The first official tour by the British Isles Rugby Union Team, selected by a committee from all four Home Unions, was to South Africa in 1910. But the idea was not a new one, as combined British & Irish teams had been heading for the southern hemisphere since 1888.

The first tour was a commercial venture made without official backing, but the six subsequent visits that took place prior to 1910 enjoyed a growing degree of support from the authorities, although only one of these included representatives of all four nations.

The Lions name was coined during the inter-war period, when the emblem on the players' jersey and lapel badges gave them their alternative title.

The 1950s proved a golden age for Lions rugby, although it was not until the 1970s that style was matched with the substance of victory in New Zealand and South Africa.

Some questioned whether the Lions had a future in the age of professionalism and the Rugby World Cup. But the popular support given to the 1997 and 2001 tours put an end to these questions.

The 2005 Tour to New Zealand proved to be an even bigger event with a reported 30,000 fans traveling to support the team. The Lions were managed by former England international Bill Beaumont and coached by former England coach Sir Clive Woodward.

The 2009 tour to South Africa was a tough assignment for Paul O'Connell's team as they had to face the reigning World Cup and Tri-Nations champions. The 10 match tour turned into an outstanding success both on and off the field as the Lions rekindled their magic and pushed John Smit's Springboks all the way in one of the greatest Test series of the professional era.
The Lions won six and drew one of their provincial matches, but went down 2-1 in a pulsating Test campaign. Having fallen behind 2-0 with defeats in Durban and Pretoria, the latter to a last second penalty from his own half by Morne Steyn, the Lions battled back to win the final Test in Johannesburg 28-9.