"To be a Lion is to reach the pinnacle of rugby achievement in the British Isles. To tour South Africa, where rugby tours originated, is the crowning glory of one’s career.
To face the Lions has always been, and will always remain, one of the greatest honours for any player who dons the Green and Gold of the Springboks.
This carefully researched book is the first ever published to focus on all the matches played by the Lions in the 130 years of contests in southern Africa and recounts famous victories, agonising defeats and nail-biting draws! A welcome addition to any rugby fan’s bookshelf."

David writes: "Chris Schoeman and I have collaborated on our third South African rugby history book. You can view the cover here.

LIONS IN AFRICA traces the history of the thirteen tours of the British Isles teams to South Africa, from humble beginnings at the newly built Newlands stadium in 1891, to the last match played between these sporting giants at Ellis Park stadium in 2009. In two weeks' time the fourteenth Lions tour will begin, thus continuing a tradition started 130 years ago.

The book is not just about the matches - we also describe how the early tours took place - the uncomfortable journeys in carts over very poor roads, on slow trains, and in small steamers along our coastline. We also touch on events off the field, and some controversies.

During the course of the twentieth century the Lions tours went from having relatively small numbers of spectators in person, to a massive sporting event followed around the world.

The book will be distributed in South Africa by Flyleaf Publishers and in the United Kingdom by Amberley Press. The SA edition (in paperback

only) is now available from bookshops across South Africa or can be ordered through SELECT BOOKS (for South African customers only) for R320. Please email David if you're interested ([email protected]).

For our customers in the UK and Europe, the UK edition (in hardcover only) will soon be widely available from local bookshops and online retailers are already taking pre-orders.

On request, Chris Schoeman and I can sign and inscribe copies of the paperback edition ordered through SELECT BOOKS.