The British and Irish Lions recently gathered in Maitland, Australia, to pay tribute to Robert Seddon, the first captain of the inaugural Lions team, who tragically drowned in the Hunter Valley in 1888. Members of the Lions touring party laid wreaths at Seddon’s grave, located in Campbells Hill Cemetery in the Maitland suburb of Telarah, and observed a minute’s silence in his honor.
Seddon, who was just 28 years old at the time of his death, was wearing his Lions jumper when he drowned while rowing on the Hunter River. His untimely passing marked a somber moment in the history of the Lions, who were on a tour that included playing rugby, cricket, and even Aussie rules football.
A Legacy Remembered
Former British Lion and current chair, Ieuan Evans, emphasized the importance of visiting Maitland as part of the Lions’ legacy. “We’re here to reflect on a tragic moment where we lost our captain midway through the tour, but also to celebrate the legacy that he left on the rest of his teammates,” Evans stated. “They were the first great adventurers in rugby, travelling across the globe.”
Evans highlighted that the Lions make the pilgrimage to Maitland on every Australian tour, which occurs every 12 years, to honor Seddon’s memory and the historical significance of the site.
Maitland Rugby Club’s Role
The Maitland Rugby Club, affectionately known as the Blacks, has maintained Seddon’s gravesite for the past 137 years. Club president Patrick Howard expressed pride in this responsibility, stating, “History is very important to Maitland Rugby Club and [Seddon] is a big part of our history.”
Howard noted that much of the club’s historical documents were lost in the 1955 Maitland flood, making the preservation of Seddon’s memory even more significant. In collaboration with the Maitland Historical Society, the club compiled historical sources about Seddon, which were presented to the Lions during the commemorations.
Preserving History for Future Generations
Patrick Howard shared, “We will now hold that copy here at Maitland Rugby Club as well, as another piece of history that we’ll acknowledge moving forward.” The efforts of the club have not gone unnoticed, with Evans expressing gratitude for their dedication: “We are humbled and gratified by the effort of Maitland Rugby Club to maintain the grave.”
Community Engagement and Broader Impacts
Following the visit to the gravesite, Lions representatives traveled to Newcastle to watch the Wallabies play against Fiji. Evans emphasized the importance of community engagement during the tour, stating, “The Lions’ tour is not just a straightforward test series. We’re not only building a sporting legacy but also a community legacy as well.”
Lions CEO Ben Calveley echoed this sentiment, thanking the Maitland Rugby Club for their longstanding commitment to preserving Seddon’s grave. “It’s important that we return and we pay our respects to Robert, but we also pay our respects to our friends from Maitland Rugby Club as well,” Calveley remarked.
For the Lions, this visit was a reminder of the deep historical connections that transcend the sport itself. As junior players learn about the unique relationship between the Blacks and the Lions, the legacy of Robert Seddon continues to inspire new generations.
In conclusion, the Lions’ visit to Maitland serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of history on the present, reinforcing the ties between past and future in the world of rugby.
