The Leopards undertook the first tour abroad by a black South African rugby team when they traveled to Italy for a month during May 1974.
Wingers Toto Tsotsobe and Charles Mgweba were the team's most potent strike weapons behind the pack, allied to the goal-kicking abilities of Norman Mbiko and Peter Swartz, whilst forwards Broadness Cona, Liston Ntshongwana, Patsa Matyeshana, and Morgan Cushe played to excellent effect.
In their 10-56 loss to the Lions at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, wing Charles Mgweba scored a try and Norman Mbiko succeeded with two penalties.
The first official South African multi-racial team to play a foreign national side was the Invitation XV which included SARB's Toto Tsotsobe and Morgan Cushe.
The team featured a smattering of white Northern Transvaal and Western Province players in accordance with the Lion's expressed wish to play multiracial sides, departing from what some at the time considered its African XV origins.