Last of the Blue Lions, by Steve Lewis

This year's Lions will, just like their 1938 counterparts, play three Tests against South Africa. But there the similarity ends; the Blue Lions – a reference to the colour of their rugby shirts, not their politics – were the last to travel by ship, and the full party consisted of 29 players and two managers.

The players were not even the best available in the British Isles, as in the amateur era not everyone could afford five months' unpaid leave. This account of that tour comes complete with a match report of every game and pen portraits of each player.

You may choose to gloss over some of the provincial fixtures, but the report of the Third Test, in which the Lions roared to victory after two defeats, is stirring stuff, not to be missed.

This is not a great book but a very enjoyable one, a poignant look at an era that was about to end forever. A number of the Lions went on to fight far more significant battles, one of them, the Northern Irish forward Blair "Paddy" Mayne, becoming Britain's most decorated soldier of the Second World War. They deserve this belated salute.

Published in paperback by SportsBooks, £8.99