British Lions vs Western Province Country – 21 September 1938
It’s easy to forget just how far the game has come. In 1938, a British Lions tour was a real expedition – ships, endless train journeys, and matches in towns where rugby was more religion than recreation. This particular game, played on 21 September 1938 at Newlands, Cape Town, is one that still stands out in the records: Western Province Country 12, British Lions 7.
A Snapshot of the 1938 Tour
The Lions’ visit to South Africa that year was long and punishing. Twenty-four matches in total, spread across vast distances, with little recovery time. They faced tough provincial sides who had been waiting years for the chance to topple an international touring team. Western Province Country were ready for them.
Led by the legendary Gerry Brand, a man whose name still carries weight in South African rugby circles, the local side combined sharp kicking, solid defence and a relentless home spirit. Brand himself was a Springbok full-back known for his accuracy from the tee and tactical nous. He’d already captained Western Province Town and Country to another Lions upset earlier in the tour, so he knew exactly how to get the best out of his players.
The Lions, by comparison, were stretched thin. After weeks on the road, the fatigue was beginning to show. Reports from the time mention handling errors, lost territory battles, and moments of ill-timed ambition. Yet even in defeat, there’s a certain dignity to their effort. These were men representing four nations, travelling under one badge, in an age when the concept of a “professional rugby player” didn’t really exist.
Why This Match Matters
In the grand scheme of things, the 1938 tour is remembered as the last before the war – a kind of final chapter before everything changed. It was also the last time the Lions travelled entirely by sea. They’d lose the first two Tests against South Africa before rallying to win the third, but in between those headline fixtures, matches like this one told the real story of the tour.
Provincial games weren’t warm-ups or exhibitions. They were fierce, pride-driven contests that shaped local rugby folklore. Western Province Country’s win over the Lions was one of those moments that stuck – proof that provincial teams could match, and even outplay, the best the British Isles could send.
When you look at a programme from that day, you’re not just holding paper. You’re holding a piece of that history – a reminder of what the sport once looked like before sponsorships, before world rankings, and before instant replays.
The Programme Itself
The official match programme from British Lions vs Western Province Country (21 September 1938) lists the full team line-ups, the Newlands venue details, and the sponsors that kept tours like this afloat. Each copy is now a rare survivor from a pre-war era of rugby, printed with the kind of design and typography that immediately transports you back.
Collectors will notice the small things – the printing marks, the paper weight, the local adverts, and the faint smell of old ink that time never quite removes. It’s these details that make it more than memorabilia; it’s a tangible connection to the golden age of touring rugby.
Own a Piece of Rugby History
If you’d like to add this match to your collection, you can purchase the original 1938 British Lions vs Western Province Country programme right here on Rugby Memories:
