# 1966 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1966 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 13th tour of Australasia and took place from June to August 1966. A total of 30 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and a two-game series against New Zealand.
Great Britain failed to regain The Ashes against Australia following their home defeat in 1963, but had more success on the New Zealand leg of the tour, winning all eight games.

## Touring squad

The 26-man touring squad was announced on 23 March 1966, with Harry Poole named as captain, and Ken Gowers selected as vice-captain. A few days later, Alex Murphy withdrew from the squad due to business commitments, and was replaced by Ian Brooke. Murphy's withdrawal meant that Brian Edgar was the only member of the squad who had toured previously with the Lions.

## Results
### Australia

* 1 June 1966
| Northern Territory | 7 – 17 | Great Britain |
* Darwin
* 4 June 1966
| Far North Queensland | 7 – 48 | Great Britain |
* Cairns
* 5 June 1966
| North Queensland | 17 – 15 | Great Britain |
* Townsville
* 8 June 1966
| Central Queensland | 10 – 5 | Great Britain |
* Rockhampton
* 11 June 1966
| Sydney | 14 – 15 | Great Britain |
* Sydney
* 13 June 1966
| Newcastle | 2 – 5 | Great Britain |
* Newcastle
* 15 June 1966
| NSW North Coast | 20 – 52 | Great Britain |
* Kempsey
* 18 June 1966
| New South Wales | 18 – 13 | Great Britain |
* Sydney
* 19 June 1966
| Southern NSW | 17 – 8 | Great Britain |
* Wollongong

#### First Test

* 25 June 1966
| Australia | 13 – 17 | Great Britain |
| Tries: Banks Goals: Barnes (5) | | Tries: Burgess, Hardisty, Watson Goals: Keegan (3) Drop goals: Bishop |
* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 57,962 Referee: Jack Bradley
* 26 June 1966
| Northern NSW | 15 – 13 | Great Britain |
* Tamworth
* 29 June 1966
| Brisbane | 19 – 17 | Great Britain |
* Brisbane
* 2 July 1966
| Queensland | 29 – 38 | Great Britain |
* Brisbane
* 3 July 1966
| Wide Bay/Burnett | 22 – 30 | Great Britain |
* Bundaberg
* 7 July 1966
| Ipswich | 10 – 44 | Great Britain |
* Ipswich
* 10 July 1966
| Toowoomba | 10 – 38 | Great Britain |
* Toowoomba

#### Second Test

* 16 July 1966
| Australia | 6 – 4 | Great Britain |
| Goals: Barnes (3) | | Goals: Keegan (2) |
* Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 45,057 Referee: Col Pearce
* 17 July 1966
| Western NSW | 11 – 38 | Great Britain |
* Parkes

#### Third Test

* 23 July 1966
| Australia | 19 – 14 | Great Britain |
| Tries: Irvine (3), King, Lynch Goals: Johns (2) | | Tries: Hardisty (2) Goals: Gowers (4) |
* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 63,503 Referee: Col Pearce
* 24 July 1966
| Riverina | 20 – 34 | Great Britain |
* Narrandera
* 26 July 1966
| Balmain | 9 – 8 | Great Britain |
* Sydney
* 31 July 1966
| Monaro | 12 – 33 | Great Britain |
* Cooma

### New Zealand

* 3 August 1966
| Waikato | 8 – 47 | Great Britain |
* Huntly

#### First Test

* 6 August 1966
| New Zealand | 8 – 25 | Great Britain |
| Tries: Christian, Mincham Goals: Kennedy | | Tries: Brooke, Burgess, Clarke, Myler, Watson Goals: Gowers Drop goals: Gowers |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 14,494 Referee: John Percival
* 9 August 1966
| Wellington | 9 – 28 | Great Britain |
* Wellington
* 11 August 1966
| West Coast | 5 – 27 | Great Britain |
* Greymouth
* 13 August 1966
| Canterbury | 6 – 53 | Great Britain |
* Christchurch
* 15 August 1966
| Taranaki | 17 – 51 | Great Britain |
* New Plymouth

#### Second Test

* 20 August 1966
| New Zealand | 14 – 22 | Great Britain |
| Goals: Wiggs (7) | | Tries: Brooke (2), Aspinall, Burgess Goals: Gowers (5) |
* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 10,657 Referee: John Percival
* 23 August 1966
| Auckland | 11 – 12 | Great Britain |
* Auckland