. He played in all twenty games of the tour including the three Tests, amassing an incredible 30 tries in total. Also, he scored a try in two of the Test matches, the first in Port Elizabeth and the final Test in Cape Town. His Captain Maclagan also scored two tries in the final test of the series.

The Vintage British Isles Rugby Clothing Collection by Ellis Rugby celebrates the great teams, players and events of past tours.