1996 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1996 Great Britain Lions tour was a rugby league tour by the Great Britain team which took place from September to November 1996. The tour included games in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand, however due to the ongoing Super League war and with the Australian team under the control of the Australian Rugby League, the team did not play any matches in Australia. The tour was generally considered as a disaster, with Great Britain failing to win any games in New Zealand, and several players being sent home early from the tour in order to cut costs.

1996 Great Britain Lions tour
Date	25 September 1996 – 1 November 1996
Manager	Phil Lowe
Coach(es)	Phil Larder
Tour captain(s)	Andy Farrell
Top point scorer(s)	Bobbie Goulding (63)
Top try scorer(s)	Karle Hammond (5)
Summary	P W D L
Total	10 04 01 05
Test match	05 02 00 03
Opponent	P W D L
Papua New Guinea	1 1 0 0
Fiji	1 1 0 0
New Zealand	3 0 0 3
Tour chronology
Previous tour	1992
Next tour	2019

Touring squad

Great Britain coach Phil Larder selected a 32-man squad to take on the tour. A notable omission from the squad was Martin Offiah, who took part in the previous three Great Britain tours, but had told Larder he did not have the enthusiasm for another six-week tour.^[1] Several changes were made to the initial squad selected, as Gary Connolly, Lee Jackson and Jason Robinson were informed they would not be allowed to play due to their contracts with the ARL.^[2] There were also a number of other withdrawals, with John Bentley returning to rugby union, and Shaun Edwards, Paul Newlove and Steve McNamara all ruled out due to injury.^[3]

Former Wigan second row forward Denis Betts, who was playing with the New Zealand-based Auckland Warriors in the Australian Rugby League premiership, made history with his selection. The 25 test veteran became the first player selected to tour while playing in the Australian premiership and not in the English premiership.

Larder's assistant coaches on the tour were Clive Griffiths and Gary Hetherington and the tour manager was Phil Lowe. Andy Farrell was appointed as the tour captain, with Denis Betts named as vice-captain.

Prior to the Second Test against New Zealand, 11 players in the squad were sent home early from the tour as a cost-cutting measure.^[4][a]

Name	Club	Position	Appearances	Tests	Tries	Goals	DGs	Points
Denis Betts (vc)	Auckland Warriors	Second-row	6	5	3	0	0	12
David Bradbury	Oldham	Second-row	4	0	2	0	0	8
Paul Broadbent	Sheffield Eagles	Prop	6	5	0	0	0	0
Mick Cassidy	Wigan Warriors	Second-row	5	1	2	0	0	8
Jason Critchley	Keighley Cougars	Wing	3	0	1	0	0	4
Keiron Cunningham	St Helens	Hooker	6	5	2	0	0	8
Bernard Dwyer	Bradford Bulls	Prop	4	1	1	0	0	4
Andy Farrell (c)	Wigan Warriors	Loose forward	6	5	1	0	0	4
Bobbie Goulding	St Helens	Scrum-half	6	5	4	23	1	63
Karle Hammond	St Helens	Stand-off	6	2	5	0	0	20
Neil Harmon	Leeds Rhinos	Prop	4	0	0	0	0	0
Iestyn Harris	Warrington Wolves	Stand-off	6	5	0	3	0	6
Joey Hayes	St Helens	Wing	3	1	2	0	0	8
Alan Hunte	St Helens	Wing	6	5	4	0	0	16
Chris Joynt	St Helens	Second-row	6	4	0	0	0	0
James Lowes	Bradford Bulls	Hooker	4	0	2	0	0	8
Barrie-Jon Mather	Western Reds	Centre	5	2	1	0	0	4
Nathan McAvoy	Salford Red Devils	Wing	1	0	0	0	0	0
Brian McDermott	Bradford Bulls	Prop	4	1	0	0	0	0
Steve Molloy	Featherstone Rovers	Prop	6	2	0	0	0	0
Adrian Morley	Leeds Rhinos	Second-row	6	2	1	0	0	4
Terry O'Connor	Wigan Warriors	Prop	6	4	0	0	0	0
Rowland Phillips	Workington Town	Loose forward	4	1	0	0	0	0
Daryl Powell	Keighley Cougars	Centre	7	5	3	0	0	12
Steve Prescott	St Helens	Fullback	4	0	1	17	0	38
Kris Radlinski	Wigan Warriors	Fullback	6	5	2	0	0	8
Jon Roper	Warrington Wolves	Wing	3	0	0	0	0	0
Paul Sculthorpe	Warrington Wolves	Loose forward	6	5	0	0	0	0
Keith Senior	Sheffield Eagles	Centre	6	2	3	0	0	12
Tony Smith	Castleford Tigers	Scrum-half	5	2	4	0	0	16
Stuart Spruce	Bradford Bulls	Fullback	6	5	3	0	0	12
Anthony Sullivan	St Helens	Wing	6	4	3	0	0	12
Tulsen Tollett	London Broncos	Stand-off	5	0	1	0	0	4

