Queensland hosted the original, 1888 British Lions on their intrepid tour, financed by English test cricketers and entrepreneurs Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw. Rugby in Queensland had grown slowly until the highly-anticipated Lions tour, which drove interest, participation and skill.
"Till '88 we played a kind of ancient game of scrum and maul, where muscle triumphed over mind and heavy feet chased tortured ball - Indeed a very stupid game, Till '88 when Stoddart came." (Journalist, Andy Spence)
The Lions original captain, Bob Seddon, tragically drowned while sculling in the Hunter River days before they were set to arrive in Brisbane.
The Lions team photo before QRU Match No. 15 shows his captain's position vacant as tribute before Blackheath's Andrew Stoddart took over the captaincy.
A converted try to Queensland's R. Stronge and a successful penalty kick from Jim Exton gave the crowd something to cheer about as the hosts went down 6-13.
Queensland's Northern Rugby Union was then comprised of 25 clubs, had only 75 Pounds and could scarcely afford to host the Lions, but benefited greatly from the tour, which provided a catalyst for the code's prosperity.
QUEENSLAND TEAM THAT FACED THE BRITISH LIONS - AUGUST 18, 1888
Jersey No.
QRU No.
Name
1 67 Jack Scott
2 68 R. Stronge
3 48 Tom Hughes
4 55 Robert 'Bob' Wilson
5 65 William 'Bill' Eason
6 64 John Campbell
7 2 Frank 'Tiger' Baynes
8 66 Patrick Real
9 57 T.P. 'Barney' Carr
10 47 Jim Exton
11 60 A.R. 'Bull' Pierson
12 44 Jim Orr
13 54 Percy Small
14 17 Frank Belbridge
15 46 J. Atkinson
