Blair Swannell: rugby star who fell at Gallipoli to be honoured on forthcoming Lions Tour to Australia

3 April 2025

The sporting achievements and military sacrifice of Blair Swannell, who represented both the British and Irish Lions and Australia, will finally receive formal recognition during this summer's Lions tour to Australia.

According to a recent article in The Telegraph, Swannell will have a player-of-the-match award named in his honour for the Lions' game against an invitational Australia and New Zealand side on 12 July at Adelaide Oval.

A remarkable sporting career

Born in Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire in 1875, Swannell began his rugby journey with Olney before joining Northampton in 1896. His talent soon earned him selection for the 1899 British Isles tour to Australia, where he became the first Northampton player to represent the tourists.

Credit Swannell Familyswannell Family — Credit: Swannell family/Swannell family

Swannell's sporting achievements are remarkable. He holds a joint record of six Test wins for the Lions, a feat matched only by Froude Hancock. Following the 1904 Lions tour, Swannell settled in Australia, where he taught and coached at St Joseph's College while playing for Sydney District, Northern Suburbs, and New South Wales. In 1905, he represented Australia in a Test match against New Zealand in Dunedin.

This makes Swannell one of only two players to have represented both the Lions and Australia, alongside Tom Richards, whose name already graces the trophy awarded to the winner of the Lions-Australia Test series.

War service and sacrifice

Beyond the rugby field, Swannell answered the call to military service twice in his lifetime. He first served with the Buckinghamshire squadron of the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War. When the First World War broke out in 1914, he enlisted in the Australian army at the age of 39.

Tragically, Swannell was killed on the first day of the Gallipoli campaign while leading his men as a Major. He is buried in Baby 700 Cemetery at Gallipoli.

Major Blair Swannell (Centre), Who Was Fatally Wounded At The Gallipoli Landing Credit Swannell Fami — Major Blair Swannell (centre), who was fatally wounded at the Gallipoli landing. Credit: Swannell family/Swannell family

A family's persistence

The campaign to have Swannell's achievements recognised was led by his great-nephew, Robert Swannell, who was interviewed by The Telegraph last October. Robert expressed concern that his great-uncle had been "rubbed out of history" and was determined to see him honoured during the 2025 Lions tour to Australia.

"I may not have every quality, but I am pretty relentless," Robert told The Telegraph. "I've been at this for a long time and I have been determined that by the time we get to next year something will have changed about it."

His persistence has paid off, with both the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia agreeing to create the Blair Swannell Player of the Match award.