Papua New Guinea

25 September 1996	PNG President's XIII	8 – 34	Great Britain	Rebiamul Oval, Mount Hagen[6]
	Tries: Itam, Tiki Goals:	[7]	Tries: Senior, Bradbury, Hammond, Lowes, Smith (2) Goals: Prescott (5)	Attendance: 2,059 Referee: Anthony Kuni (Port Moresby)

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28 September 1996

Papua New Guinea	30 – 32	Great Britain
Tries: Ben Biri (2) Robert Sio David Gomia Stanley Gene Adrian Lam Goals: Elias Paiyo (3)	[8]	Tries: Kris Radlinski (2) Anthony Sullivan Bobbie Goulding Keiron Cunningham Goals: Bobbie Goulding (6)

Lae Oval, Lae[9][10] Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Steve Clark

Papua New Guinea

Great Britain

FB 1 Robert Sio RW 2 James Kops RC 3 Marcus Bai LC 4 Robert Tela LW 5 David Gomia FE 6 Stanley Gene HB 7 Adrian Lam (c) PR 8 Ben Biri HK 9 Elias Paiyo PR 10 Raymond Kahl SR 11 Nande Yer SR 12 David Westley LF 13 Bruce Mamando Substitutions: IC 14 Simon Kundi IC 15 Ruben Ruing IC 16 Max Tiri IC 17 Obert Batia Coach:

FB 1 Stuart Spruce RW 2 Joey Hayes RC 3 Kris Radlinski LC 4 Alan Hunte LW 5 Anthony Sullivan SO 6 Iestyn Harris SH 7 Bobbie Goulding PR 8 Paul Broadbent HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Terry O'Connor SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Chris Joynt LK 13 Andy Farrell (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Tony Smith IC 15 Rowland Phillips IC 16 Daryl Powell IC 17 Paul Sculthorpe Coach:Bob Bennett Phil Larder

Fiji

2 October 1996	Fiji President's XIII	16 – 42	Great Britain	Churchill Park, Lautoka[11]
	Tries: Navale, Baravilala, Koroi Goals: Takaladau (2)	[12]	Tries: Hammond (3), Hayes, Senior, Critchley, Tollett, Cassidy Goals: Prescott (5)	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: T Nunu (Fiji)

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5 October 1996

Fiji	4 – 72	Great Britain
Tries: Samuela Marayawa Goals	[13]	Tries: Bobbie Goulding (3) Stuart Spruce (2) Alan Hunte (2) Daryl Powell (2) Anthony Sullivan Andy Farrell Keith Senior Mick Cassidy Goals: Bobbie Goulding (10)

Prince Charles Park, Nadi[14][15] Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Jim Stokes

