The 1932 Lions secured the Ashes with victories in the first and third Tests and won all three Tests played against New Zealand, a record that testifies to the quality of their back division.
Again playing as England, they were captained by Wigan’s Welsh full-back Jim Sullivan, who was making his third tour, as was Joe Thompson of Leeds, who remains the only forward to play in three Ashes-winning tour sides.
A world record crowd of 70,204 saw the Lions grind out an 8-6 victory in the first Test in Sydney, helped by an amazing interception try by Alf Ellaby in the opening minute of the match.
After a 15-6 defeat in Brisbane, the Lions looked to be heading for a series defeat when they trailed 9-0 as half-time approached in the decider before Leeds winger Stan Smith gave them hope with a long-distance try.
Stan Brogden of Huddersfield narrowed the gap with a try by the posts, converted by Sullivan, and debutant Gus Risman – who would go on to captain the 1946 tour – sent Smith over for his second try for Sullivan to land another goal from near touch.
Smith then sealed the win with his third try, the Lions’ first hat-trick in an Ashes Test since 1910.
England won the scrums 36-25 and the penalties 14-13.
The Lions won all eight games in New Zealand and lost just two of the 26 matches played on tour, the second Ashes Test and an 18-15 reverse at the hands of Brisbane League a few days before that fixture.
St Helens flier Ellaby was the top try-scorer with 21, while Sullivan became the first player to kick more than 100 goals on tour. England had two other wingers, Smith (15 tries), Barney Hudson (18), and Tank Woods (18), who were all prolific try-scorers.
Tour Summary
| Played | 26 |
| Won | 23 |
| Drawn | 1 |
| Lost | 2 |
| For | |
|---|---|
| Tries | 170 |
| Goals | 136 |
| Points | 782 |
| Against | |
| Tries | 49 |
| Goals | 56 |
| Points | 259 |