The Invincibles: The 1974 British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa

Available on DVD from www.digitalclassics.co.uk and all major retailers.

An extraordinary moment in the world of sport and politics

In 1974 the South African apartheid regime was under worldwide condemnation; in defiance of a developing international policy to isolate South Africa, the British and Irish Lions rugby team controversially accepted the invitation to tour the country and play a test series against their ancient rivals, the Springboks.

The resulting series was one of the most violent in Lions history; yet those 22 matches produced remarkable rugby, including many memorable tries. The Lions enjoyed unparalleled success and with some of the greatest players ever to grace the game, they went unbeaten, going down in rugby legend as The Invincibles.

This film, which includes unique personal footage from the players, is both a thrilling celebration of a remarkable rugby team and a poignant reminder of the scale of change in South Africa since that landmark tour.
Interviews include personal insights from the following:

Willie-John McBride, Gareth Edwards, JJ Williams, JPR Williams, Fran Cotton, Roger Uttley, Fergus Slattery, Makhenkesi Stofile ( Minister of Sport RSA) and Peter Hain MP.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• The
• Invincibles
• 1974
• British
• Irish
• Lions
• South
• Africa
• Apartheid
• Willie
• John
• McBride
• Gareth
• Edwards
• JJ
• Williams
• Fran
• Cotton
• Roger
• Uttley
• Fergus
• Slattery
• Rugby
• Springboks
• sport
• politics
• test
• series
• rivals
• violence
• tries
• JPR
• Makhenkesi
• Stofile
• Peter
• Hain

[donMateo07]

what's the title of the song at the end, when Williams scores ?

[DigitalClassics]

It is a song called 'Wheel of Fortune' by Raven.

[cherryandwhitearmy]

Greatest of all time... I think so

Just think, with modern day equipment, technology and proffesional lifestyles imagine what this team would be like, near perfection, the greatest rugby talented team ever.

[twinytwo]

@cherryandwhitearmy  the lions team of 2009 was top class... if only they had left the english players at home...

[TheLancashireladdy]

Although the team contained brilliant Irish players, It wasn't called the British and Irish lions at that time. If all the Celtic nations get their independence will it become (in alphabetical order) the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Lions?

[349quinman]

Phil Bennett is the England number 10...we start winning every game..then i wake up.

[grandslam1998]

@goedwards A draw was the right score in the last test. The lions had scored a try that dubious.

[ouboet12]

Brilliant!!!

[goedwards]

The greatest rugby team of all time, bar none. It took that lowest of all species to rob them of a series clean sweep and 100% tour win record . ..........apartheid-era South African rugby referees. Take a bow Mr Max Baise.

[Qruosfhk]

Whats the title of the song at the very beginning?

[mizofan]

This may have been the greatest team of all.