Recently, a long-overdue apology was made to the Maori people by both the South African and New Zealand Rugby Unions for their Apartheid-era role in denying Maoris a right to play in rugby matches involving South Africa and New Zealand.
Or, in the cases where they were selected, forcing them to wear the odious tag of “honorary white”.
It got me thinking about a little-known section of Australian Rugby history concerning the 1971 Springbok tour of Australia.
In 2005, the ABC broadcast a documentary called “Political Football”.
The story concerned six Wallabies (Barry McDonald, Jim Roxburgh, Antony Abrahams, Terry Foreman, Paul Darvenisa, and Bruce Taafe) who came to the conclusion that, for them, playing the racially-selected Springbok side would amount to condoning Apartheid.
They decided to withdraw themselves from the selection process for the 1971 tour. This refusal to make themselves available for national-team selection on political grounds was unprecedented in Australia.
According to surveys, 85 percent of Australians at the time thought the tour should go ahead, and Prime Minister McMahon declared the ‘Wallaby 6’ a “disgrace to their country”.
I recall a former Wallaby saying, in the ABC documentary, that he didn’t know what all the fuss was about, that “it was just a game”, “sports and politics shouldn’t mix”, etc.
Obviously, he was wrong, and history has vindicated the stance of the six Wallabies.
Despite overwhelming national support for the 1971 tour, militant elements of the student population, along with various anti-apartheid groups, had a different opinion.
Chaos ensued, with Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, no doubt pleased at being gifted an excuse to crack-down on dissent in his state, calling a “state of emergency.”
Two-metre high fences were erected around the grounds (ala football, Argentina-style!); protesters tried to saw the goal posts in half in Sydney; police tear-gassed demonstrators; and matches were moved or called off entirely.
Following this, in 1972, the newly-elected Gough Whitlam moved to ban Australian sporting teams from playing Springbok sides, as long as they remained racially selected.
This decision led to increasing pressure for economic sanctions, eventually paving the way for the international boycott of South Africa which, along with internal South-African resistance, resulted in the collapse of the Apartheid regime.
The point that should be of most interest to us as Australian Rugby supporters is the fact that the six Wallaby ‘refuseniks’ were effectively blacklisted by the national Union of the day, with only one ever being selected for the national side again, and none ever being welcomed back into the fold.
Obviously, this blacklisting by the Australian Rugby Union does not compare to the racist actions of the New Zealand and South African Unions towards the Maoris.
However, an interesting comparison can be made with the story of Peter Norman, the Australian athlete who wore a badge in support of civil rights whilst standing on the podium at the 1968 Olympics, next to the two famous African-American runners as they made the famous ‘Black Power’ salute.
Peter Norman, too, was blacklisted by the Australian Athletics organisation (this story has actually been made into an interesting film).
I wasn’t born at the time of the Springbok Tours, and I’m unaware of whether the ARU has made a retrospective apology for the blacklisting, or at least given the six Wallabies credit for the small, but important, part they played in opening the eyes of the world to what was going on in South Africa.
To quote the ABC website, this is a story about “a group of relatively unknown Australian sportsmen, who dared to swim against the current, and sacrificed their personal ambitions for the sake of a principle.”
I think it’s time we recognised them.
amband
Guest
racist! So what. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, or get out!
amband
Guest
correect Bennalong. There is a lot of hypocrady about this business. Our pollies Like Big Mal Fraser and Co were all marxists in the real sense
amband
Guest
yes i agree. Black South African should have more. They deserve better. Go and tell that to the black political class that live in luxury. Being white in SA made you a target. After WW2 South Africans came home from the war and found the nation under seige. Apartheid was seperation. That's it. Sharpeville was a tragic error on the part of the whites. Situation is worse now, ask the blacks I saw on TV that want the whites running it again. The ANC is the communist party for God's sake
jackson
Guest
You might be right that an apology is unnecessary, but I think they definitely should be recognised. China is not the same as South Africa as they oppress their entire population... We can't start talking about banning countries like China, otherwise where would we stop? France has banned the Islamic veil and Switzerland has banned the building of minarets on mosques. I think these decisions can probably be labeled racist - so should we ban those countries? South Africa, I think, was a unique case where 20% of the population totally oppressed 80%, and did so on sick 'social darwinist' grounds.... And the ban had an effect.
bennalong
Guest
What do you blokes think about playing sport against totalitarian regimes like China then? Haven't heard any cries against that regime and we kept playing Zimbabwe when things were decidedly foul. This is undoubtedly about racism and may well be morally correct but it's only safe ground when it's white racism. Back in those days the Olympic and Commonwealth Games were symbols of the power of sport to overcome politics and unite people in the hope that freedom would spread. We played sport against regimes we didn't recognise as trading partners. I admired those players at the time but I believed there was an argument in favour of keeping politics out of sport unless we broke diplomatic relations. People that follow their conscience and break the rules do not expect an apology and neither should they Like so many other ideas of this politically correct era the inconsistencies and hypocrisies will destroy the platitudes and disappear, ultimately without a trace. Apologise to the aborigines but don't demean that gesture by ritualising "sorry"
gregt
Guest
Bravo and thanks.
