Having been victorious in his first game as captain of Scotland Finlay Calder’s obvious leadership qualities saw him awarded the skipper's role for the British & Irish Lions tour to play the Wallabies in 1989. Although heavily defeated in the first test 30-12 in Sydney Calder managed to rally his team for the second. Tries from Gavin Hastings and Jeremy Guscott gained them a much-deserved 19-12 victory. The final Test saw Calder's leadership ability tested to the very limit. With just minutes remaining, and a series defeat looking the likely result Calder’s Lions refused to lay down. With a flash of inspiration Ieuan Evans found an opening and scored a series clinching try 19-18.

"It is both an honour and a privilege to be selected for the Dream Lions alongside such legends as Willie John McBride, Dean Richards, Gareth Edwards and Barry John”.

 Finlay Calder