EsmondeMartelli

A full-back, Esmonde Martelli was described by the 1899 British & Irish Lions captain Matthew Mullineux as having “an excellent drop, punt and place kick”.

Playing his club rugby in Dublin, he was one of two full-backs on the Tour and shared the No.15 jersey with Charles Thompson, playing in 12 of the 20 matches.

For the opening games of the tour, Martelli was first choice and scored all of the Lions’ points in their second tour match against New South Wales, as his drop-goal earned them a narrow 4-3 win.

After playing in the first Test against Australia, where the Lions lost 13-3, Martelli lost his place to Thompson in the Test side but still played another nine times in the famous red jersey.

Despite never playing for the Ireland national team, Martelli is one of few Lions to have also refereed at the elite level and took charge of the Scotland vs. Wales match in the 1903 Home Nations Championship.