Sport Rugby union No. of teams 2 | Founded 2001 | |
Country Australia
British and Irish Lions Most recent
champion(s) British and Irish Lions | ||
The Tom Richards Trophy is an international rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of British and Irish Lions vs. Australia test series. It was commissioned for the 2001 British Lions tour to Australia and the inaugural winner was Australia, who won the series 2-1. This was the first time that Australia had managed to defeat the Lions in a series. 12 years later, the Lions won the 2013 tour to Australia 1-2, making them the current holders of the trophy.The two teams' first meeting was in Australia in 1899 where they played a four test series, won by the Lions 3-1.
Tom Richards was the only player to have played for both the Wallabies and Lions. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign and for his efforts in France was awarded the Military Cross. In 1908 Richards played in the first Wallaby team to tour Britain and won the gold medal at the 1908 Olympic Games. In 1910 he represented the Lions as a replacement on their tour to South Africa whilst living in the country. In 1912 he was selected for the Wallaby tour to the US and Canada.