Fiji	Great Britain

FB 1 Waisale Sovatabua RW 2 P. Baravilula RC 3 Manoa Thompson LC 4 Joe Tamani LW 5 S. Tulevu FE 6 I. Ratudina HB 7 Kaleveti Naisoro PR 8 Pio Nakubuwai (c) HK 9 M. Kaidroki PR 10 Malakai Kaunivalu SR 11 Josaia Dakuitoga SR 12 Ian Saigatu LF 13 Livai Nalagilagi Substitutions: IC 14 Vula Dakuitoga IC 15 Samuela Marayawa IC 16 Waisale Vatubua IC 17 Ulaiasi Wainidroa Coach:

FB 1 Stuart Spruce RW 2 Alan Hunte RC 3 Kris Radlinski LC 4 Daryl Powell LW 5 Anthony Sullivan SO 6 Iestyn Harris SH 7 Bobbie Goulding PR 8 Paul Broadbent HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Brian McDermott SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Paul Sculthorpe LK 13 Andy Farrell (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Tony Smith IC 15 Keith Senior IC 16 Steve Molloy IC 17 Mick Cassidy Coach: Phil Larder

New Zealand

See also: 1996 New Zealand rugby league season

10 October 1996	Lion Red Cup XIII	22 – 22	Great Britain	Carlaw Park, Auckland[16]
	Tries: Barlow, Hughes, Malietoa-Brown Goals: Lythe (5)	[17]	Tries: Sullivan, Spruce, Cunningham, Powell, Goals: Harris (3)	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: G Wallace (Auckland)

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15 October 1996	New Zealand XIII	30 – 22	Great Britain	Fraser Park, Wellington[18]
	Tries: Endacott (2), Ropati, Okesene, Taewa, A. Swann Goals: Murray (2) Whittaker	[19]	Tries: Hayes, Mather, Smith, Hammond Goals: Prescott (3)	Attendance: 2,000 Referee: Denis Hale (Auckland)

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First Test

18 October 1996

New Zealand	17 – 12	Great Britain
Tries: John Timu (2) Goals: Matthew Ridge (4) Field Goals: Matthew Ridge	[20]	Tries: Alan Hunte Denis Betts Goals: Bobbie Goulding (2)

Ericsson Stadium, Auckland[21] Attendance: 7,400 Referee: Bill Harrigan

New Zealand

Great Britain

FB 1 Matthew Ridge (c) RW 2 Sean Hoppe RC 3 Richie Blackmore LC 4 John Timu LW 5 Richie Barnett FE 6 Gene Ngamu HB 7 Stacey Jones PR 8 Grant Young HK 9 Syd Eru PR 10 Quentin Pongia SR 11 Tony Iro SR 12 Stephen Kearney LF 13 Tyran Smith Substitutions: IC 14 Marc Ellis IC 15 Joe Vagana IC 16 Ruben Wiki IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Frank Endacott

FB 1 Stuart Spruce RW 2 Alan Hunte RC 3 Kris Radlinski LC 4 Daryl Powell LW 5 Anthony Sullivan SO 6 Iestyn Harris SH 7 Bobbie Goulding PR 8 Paul Broadbent HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Terry O'Connor SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Paul Sculthorpe LK 13 Andy Farrell (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Tony Smith IC 15 Chris Joynt IC 16 Keith Senior IC 17 Adrian Morley Coach: Phil Larder

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22 October 1996	Māori	40 – 28	Great Britain	Lowe Walker Stadium, Whangārei[22]
	Tries: Stevens, Nikau, Murray (2), Ramsey, Gardiner, Walker Goals: Howell (6)	[23]	Tries: Dwyer, Smith, Bradbury, Prescott, Lowes Goals: Prescott (4)	Attendance: 6,000 Referee: G Allcock (Auckland)

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2nd Test

25 October 1996

New Zealand	18 – 15	Great Britain
Tries: Ruben Wiki (2) Gene Ngamu Goals: Matthew Ridge (3)	[24]	Tries: Alan Hunte Denis Betts Goals: Bobbie Goulding (3) Field Goal: Bobbie Goulding

