In rugby union , since their first meeting in 1891, the British & Irish Lions and the South Africa national team have contested 13 series, with South Africa winning nine to the Lions' four, and one drawn series in 1955 . The two teams have played 49 matches; South Africa have won 25 times to the Lions' 18, with the remaining six matches finishing as draws. The Lions won the first two series between the two sides in 1891 and 1896 , including wins in the first six matches, but then did not win another series until their unbeaten 1974 tour . After South Africa's victory in the 1980 series , the two teams did not meet again until 1997 as a result of apartheid sanctions; the Lions won the 1997 series, before South Africa won the next two tours; 2009 and 2021 .
List of series [ edit ] Details Played Won by South Africa Won by Lions Draw Overall 14 9 4 1
List of matches [ edit ] Details Played Won by South Africa Won by Lions Drawn South Africa points British & Irish Lions points Overall 49 25 18 6 636 554
Date Venue Score Victor Series 30 July 1891 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 0–4 British Lions 1891 tour 29 August 1891 Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley 0–3 British Lions 5 September 1891 Newlands , Cape Town 0–4 British Lions 30 July 1896 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 0–8 British Lions 1896 tour 22 August 1896 Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg 8–17 British Lions 29 August 1896 Athletic Club, Kimberley 3–9 British Lions 5 September 1896 Newlands , Cape Town 5–0 South Africa 26 August 1903 Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg 10–10 Draw 1903 tour 5 September 1903 Athletic Club, Kimberley 0–0 Draw 12 September 1903 Newlands , Cape Town 8–0 South Africa 6 August 1910 Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg 14–10 South Africa 1910 tour 27 August 1910 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 3–8 British Lions 3 September 1910 Newlands , Cape Town 21–5 South Africa 16 August 1924 Kingsmead , Durban 7–3 South Africa 1924 tour 23 August 1924 Wanderers Stadium , Johannesburg 17–0 South Africa 13 September 1924 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 3–3 Draw 20 September 1924 Newlands , Cape Town 16–9 South Africa 6 August 1938 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 26–12 South Africa 1938 tour 3 September 1938 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 19–3 South Africa 10 September 1938 Newlands , Cape Town 16–21 British Lions 6 August 1955 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 22–23 British Lions 1955 tour 20 August 1955 Newlands , Cape Town 25–9 South Africa 3 September 1955 Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria 6–9 British Lions 24 September 1955 Crusader's Ground , Port Elizabeth 22–8 South Africa 23 June 1962 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 3–3 Draw 1962 tour 21 July 1962 Kings Park , Durban 3–0 South Africa 4 August 1962 Newlands , Cape Town 8–3 South Africa 25 August 1962 Free State Stadium , Bloemfontein 34–14 South Africa 8 June 1968 Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria 25–20 South Africa 1968 tour 22 June 1968 EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth 6–6 Draw 13 July 1968 Newlands , Cape Town 11–6 South Africa 27 July 1968 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 19–6 South Africa 8 June 1974 Newlands , Cape Town 3–12 British Lions 1974 tour 22 June 1974 Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria 9–28 British Lions 13 July 1974 EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth 9–26 British Lions 27 July 1974 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 13–13 Draw 31 May 1980 Newlands , Cape Town 26–22 South Africa 1980 tour 14 June 1980 Free State Stadium , Bloemfontein 26–19 South Africa 28 June 1980 EPRFU Stadium , Port Elizabeth 12–10 South Africa 12 July 1980 Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria 13–17 British Lions 21 June 1997 Newlands , Cape Town 16–25 British Lions 1997 tour 28 June 1997 Kings Park , Durban 15–18 British Lions 5 July 1997 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 35–16 South Africa 20 June 2009 Kings Park , Durban 26–21 South Africa 2009 tour 27 June 2009 Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria 28–25 South Africa 4 July 2009 Ellis Park , Johannesburg 9–28 British & Irish Lions 24 July 2021 Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town 17–22 British & Irish Lions 2021 tour 31 July 2021 Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town 27–9 South Africa 7 August 2021 Cape Town Stadium , Cape Town 19–16 South Africa
History Players Trophies Matches
Tours
Australia New Zealand South Africa Argentina
Related
History Players Competitions and trophies Related teams Matches
Tours
Argentina and South America Australia Europe New Zealand North America