Heritage Spotlight - The Lions at The G

The second Australia v British and Irish Lion 2025 Test is being played in Melbourne at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Almost every Lions tour has featured a game in the city. In both 2001 and 2013, the Test was at Docklands Stadium (aka Colonial Stadium and Etihad Stadium). Matches against the Melbourne Rebels also in 2013 were at AAMI Park and games against Australia ‘B’ in 1989 and Victoria in both 1959 and 1966 were at that location in its previous ‘set-up’ when it was known as Olympic Park.

Before these matches, the British & Irish Lions have enjoyed playing on Melbourne’s premier ground, known colloquially as The ‘G’. The first game they played at MCG was 16th June1888, when the Lions were defeated by Carlton FC. – the score was 14 to 3. The full score was 14-17 to 3-8 as it was the first of numerous Australian Rules matches that the Lions played in Victoria and South Australia. Some 25,000 attended the Rules match, which was far more than the 6,000 that later saw Britain defeat Melbourne Rugby Union 9-3 on 6th August at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The next tour in 1899 saw the British Lions (called England in the programmes) defeat Victoria 30-0 again at the MCG in front of some 7,000.

Their final appearance on the ground (untill 2025) was a high scoring and close fought win against Vicotria in 1930. Winning 41-36 the Lions scored 10 tries to 8. This was again in front of 7,000 spectators. Future Wallaby and future Wallaby coach Dave Cowper scoring three of those tries for Victoria. His son Bob liked the 3s at the MCG too, scoring (still) the only Triple test century at the ground – 307 in 1966 (against England, of course).

The Rugby Club Foundation Collection has items with links to these 1888, 1899 and 1930 Lions that played at the MCG. The items highlight the broad nature of the Foundation Collection – not only chronologically but across nations and also including match officials. The three items this week are all Rugby honour caps.

  Jack Shaw’s NSW Cap 1888

Jack Shaw won 22 caps from 1884 to 1889 and played the Lions for the state three times in 1888. NSW wore a deep red maroon jersey and cap from 1888 to 1890.

JF MacManamey New South Wales Rugby Union Referee Honor cap

Green segmented cap with gold braiding and tassel, has NSWRU REFEREE embroidered on front, and 1899 on bill.

MacManamey refereed the match between Britian and NSW at SCG 17 June 1899 which was won 4-3 by Britain.

Wellington Cap awarded to Evan Morgan “Ted” Jessop

Ted played for Wellington against the 1930 Lions. He debuted for New Zealand in 1931 and played with them until 1932 when he moved to Melbourne winning selection to the Wallabies and playing twice for Australia in 1934. He was the first to play for both New Zealand and Australia in tests.

Jessop coached Eastern Suburbs in Sydney for 21 seasons, 16 in succession from 1940-1955. He returned in 1962 for six more seaons and in total coached Easts to four premierships.

*Note - The Foundation looks forward to having the collection professionally digitised, these pictures were taken through glass whist on display in the Club.