The 1979 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 16th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1979. A total of 27 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.
Touring squad
In March 1979, a 30-man squad was selected for the tour, with Doug Laughton appointed as captain. The squad included Widnes prop Jim Mills, who was banned from playing in New Zealand due to an incident in 1975 when Mills played for Wales against New Zealand. Despite an appeal to overturn the ban, the International Board confirmed the ban would be upheld.
After the squad was selected, John Bevan and Stuart Wright were forced to withdraw due to injury, and were replaced by Roy Mathias and David Barends. Ken Kelly also suffered an injury shortly before the tour departed, and was replaced by John Holmes.