Date 15 May – 16 July Tour captain(s) Finlay Calder | Coach(es) Ian McGeechan Top test point scorer(s) Gavin Hastings (28) | |
Test series winners British and Irish Lions (2–1) | ||
In 1989 the British and Irish Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Unlike previous tours to Australia, the British and Irish Lions did not play any matches against New Zealand, this being the first Australia-only tour since 1899. The side was captained by Finlay Calder.
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The Lions suffered a 30–12 defeat in the first Test in Sydney on 1 July, then their heaviest defeat by Australia. For the second and third Tests test team changes included Mike Teague, recovered from injury, at blindside flanker, Rob Andrew, replacing the injured Paul Dean, at 10, and Jeremy Guscott, then only 23, at centre. The team became the only Lions team ever to come from 1–0 down to win a series, winning the second test in Brisbane 19–12 and the third test in Sydney 19–18. Teague was named player of the series.