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When Lions Roared: The Lions, the All Blacks and the Legendary Tour of 1971
By 1971 no Lions team had ever defeated the All Blacks in a Test series. Since 1904, six Lions sides had travelled to New Zealand and all had returned home bruised, battered and beaten. But the 1971 tour party was different. It was full of young, ambitious and outrageously talented players who would all go on to carve their names into the annals of sporting history during a golden period in British and Irish rugby. And at their centre was Carwyn Jones – an intelligent, sensitive rugby mastermind who would lead his team into the game’s hardest playing arena while facing a ferocious, tragic battle in his personal life, all in pursuit of a seemingly impossible dream.
Up against them was an All Blacks team filled with legends in the game in the likes of Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. But as the Lions swept through the provinces, lighting up the rugby fields of New Zealand the pressure began to mount on the home players in a manner never seen before. As the Test series loomed, it became clear that a clash that would echo through the ages was about to unfold. And at its conclusion, it was obvious to all that rugby would never be the same again.
Up against them was an All Blacks team filled with legends in the game in the likes of Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. But as the Lions swept through the provinces, lighting up the rugby fields of New Zealand the pressure began to mount on the home players in a manner never seen before. As the Test series loomed, it became clear that a clash that would echo through the ages was about to unfold. And at its conclusion, it was obvious to all that rugby would never be the same again.
388 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 2017
12 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Tom English
6 books3 followersTom English (born 8 March 1991) is an Australian rugby union footballer who plays as a centre or wing for the Melbourne Rebels.
English is a former Australia Sevens representative. In 2011, he was named at inside centre for Sydney University in the final of the Shute Shield. The side was to be captained by Rebels flanker Tim Davidson.
In late 2012 English joined the Melbourne Rebels Extended Playing Squad. He stayed with the Rebels into 2013 and was named on the bench to play the Western Force in Round 1 and ACT Brumbies for Round 2 but didn't play. He made his Super Rugby debut when he replaced inside centre Rory Sidey against the Reds in Round 4. Seven weeks later he started on the right wing and played 58 minutes before being replaced by Lachlan Mitchell.
In 2014, English faced competition for a place in the Rebels centres from Mitch Inman and New Zealand import Tamati Ellison.
In May 2014 English was invited to train with the Wallaby squad preparing for series against France.
English is a former Australia Sevens representative. In 2011, he was named at inside centre for Sydney University in the final of the Shute Shield. The side was to be captained by Rebels flanker Tim Davidson.
In late 2012 English joined the Melbourne Rebels Extended Playing Squad. He stayed with the Rebels into 2013 and was named on the bench to play the Western Force in Round 1 and ACT Brumbies for Round 2 but didn't play. He made his Super Rugby debut when he replaced inside centre Rory Sidey against the Reds in Round 4. Seven weeks later he started on the right wing and played 58 minutes before being replaced by Lachlan Mitchell.
In 2014, English faced competition for a place in the Rebels centres from Mitch Inman and New Zealand import Tamati Ellison.
In May 2014 English was invited to train with the Wallaby squad preparing for series against France.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2017
This is one of the best, if not the best, books on sport that I've read. If you're not interested in sport, or even Rugby, leave this page now. There should probably be a watershed warning and maybe the Under 15's should avoid it because there's some pretty fruity language and no shortage of violence.
The background to this riveting story is that in 1971 the British and Irish Lions undertook a tour of New Zealand then, as now, virtually unbeatable on their own patch. The New Zealand All Blacks hadn't lost a home test series since 1937 and the Lions had never won there. The odds against them doing so in 1971 were huge. The players only came together a short while before the tour and had little time for preparation and consisted of players from four countries from all backgrounds from coal miners and farmers to Oxbridge graduates. What chance then was there then of beating the mighty All Blacks?
The 1971 Lions great strengths were that they had a brilliant manager, Doug Smith, and a wonderfully innovative coach in Carwyn James and some of the greatest players ever to grace a rugby pitch; JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, David Duckham, Mike Gibson, Barry John, Gareth Edwards Mervyn Davies, Willie John McBride and Ian McLauchlan amongst them.
