In rugby union , since their first meeting in 1891, the British & Irish Lions and the South Africa national team have contested 13 series, with South Africa winning nine to the Lions' four, and one drawn series in 1955 . The two teams have played 49 matches; South Africa have won 25 times to the Lions' 18, with the remaining six matches finishing as draws. The Lions won the first two series between the two sides in 1891 and 1896 , including wins in the first six matches, but then did not win another series until their unbeaten 1974 tour . After South Africa's victory in the 1980 series , the two teams did not meet again until 1997 as a result of apartheid sanctions; the Lions won the 1997 series, before South Africa won the next two tours; 2009 and 2021 .
Details
Played
Won by South Africa
Won by Lions
Draw
Overall
14
9
4
1
Details
Played
Won by South Africa
Won by Lions
Drawn
South Africa points
British & Irish Lions points
Overall
49
25
18
6
636
554
Date
Venue
Score
Victor
Series
30 July 1891
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
0–4
British Lions
1891 tour
29 August 1891
Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley
0–3
British Lions
5 September 1891
Newlands , Cape Town
0–4
British Lions
30 July 1896
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
0–8
British Lions
1896 tour
22 August 1896
Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg
8–17
British Lions
29 August 1896
Athletic Club, Kimberley
3–9
British Lions
5 September 1896
Newlands , Cape Town
5–0
South Africa
26 August 1903
Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg
10–10
Draw
1903 tour
5 September 1903
Athletic Club, Kimberley
0–0
Draw
12 September 1903
Newlands , Cape Town
8–0
South Africa
6 August 1910
Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg
14–10
South Africa
1910 tour
27 August 1910
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
3–8
British Lions
3 September 1910
Newlands , Cape Town
21–5
South Africa
16 August 1924
Kingsmead , Durban
7–3
South Africa
1924 tour
23 August 1924
Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg
17–0
South Africa
13 September 1924
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
3–3
Draw
20 September 1924
Newlands , Cape Town
16–9
South Africa
6 August 1938
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
26–12
South Africa
1938 tour
3 September 1938
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
19–3
South Africa
10 September 1938
Newlands , Cape Town
16–21
British Lions
6 August 1955
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
22–23
British Lions
1955 tour
20 August 1955
Newlands , Cape Town
25–9
South Africa
3 September 1955
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
6–9
British Lions
24 September 1955
Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth
22–8
South Africa
23 June 1962
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
3–3
Draw
1962 tour
21 July 1962
Kings Park , Durban
3–0
South Africa
4 August 1962
Newlands , Cape Town
8–3
South Africa
25 August 1962
Free State Stadium , Bloemfontein
34–14
South Africa
8 June 1968
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
25–20
South Africa
1968 tour
22 June 1968
EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth
6–6
Draw
13 July 1968
Newlands , Cape Town
11–6
South Africa
27 July 1968
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
19–6
South Africa
8 June 1974
Newlands , Cape Town
3–12
British Lions
1974 tour
22 June 1974
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
9–28
British Lions
13 July 1974
EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth
9–26
British Lions
27 July 1974
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
13–13
Draw
31 May 1980
Newlands , Cape Town
26–22
South Africa
1980 tour
14 June 1980
Free State Stadium , Bloemfontein
26–19
South Africa
28 June 1980
EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth
12–10
South Africa
12 July 1980
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
13–17
British Lions
21 June 1997
Newlands , Cape Town
16–25
British Lions
1997 tour
28 June 1997
Kings Park , Durban
15–18
British Lions
5 July 1997
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
35–16
South Africa
20 June 2009
Kings Park , Durban
26–21
South Africa
2009 tour
27 June 2009
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
28–25
South Africa
4 July 2009
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
9–28
British & Irish Lions
24 July 2021
Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town
17–22
British & Irish Lions
2021 tour
31 July 2021
Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town
27–9
South Africa
7 August 2021
Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town
19–16
South Africa
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