Manawatu Showgrounds, Palmerston North[25] Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Graham Annesley

New Zealand

Great Britain

FB 1 Matthew Ridge (c) RW 2 Sean Hoppe RC 3 Ruben Wiki LC 4 John Timu LW 5 Richie Barnett FE 6 Gene Ngamu HB 7 Stacey Jones PR 8 Grant Young HK 9 Syd Eru PR 10 Quentin Pongia SR 11 Tony Iro SR 12 Stephen Kearney LF 13 Tyran Smith Substitutions: IC 14 Marc Ellis IC 15 Joe Vagana IC 16 Richie Blackmore IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Frank Endacott

FB 1 Stuart Spruce RW 2 Alan Hunte RC 3 Kris Radlinski LC 4 Daryl Powell LW 5 Anthony Sullivan SO 6 Iestyn Harris SH 7 Bobbie Goulding PR 8 Paul Broadbent HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Terry O'Connor SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Paul Sculthorpe LK 13 Andy Farrell (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Barrie-Jon Mather IC 15 Karle Hammond IC 16 Steve Molloy IC 17 Chris Joynt Coach: Phil Larder

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3rd Test

1 November 1996

New Zealand	32 – 12	Great Britain
Tries: Sean Hoppe (2) Marc Ellis Ruben Wiki Gene Ngamu Matthew Ridge Goals: Matthew Ridge (4)	[26]	Tries: Denis Betts Adrian Morley Goals: Bobbie Goulding (2)

Lancaster Park, Christchurch[27] Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Steve Clark

New Zealand

Great Britain

FB 1 Matthew Ridge (c) RW 2 Sean Hoppe RC 3 Ruben Wiki LC 4 John Timu LW 5 Marc Ellis FE 6 Gene Ngamu HB 7 Stacey Jones PR 8 Grant Young HK 9 Syd Eru PR 10 Quentin Pongia SR 11 Tony Iro SR 12 Stephen Kearney LF 13 Tyran Smith Substitutions: IC 14 Anthony Swann IC 15 Joe Vagana IC 16 Richie Blackmore IC 17 Logan Swann Coach: Frank Endacott

FB 1 Stuart Spruce RW 2 Alan Hunte RC 3 Kris Radlinski LC 4 Daryl Powell LW 5 Barrie-Jon Mather SO 6 Karle Hammond SH 7 Bobbie Goulding PR 8 Paul Broadbent HK 9 Keiron Cunningham PR 10 Terry O'Connor SR 11 Denis Betts SR 12 Paul Sculthorpe LK 13 Andy Farrell (c) Substitutions: IC 14 Iestyn Harris IC 15 Adrian Morley IC 16 Chris Joynt IC 17 Bernard Dwyer Coach: Phil Larder

Aftermath

The tour was considered a huge failure. It was only the second time in tour history that the Lions had suffered a 3–0 whitewash in a Test series against New Zealand (the other being in 1984), and the 12–32 loss in the Third Test was the widest margin of defeat suffered by Great Britain in a Test against New Zealand.^[28] Financially, the tour made a loss of £296,000.^[29]

The lack of success was attributed to the large number of key players who were unavailable for the tour, and the blow to morale caused by sending some of the squad home early. Fatigue was also an issue - due to the British rugby league season switching from winter to summer the previous year, some players had taken part in over 60 games within the space of 14 months.^[30] New Zealand Rugby League president Graham Carden was blamed for the tour's financial losses, having failed to adequately promote the Test series, resulting in poor attendances. He was eventually forced to stand down the following year.^[31]

Great Britain did not tour in the Southern Hemisphere again for over 20 years until 2019.^[32]

Notes

1. Keith Senior was initially one of 12 players to be sent home, but was later recalled to the squad.^[5]