The story of this famous tour is told not in the traditional method of the outsider looking in but by the players of both teams and the coaches and managers. Not everything was sweetness and light and the tour created much controversy. It's an utterly absorbing read and I heartily commend it to sports' lovers everywhere.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
The background to this riveting story is that in 1971 the British and Irish Lions undertook a tour of New Zealand then, as now, virtually unbeatable on their own patch. The New Zealand All Blacks hadn't lost a home test series since 1937 and the Lions had never won there. The odds against them doing so in 1971 were huge. The players only came together a short while before the tour and had little time for preparation and consisted of players from four countries from all backgrounds from coal miners and farmers to Oxbridge graduates. What chance then was there then of beating the mighty All Blacks?
The 1971 Lions great strengths were that they had a brilliant manager, Doug Smith, and a wonderfully innovative coach in Carwyn James and some of the greatest players ever to grace a rugby pitch; JPR Williams, Gerald Davies, David Duckham, Mike Gibson, Barry John, Gareth Edwards Mervyn Davies, Willie John McBride and Ian McLauchlan amongst them.
The story of this famous tour is told not in the traditional method of the outsider looking in but by the players of both teams and the coaches and managers. Not everything was sweetness and light and the tour created much controversy. It's an utterly absorbing read and I heartily commend it to sports' lovers everywhere.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War, all published by Sacristy Press.
July 20, 2017
A great sporting book
I was to young to remember the 1971 Lions exploits but remember watching them get beaten by the Baa Baas. Being Welsh, and growing up in the 70's, rugby was a huge part of my life.
These were giants of the game, heroes regardless of nationality but the Welsh contingent most of all. New Zealand were, and are, the high standard to live up to and the one to beat.
This book combines news stories and authors' comments but it is the words of those who fraught the battles, or guided the troops, that make this such a wonderful book.
Even if you don't like rugby, read it! It will stir your soul.
I was to young to remember the 1971 Lions exploits but remember watching them get beaten by the Baa Baas. Being Welsh, and growing up in the 70's, rugby was a huge part of my life.
These were giants of the game, heroes regardless of nationality but the Welsh contingent most of all. New Zealand were, and are, the high standard to live up to and the one to beat.
This book combines news stories and authors' comments but it is the words of those who fraught the battles, or guided the troops, that make this such a wonderful book.
Even if you don't like rugby, read it! It will stir your soul.
January 3, 2018
A fantastic read!
If you're a rugby fan, you'll love this book. The 1971 Lions tour to New Zealand told in some detail with anecdotal tales from the participants both living and sadly those no longer with us. Anecdotes, also from the New Zealanders in the Test team and those who played in the provisional sides. They give an insight into one of the greatest tours in rugby history.
A rugby lover's dream Christmas present !
If you're a rugby fan, you'll love this book. The 1971 Lions tour to New Zealand told in some detail with anecdotal tales from the participants both living and sadly those no longer with us. Anecdotes, also from the New Zealanders in the Test team and those who played in the provisional sides. They give an insight into one of the greatest tours in rugby history.
A rugby lover's dream Christmas present !
May 31, 2017
An epic tale of travel, drinking, team working, drinking, skullduggery and some pretty good rugby make for an interesting telling of the Lions tour in 1971, when the All Blacks were defeated in a series at home for the first time.
So many larger than life characters on the field, all held together by their mercurial coach Carwyn James. One of those unlikely-to-repeated tours of yesteryear.
So many larger than life characters on the field, all held together by their mercurial coach Carwyn James. One of those unlikely-to-repeated tours of yesteryear.
April 12, 2022
Brilliantly written. The depth of detail that they describe the events makes you feel like you were there, I wasn't even born in 1971. Really enjoyed the interviews with both the ABs and the Lions players to get all of their perspectives.
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May 22, 2017fascinating
February 15, 2018
Absolutely OUTSTANDING.
October 28, 2019
Reads like the transcript of a documentary, but the story it tells is great
October 22, 2017
Excellent > Brilliantly told story of a fantastic tour when there was no internet and no real television coverage
Brought back so many happy memories
But what a sad end to the careers of Barry John and Carwyn James after the tour finished
Brought back so many happy memories
But what a sad end to the careers of Barry John and Carwyn James after the tour finished
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
Very good, and brilliant that this was collated from the words of those directly involved. Bring Scottish I particularly enjoyed hearing from Mighty Mouse and Broon fae Troon.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews