Lions Down Under: The 1950 Tour to New Zealand, Australia & Ceylon

Tours by the British and Irish Lions to the great rugby strongholds of the Southern Hemisphere have always held a special place in the history of the game. The epic five-month odyssey undertaken by the first post-war lions in 1950 was no exception. They played 29 matches, including six tests, in new Zealand and Australia and another in Ceylon. Led by the Irish hooker Karl Mullen, their style of open rugby captured the imagination of everyone who saw them play and they were hailed as the most popular team to ever tour New Zealand. The 30 players (plus only one replacement) drawn from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales then went on to win a test series in Australia and play a pioneering game in Ceylon on the way home. For the first time, the full story of the 1950 Lions' achievements is told through the reminiscences of the survivors, previously unpublished players' diaries, and a unique and comprehensive private collection of action photographs and memorabilia that capture the spirit of early postwar international rugby and the charismatic individuals that helped it to flourish. This is a fantastic collection of unpublished material. It is the private collection of one of the players and includes action shots, behind the scenes images of the players in their spare time, immaculate programs from every game played, and a day-by-day diary with anecdotes and stories. This collection truly captures the essence of the tour when players played for the love of the game, made friendships, and gathered memories that have lasted a lifetime.