Dobson dismissed, Australia, 1904

Oxford University forward David Dobson was sent off after using one of the more colourful words in his vocabulary, mouthing an obscenity at the referee to earn the unwanted distinction of being the first British Lion to be dismissed.

O'Shea guilty of foul play, South Africa, 1968

Wales prop John O'Shea threw a punch and then attempted to take on the whole of the Eastern Transvaal pack before becoming the first Lion to be dismissed for foul play. A huge fracas ensued and O'Shea was pelted with missiles from the crowd on leaving the field.

The 99 call, South Africa 1974

Willie John McBride's Lions decided "to get their retaliation in first" against their abrasive and physically imposing hosts. A one in, all in mentality resulted in a violent tour, most notably the 'battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium', remembered by many for Wales full-back JPR Williams running 50 metres to join a 30-man brawl.

Dooley's dash, New Zealand 1993

The England lock returned home to attend his father's funeral but was denied the chance to return to the tour by the Home Nations committee. The New Zealand Rugby Union were happy for the policeman to rejoin the party, but the Lions' ruling committee opted to call up the 23-year-old Leicester second row Martin Johnson as his replacement.

Gibbs banned, South Africa 1997

Scott Gibbs suffered the ignominy of becoming the first Lion to be suspended after thumping Northern Transvaal's Grant Esterhuizen in the tourists' narrow defeat at Loftus Versfeld. Gibbs missed the midweek match with Gauteng, leaving his Test place in doubt. However, the Swansea centre made amends as the ideal foil for Jeremy Guscott in a memorable 2-1 series triumph.

Training ground tussle, South Africa 1997

A ferocious scrummaging session was punctuated by continual flare-ups between the opposition hookers. Wales' Barry Williams and Mark Regan of England were rivals to be Test understudy to Ireland's Keith Wood. Williams and Regan, along with tour manager Fran Cotton – a former Lions prop well acquainted with the intricacies of the front row – dismissed the incident.

Henry's appointment, Australia 2001

New Zealander Graham Henry, the Wales coach, became the first overseas leader of the Lions on the tour to meet 1999 world champions Australia. Heightened media attention – including player columns – served to increase the pressure on the uncompromising Kiwi. Following a 3-0 Test reversal, Henry spoke of a 'betrayal' by certain members of the touring party.

The Leicester Lip goes on the attack, Australia 2001

Austin Healey's newspaper column had caused a stir off the pitch. In a matchday outburst, Healey labelled Australia's Justin Harrison "The Plank". It backfired spectacularly as the New South Wales lock – "the plod from the second row" – put in a match-winning display as Australia clinched the series 2-1.

Woodward's army, New Zealand 2005

Having lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy two years earlier, Sir Clive Woodward selected the bulk of his World Cup-winning England side (20 of them) among an initial squad of 44 players – the most ever – and a 26-strong management team. The squad size made it nigh on impossible to foster team spirit, while the involvement of Alastair Campbell as a press relations officer and the staged photograph of Gavin Henson and Woodward caused uproar with the Wales centre omitted from the side for the first Test despite phenomenal form.

O'Driscoll speared, New Zealand 2005

Woodward's woes were compounded in the first 90 seconds of the first Test in Christchurch, when Brian O'Driscoll's tour was ended by a cynical spear tackle by New Zealand skipper Tana Umaga and hooker Keven Mealamu. O'Driscoll described the challenge as a "cheap shot". The repercussions continued two years on, with Umaga calling O'Driscoll a "sook" (Kiwi terminology for a cry baby) in his autobiography.