- Date of Birth15 / 01 / 1911
- Lions Tours1938
- International CapsEngland / Lions
- Lions Origin SchoolsBedford Modern School
- Lions Origin ClubsBarbarians, Bedford Blues, Royal Air Force, Bedford Athletic
Gerald Thomas Dancer, known otherwise as ‘Beef’, was a tough and mobile prop forward and he helped Bedford to develop into one of the leading English club sides during the late 1930s.
Despite his impressive performances for the East Midlands, Dancer was never selected for England and so his only international caps came in The British & Irish Lions’ jersey.
A popular member of the Barbarians touring squad, Beef was selected in 1938 despite his lack of experience at international level.
Once selected for the Tour of South Africa, he played 15 matches in total, scoring two tries, but crucially was involved in all three of the Test matches against the Springboks.
He crossed the whitewash in the final Lions Test victory at Newlands – the first Springbok defeat to the Lions for 28 years – although the series was already decided in South Africa’s favour at that stage.