Two years after Max Krilich led the all-conquering 1982 Kangaroos on an unprecedented unbeaten tour, the Lions headed Down Under with a young, internationally inexperienced squad that had much to prove.
Coach Frank Myler, who had captained Great Britain to their last Ashes win 14 years earlier, put his faith in a new generation of players who would form the backbone of Test squads for much of the last decade.
Myler was forced into a couple of late changes after three of his initial selections – Trevor Skerrett, Len Casey and Chris Arkwright – all had to drop out, Skerrett and Arkwright with injury and Casey through suspension.
Australia were once again completely dominant in all three Tests but the Lions were at least more competitive than Britain had been two years earlier, partly through the talents of the likes of youngsters Garry Schofield, Ellery Hanley, Lee Crooks and Andy Goodway.
The Ashes series was often a brutal affair with Britain frequently targeting Australia’s Wally Lewis and all three Tests being peppered with acts of random violent play.
The Lions were the first to play seven Tests on tour – three against both Australia and New Zealand, and one in Papua New Guinea – with seven players featuring in all seven Tests: captain Brian Noble, Mick Burke, Des Drummond, Keith Mumby, Ellery Hanley, Andy Goodway and Mick Adams.
Great Britain lost all six Tests against Australia and New Zealand but ended the tour with a 38-20 victory over the Kumuls at Mount Hagen, where they scored six tries through Des Drummond (2), Hanley, Mumby, Joe Lydon, Keith Rayne and David Hobbs.
Hanley (12) and Drummond (11) were top try-scorers and joint top appearance makers with 17. Mick Burke was leading points scorer with 36 goals and two tries.
Tour Summary
| Played | 24 |
| Won | 16 |
| Drawn | 0 |
| Lost | 8 |
| For | |
|---|---|
| Tries | 109 |
| Goals | 89 |
| Points | 616 |
| Against | |
| Tries | 65 |
| Goals | 69 |
| Points | 400 |