Heritage Spotlight - The Lions at The G
The second 2025 Australia v British and Irish Lions Test was played in Melbourne at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday 26 July.
Almost every Lions tour has featured a game in the city of Melbourne. In both 2001 and 2013, the Tests were played at Docklands Stadium (aka Colonial Stadium and Etihad Stadium). Matches against the Melbourne Rebels also in 2013 were played at AAMI Park and games against Australia ‘B’ in 1989 and Victoria in both 1959 and 1966 were played at that location in its previous ‘set-up’ when it was known as Olympic Park.
Before these matches occured, the British & Irish Lions have enjoyed playing on Melbourne’s premier ground, known colloquially as The ‘G’. The first game they played at the MCG was on 16 June 1888, when the Lions were defeated by Carlton FC. – the score being 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 people attended the Australian Rules match, which was far more than the 6,000 that later saw Britain defeat Melbourne Rugby Union 9-3 on 6 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 spectators.
Their final appearance on the ground (until 2025) was a high scoring and close fought win against Victoria in 1930. Winning 41-36 the Lions scored 10 tries to 8. This was again in front of 7,000 spectators. Future Wallaby and Wallaby coach Dave Cowper scoring three of those tries for Victoria. His son Bob liked the 3s at the MCG too, scoring (what is still) the only triple test century achieved at the ground – 307 in 1966 (against England, of course).
The Rugby Club Foundation Collection includes items with links to these 1888, 1899 and 1930 Lions matches 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 featured this week are all Rugby honour caps.
Jack Shaw’s NSW Cap 1888
Jack Shaw won 22 caps from 1884 to 1889 and played for NSW against the Lions on three occasions in 1888. NSW wore a deep red maroon jersey and cap from 1888 to 1890.
JF MacManamey’s New South Wales Rugby Union Referee Honour cap
Green segmented cap with gold braiding and tassel, has NSWRU REFEREE embroidered on front, and 1899 on bill.
MacManamey refereed the match between Britain and NSW at the SCG on 17 June 1899 which was won by Britain 4-3.
Wellington Cap awarded to Evan Morgan “Ted” Jessop
Ted Jessop 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 for 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 seasons and in total coached Easts to four premierships.
*Note - The Foundation looks forward to having its collection professionally digitised. The above pictures were taken through glass whilst on display in The Rugby Club.