The British & Irish Lions are one of the most famous and feted teams in the world of rugby. Every four years the Lions - selected from the national sides of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland - head to the southern hemisphere to do battle with rugby heavyweights New Zealand, Australia or South Africa. This latest, fully revised, redesigned and expanded edition of the book covers the entire period of the Lions' existence, from the first recorded tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1888 to the tours of the modern era. In this comprehensive book, the authors Clem Thomas, Greg Thomas and Rob Cole trace the origins of the Lions, track the team's development and investigate the social and political issues that have helped shape one of the world's most formidable touring forces. They relive every Lions tour and Test match and celebrate the key moments that have made the Lions such a magical part of rugby folklore. The British & Irish Lions: The Official History includes colourful recollections and insights into a remarkable rugby tradition, never-before published images and memorabilia courtesy of the World Rugby Museum and a detailed statistical section that records every single Lion to have proudly worn the red shirt, as well as the facts, figures and records of their endeavours.