The Class of ‘97 are back together again! Twenty-five years on from the memorable 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, members of the squad have met up for a reunion in Stratford-upon-Avon.
It’s a tour that is remembered particularly fondly by rugby fans for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it was a triumphant one, with the world champion Springboks defeated 2-1 in the Test series. But it has also been immortalised by the now legendary Living with Lions video, a then ground-breaking behind-the-scenes look at the 13-match campaign.
A strong bond still exists among the men who went on the trip, as summed up by former England prop Jason Leonard, who said: “This time 25 years ago we were on the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa. This week we are catching up for an anniversary reunion. To this day, I would still walk over broken glass for all involved on that tour.”
So what are the players who wrote their names into Lions history up to these days? Here’s the lowdown on some of the “mane men” 25 years on.
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Martin Johnson
The skipper. He went to captain another Lions tour, to Australia in 2001, and lead England to World Cup glory in 2003, going on to be England team manager for three years. He’s now a rugby pundit for the BBC and has developed a keen interest in cycling, while also working as an after-dinner speaker.
Scott Gibbs
Man of the Series in 1997. Having conquered South Africa with the Lions, the former Wales centre is now living out there and is involved in punditry. Has also had spells living in Verona, Italy, and in America, attending the Wharton Business School in Philadelphia. Read more about Gibbs here.
Jeremy Guscott
Landed the second Test drop goal that clinched the series. After retiring with 65 England caps to his name, the ex-Bath centre spent more than two decades as a rugby pundit with the BBC before stepping down at the start of this year to focus on other business interests.
Neil Jenkins
The man whose goal-kicking from full-back was so crucial. Moved into coaching after hanging up his boots and has been part of the Wales management team for the last 16 years, as the kicking guru, while also adding his expertise on a series of Lions tours. You can read more about Jenkins' rugby life here.
Matt Dawson
Scored the cheeky try that set the Lions on their way in the first Test. Has gone on to become a high-profile figure, as a team captain on A Question of Sport for 16 years, a winner of Celebrity MasterChef, a runner-up in Strictly Come Dancing and a BBC radio pundit.
John Bentley
The dual-code winger from Yorkshire who scored the try of the tour, against the Gauteng Lions. Post-playing, he worked as a Business and Community Development Manager for Leeds Rhinos and Director of Rugby at Cleckheaton. A regular after-dinner speaker, he is also been heavily involved in charity work.
Eric Miller
At 21, the youngest member of the tour party, he came off the bench in the decisive second Test at King's Park, Durban. Went on to win 48 caps in the Ireland back row. He is now a nursing home worker in Dublin.
Allan Bateman
Still donning the boots at 57, turning out for James Hook’s testimonial match at The Gnoll last Friday night, setting up a try for Shane Williams with a sumptuous delayed pass. Has lived in St Brides Major for a number of years and now works as an IT specialist. You can read all about how he keeps himself so fit here.
Lawrence Dallaglio
The 2003 England World Cup winner has worked extensively as a pundit on TV and radio, while also devoting a huge amount of time to charitable efforts, receiving an MBE and OBE. Founder of the Dallaglio RugbyWorks, which aims to get teenagers who have been excluded from mainstream schooling into sustained education, employment or training. You can read all about his incredible rugby journey here.
Alan Tait
A try scorer from the wing in the opening Test, the dual-code back moved into coaching, with Scotland and his former club Newcastle. Then had a spell as as a talent scout for the SRU. Outside of rugby, the Borders-based Tait is a roofer by trade.
Keith Wood
A real talisman on the 1997 tour, the former Ireland captain has gone on to work as a pundit and after-dinner speaker. In 2018, he opened a café and restaurant in his native Killaloe, County Clare, with business partner Malcolm Bell, called Wood & Bell.
Ieuan Evans
A first Test starter before injury ended his tour. The former Wales captain is now vice-chairman of the WRU. Previously worked extensively as a TV pundit and has been a board member of the Welsh Tourist Board, VisitBritain and 2010 Ryder Cup, as well as being involved in a number of charities.
Gregor Townsend
Has been coach of Scotland since 2017, having previously been at the helm of Glasgow for three years. Wore No 10 for the triumphant first two Tests in 1997, with his playing career taking in spells at Northampton, Brive, Castres, Montpellier and Borders.
Jeremy Davidson
Started all three Tests at lock alongside Johnson. The 32-cap Ulsterman went on to have a spell playing for Castres and is now out in France once more as head coach of Brive, who he has guided back into the Top 14 during his four year stint at the helm.
Jason Leonard
The man nicknamed the Fun Bus was the manager for last year’s Lions tour of South Africa and is the current Lions chairman, having previously been President of the RFU. England’s most-capped player for a long spell, until his tally of 114 was recently surpassed by Ben Youngs. Outside of rugby, the former prop has worked as a senior advisor for Lloyd’s brokers.
Richard Hill
One of the most respected figures in the game during his playing days, the former Saracens flanker was appointed England team manager by Eddie Jones in 2016, while also fulfilling the role Player Pathway Liaison Manager for the RFU.
Barry Williams
Just 23 with only one Welsh cap to his name when he was selected as the tour bolter . Now living on a farm in Llandeilo, the former Ospreys skipper is operations director of Parker Plant Hire Ltd in Llanelli. His son Logan is also an international, in sheep-dog trialling! You can read Barry's full story here.
Mark Regan
Selected to start at hooker ahead of Williams in the third Test. Nicknamed Ronnie, the ex-Bath and Bristol front rower, who was severely deaf throughout his playing career, has been forwards coach at Clifton RFC and is involved in the buy-to-let property market, as well as working on the after-dinner circuit.
Paul Wallace
A late call-up in place of the injured Peter Clohessy, he went on to start all three Tests at tighthead prop. One of three brothers to play for Ireland - along with David and Richard - he has worked as a rugby pundit on TV, radio and in print. He’s managing director of Bircroft Property Finance, a debt structuring firm for commercial property.
Tim Rodber
It’s sometimes forgotten that Rodber was at No 8 for the first two Tests. After retiring, the 44-cap Northampton forward held executive posts with Williams Lea, Middleton Advisors and global workspace providers Instant.
Mike Catt
People may also not recall that it was the South African born and raised Catt who started the third Test at fly-half. Is now an assistant to Ireland coach Andy Farrell, having previously had coaching stints with London Irish, England and Italy.
Rob Wainwright
Midweek captain and a back row starter in the third Test. A doctor by profession, he rose to the rank of major in the Royal Army Medical Corps before moving with his family to the island of Coll in the Inner Hebrides, taking ownership of a farm.
Scott Quinnell
The former No 8 had been a regular rugby pundit for Sky Sports and a radio presenter for BBC Wales. He is also a People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador and is a co-presenter and coach of Sky’s School of Hard Knocks TV series along with fellow 1997 Lion Will Greenwood.
Tim Stimpson
Missed out to the metronomic Neil Jenkins at full-back. Won a record five consecutive Premiership titles with Newcastle and Leicester, while earning 19 England caps. These days, he’s a motivational speaker and MC, delivering wellness and performance programmes. He is also a core member of Progressive Rugby, the group campaigning for greater protection for players from concussion injuries.
Rob Howley
A shoulder injury sustained against Natal Sharks a week before the first Test cruelly ruled him out of the rest of the tour, but he was back to start in the Test series on the next Lions trip, to Australia in 2001. Spent 11 years as part of Warren Gatland’s Wales coaching team, sharing in numerous triumphs, and is now an assistant coach to Canada.
Neil Back
Started the third Test on the openside. Went on two more Lions tour and was a World Cup winner with England in 2003. Has had coaching spells with Leicester, Leeds Carnegie and Edinburgh. Now works in the financial sector for an insurance company and in visual communications.
Doddie Weir
The former Scotland lock has become an inspiration with his brave fight against motor neurone disease and his fund-raising for research into a cure for the disease, with the creation of ‘My Name’s Doddie’ foundation. Worked as a commercial director for a waste management company tha after finishing playing.
Austin Healey
A replacement during the Test series, utility back Healey won 51 caps for England in all. Now works as a TV pundit, while he has also been a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Mastermind.
Dai Young
Has the rare distinction on having gone on Lions tours in three different decades - 1989, 1997 and 2011. The former prop is now back at the Arms Park for his second spell as Cardiff’s director of rugby after nine years in charge at Wasps.
FULL SQUAD
Backs: Allan Bateman (Richmond and Wales), Nick Beal (Northampton and England), John Bentley (Newcastle and England), Matt Dawson (Northampton and England), Ieuan Evans (Llanelli and Wales), Scott Gibbs (Swansea and Wales), Paul Grayson (Northampton and England), Will Greenwood (Leicester and England), Jeremy Guscott (Bath and England), Austin Healey (Leicester and England), Rob Howley (Cardiff and Wales), Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd and Wales), Tim Stimpson (Newcastle and England), Alan Tait (Newcastle and Scotland), Gregor Townsend (Northampton and Scotland), Tony Underwood (Newcastle and England)
Forwards: Neil Back (Leicester and England), Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps and England), Jeremy Davidson (London Irish and Ireland), Richard Hill (Saracens and England), Martin Johnson (capt) (Leicester and England), Jason Leonard (Harlequins and England), Eric Miller (Leicester and Ireland), Scott Quinnell (Richmond and Wales), Mark Regan (Bristol and England), Tim Rodber (Northampton and England), Graham Rowntree (Leicester and England), Simon Shaw (Bristol and England), Tom Smith (Watsonians and Scotland), Rob Wainwright (Watsonians and Scotland), Paul Wallace (Saracens and Ireland), Doddie Weir (Newcastle and Scotland), Barry Williams (Neath and Wales), Keith Wood (Harlequins and Ireland), David Young (Cardiff and Wales)
Replacements: Mike Catt (Bath and England), Tony Stanger (Hawick and Scotland), Kyran Bracken (Saracens and England), Tony Diprose (Saracens and England), Nigel Redman (Bath and England)
Manager: Fran Cotton
Coach: Ian McGeechan
Assistant coach: Jim Telfer
Results:
Lions 39-11 Eastern Province
Lions 18-14 Border
Lions 38-21 Western Province
Lions 64-14 Mpumalanga
Lions 30-35 Northern Transvaal
Lions 20-14 Gauteng
Lions 42-12 Natal
Lions 51-22 Emerging Springboks
Lions 25-16 South Africa (Cape Town)
Lions 52-30 Free State
Lions 18-15 South Africa (Durban)
Lions 67-39 Northern Free State
Lions 16-35 South Africa (Johannesburg)
