In 1979 an rugby union touring team toured Japan, Fiji and Tonga. The tourists won all their seven matches, scoring 270 points and conceding only 93. Only the first international against was close, with Japan leading 19–15 going into injury time – a converted try by Peter Squires allowed England to win the match.

England did not award full international caps for the matches against Japan, Fiji and Tonga and the tourists played under the name of England XV rather than England in those games. The Welsh referee Clive Norling travelled with the party and refereed five of the matches. The leading tour points scorer was Huw Davies, with 60 points, and the leading try-scorers were John Carleton (9 tries) and Mike Slemen (7 tries).

The visit to Tonga was the first time that a major rugby nation had visited the country.

Matches Scores and results list England's points tally first. Opposing Team For Against Date Venue StatusJapan 'B' 36 7 10 May 1979 Tokyo Tour match 21 19 13 May 1979 Kintetsu Hanazono Stadium, Osaka First 'Test'Kyūshū 80 3 16 May 1979 Fukuoka Tour match 38 18 20 May 1979 Olympic Stadium, Tokyo Second 'Test'Fiji Juniors 39 22 25 May 1979 Lautoka Tour match 19 7 29 May 1979 National Stadium, Suva 'Test' Match 37 17 1 June 1979 Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nukualofa 'Test' Match

Touring party Manager: Budge Rogers Assistant Manager: Mike Davis Captain: Bill Beaumont

Full back Dusty Hare (Leicester) Alastair Hignell (Bristol)

Three-quarters Peter Squires (Harrogate) Mike Slemen (Liverpool) John Carleton (Orrell) Paul Dodge (Leicester) Richard Cardus (Roundhay) Alan McMillan (Gosforth)

Half-backs Neil Bennett (London Welsh) Huw Davies (Cardiff) Chris Gifford (Moseley) Ian Peck (Bedford)

Forwards John Scott (Cardiff) Toby Allchurch (Durham University) Nigel Pomphrey (Bristol) Bob Mordell (Rosslyn Park) Mike Rafter (Bristol) Bill Beaumont (Fylde) Maurice Colclough (Angoulême) John Butler (Gosforth) Colin Smart (Newport) Gary Pearce (Northampton) Richard Doubleday (Bristol) Peter Wheeler (Leicester) Jon Raphael (Bective Rangers)

References

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