British & Irish Lions &8211; Fully Signed Ball &8211; 1974 Tour To
South Africa

Product Description

This exceptionally rare item of British & Irish Lions memorabilia is a rugby ball signed by the 1974 winning British Lions touring squad to South Africa. The ball is supplied in a display case with the ball seated on a plinth. There is a plaque that describes the ball. The tour was a great success the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches & drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches the Lions drew the final test when the South African referee blew the final whistle four minutes early with the Lions two meters from the South African try line thus preserving their unbeaten record but denying them a tour whitewash. The test series was beset by violence that resulted in the creatation of the infamous &8216;99&8217; call. The idea was that the referee would be unlikely to send off all of the Lions if they all attacked. At the Battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth one of the most violent matches in rugby history there is famous video footage of JPR Williams running over half of the pitch & launching himself at Moaner van Heerden after such a call. Although an extreme response the 99 call was only used once (according to Mc Bride) as it sent out the message that the Lions were willing & more than able to respond in kind & protect themselves. This brown leather Gilbert Springbok is very neatly signed by the squad in two columns numbered 1-15 & 16-30 & is in addition signed by the tour manager Alun Thomas & coach Syd Millar. It is inscribed in heavy print BRITISH LIONS 1974. It is sold with a signed letter of provenance from the present vendor which explains its acquisition through Ian Mc Lauchlan the Scottish rugby captain & the fact is has been treasured & wrapped in clingfilm since the signing. The list of signatories is a whose who of Rugby legends &
Includes:; Fullbacks: JPR Williams (London Welsh & Wales) Andy Irvine (Heriots FP & Scotland) Wings: Tom Grace (St Marys College RFC & Ireland) J.J. Williams (Llanelli & Wales) William Steele (Bedford & R.A.F. & Scotland) Alan Morley (Bristol & England) Centres: Clive Rees (London Welsh & Wales) Richard Milliken (Bangor & Ireland) Ian Mc Geechan (Headingley & Scotland) Roy Bergiers (Llanelli & Wales) Geoff Evans (Coventry & England) as replacement Flyhalves: Phil Bennett (Llanelli & Wales) Alan Old (Leicester & England) Mike Gibson (North of Ireland FC & Ireland) as replacement Scrumhalves: Gareth Edwards (Cardiff & Wales) John Moloney (St. Marys College & Ireland) Forwards: Hookers: Bobby Windsor (Pontypool & Wales) Ken Kennedy (London Irish & Ireland) Props Ian Mc Lauchlan (Jordanhill College RFC & Scotland) Sandy Carmichael (West of Scotland & Scotland) Fran Cotton (Coventry & England) Mike Burton (Gloucester & England) Locks Willie John Mc Bride (capt) (Ballymena & Ireland) Chris Ralston (Richmond & England) Gordon Brown (West of Scotland & Scotland) Roger Uttley (Gosforth & England) Loose Forwards Fergus Slattery (Blackrock College & Ireland) Stewart Mc Kinney (Dungannon & Ireland) Tom David (Llanelli & Wales) Tony Neary (Broughton Park & England) Andy Ripley (Rosslyn Park & England). Mervyn Davies (Swansea & Wales). The ball is in remarkably good condition with the signatures clear & legible with no fading. Opportunities to obtain memorabilia such as this rarely arise particularly is such wonderful condition & would make a great addition to a collection.