A Pride of Lions 1971.
They were arguably the greatest-ever Lions Test side of all, and the first-ever to triumph over the All Blacks in 1971. Now for the first time ever on DVD, this fascinating HTV film shows rare behind-the-scenes footage of the famous New Zealand tour where the triumvirate of John Dawes (captain), Carwyn James (coach) and Doug Smith (manager) guided a legendary assembly of British Isles rugby talent to unprecedented success - an historic two Test to one series victory.
Rugby purists can not only see their heroes in action but enjoy some of the players' personal recollections at a 25th anniversary re-union in aid of the Wooden Spoon rugby charity - around which event this programme is based.
Recall of 99 - A Pride of Lions 1974.
The 25th Anniversary Reunion Tour of the 1974 Lions.
The 1974 Tour of the Lions to South Africa was undoubtedly the most controversial and challenging tour in rugby history. Apartheid was at its height, the Labour government was opposed to the Tour, and the Springboks had never lost a series on home soil.
Intimidation has always been part of the game in South Africa but the Springboks were not prepared for the now legendary call from captain Willie John McBride of '99'. This was a call to arms for the Lions and signalled a massive all out attack on the opposition. This was not a tour for the faint-hearted!.
Action starts with the first Tour game against Eastern Province but Newlands was the scene of the first Test. Extraordinarily a large proportion of the huge crowd - the so-called second class citizens - were supporting the Lions in a case of sports and politics being inextricably linked.
The Tour was littered with spectacular tries and glorious play from the like of Phil Bennett, JJ Williams, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams. The 28-9 victory in the 2nd Test was called the worst defeat ever by the South African team, setting up the 3rd Test at Port Elizabeth, the home of punch-ups. The match was so important to the Springboks nation that the Minister of Sport for South Africa gave the team talk. Yet another sensational victory clinched the series for the Lions.
This programme features all the best footage from the Test matches and provincial games, as well as interviews from the players taken both during the Tour itself and from a series of subsequent reunions at Edinburgh, Dublin, Cardiff and London in aid of the rugby charity The Wooden Spoon Society.