A Lions Tale - 120 Years of the Red and White (Paperback)

This publication is not meant to be a reference book, or even a history book. It is rather the tale of how the union was established and how it developed over 120 years. The highlights - and the low – are documented; achievements on the field, in the boardrooms of South African and indeed world rugby; the role of the schools from the early days to now; the hiccups during the transition to professionalism; the role of the referees, the supporters and the clubs all combine to tell a story of achievements and the joy the game of rugby brings to players and supporters. The special deeds of players like Hennie Muller and Francois Pienaar; the hard work of a man like Jannie Breedt to turn the struggling union around; the new Ellis Park and the drama surrounding its financing and the often controversial role of TRFU and GLRU president Louis Luyt are further blocks on which the Lions tale is built – from the days when the team was known as Transvaal or the Rooibontes, to today, where the young side under Eugene Eloff is slowly starting to show its collective teeth. There is also an endeavour to tell of the difficulty touring teams have playing at the former Ellis Park which is now known as Coca-Cola Park. The venue has indeed become a Field of Fear for visiting sides. The first 120 years are years to be proud of – and the 121st year will see the Battle of the Lions when the touring British and Irish Lions do battle with the Xerox Lions for the very first time in an extension of the many matches between the British side and the former Transvaal since 1891 – with the undoubted highlight the five successive victories by the home side.