Lorry
Guest
Look 'amband', South Africa might not be in such a great state now, I don't know, I don't live there - but it seems to me if you look at the stats of who still lives in shanty-towns, who has inadequate access to drinking water, who can't afford tickets to the soccer world cup, I think you'll find that the overhwelming proportion are black/non-white South Africans. Now, a one party system isn't great, hopefully soon some other party will come along that can challenge the ANC BUT Whatever the situation now, it is unquestionably better than when 85% of the population didn't even have the right to vote and were treated like livestock in public places, herded into different queues so they didn't 'contaminate' the white population. The system was reprehensible and indefensible. About the Maori team: if the team was formed now, it might be problematic. But, it was formed a long time ago, there's a long and proud history and NZ has great race relations (good on the NZers for probably leading the world in this..), so there's no problem, as far as I can see. Anyway, a few years ago they had that 'white maori', remember him? The red-haired guy!!
Boomer
Guest
I can't express how much admiration I have for your principled actions. Ordinary men doing great things, such as this, make be bloody proud to be an Australian. Thanks
BennO
Guest
I never understand how someone can miss so many points along the way to form a view such as this.
amband
Roar Rookie
I don't agree that a bloke should miss out on rep honours due to colour, but, I actually agree that there should never have been sanctions on rugby like those players that went againt the tide, so will I. If we can't have race based teams, then why do we have a Maori side? By the way, tell the families of the 3000 farmers that have been murdered since aparthied was dropped if they feel the new "rainbow nation " works Sorry, but i didn't bring the subject up
Lorry
Guest
thanks for the responses and, yes, especially great to hear from you Anthony Abrahams. My Dad was involved in the anti-1971 tour demos, and remembers some of you guys. As six o'clock said, a special award would be a great idea. Well, that was my first article and I've been encouraged, so I think I'll write another one at some point! Cheers
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Great article Lorry. I was a young boy living in Zambia at that time, attending boarding school in what is now Zimbabwe. Rugby was a huge part of our winter, and even at the age of about 7 I remember it causing quite a stir amongst the older boys, teachers and the Rugby community in general.
Brett McKay
Expert
Indeed, thank you Lorry, for such a well-written piece from an infamous part of Australian sporting history. Stories and articles like yours are one of the reasons I love being involved with The Roar, because amongst all the robust debate, nonsensical rantings, and general good banter, we get little slivers of historical gold like this. That your article drew response from Anthony Abrahams is a great credit to both you for compiling and to The Roar eds for running the piece. Thanks again.
BennO
Guest
Great article. And thanks to Anthony Abrahams for taking the time to comment.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
What a great article, cheers Lorry. To honour them and the game/family/country that strengthened them to behave so selflessly may I start the ball rolling with the following. How about an award for anyone intimately involved in our game to honour them doing something entirely original (ie not piggy backed on an existing body) that expands the concept of Humanity internationally. For example David Pococks charity assisting Zimbabweans. A possible name of course would be the 'Wallaby 6' or 'Rugby Humanity' award or it could be named after a benefator who establishes a trust which provides funds for the charity/work sponsored by the winner. Winners would be honoured at one of our annual award nights. There may even be multiple winners if indeed it does inspire the best in some of us. Just an idea but whoever organises it could give a plaque or some smallish trophy recognising people from other codes who do similar acts but are not rugger buggers but we wanted to say 'Hip Hip' - eg: Steve Waugh's efforts.
Tom
Guest
Peter Norman died not too long ago; I read that both Tommie Smith and John Carlos travelled to Australia and delivered eulogies at his funeral. I don't think much more can be said about the depth of respect for which those two men had for Norman's gesture.
Anthony Abrahams
Guest
Lorry As one of the Wallabies in question, I read your article with interest. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we have, over the years received a fair bit of recognition and, whilst we appreciate this, we nevertheless feel that, compared to those whose lives were changed, compromised or lost in South Africa itself, our stand was much easier. The film you mention put the emphasis on the campaign in Australia (which I returned from France to be involved in and, having time to do so, went to all states to campaign). But I think my most intense memories relate to my own difficulties on the tour itself. Having researched the issue before going there, the "practical" was extremely stressful, both in terms of my growing unease at the compromise that our presence as a national team represented and in terms of my having to slalom my way between my obligations to the team and my interviews and such with SA political figures - eg. Helen Suzman, Alan Peyton ("Cry the Beloved Country"), Lawrence Gander (Editor of the Rand Daily Mail and on a political criminal charge at the time) , Colin Eglin (Leader of the Prog. Party) , black journos and many others.These people were giants in the darkness of night. Space lacks for my most piercing memories but one was addressing the breakdown of the Rule of Law in a speech to the Cape Law Society. I sat down expecting silence and was overwhlemed by a standing ovation. Tanks again. A Abrahams
PastHisBest
Roar Guru
Indeed Tock. These men were no only risking their furture rugby careers when they withdrew. I am sure many other doors closed to them - they would have been made fully aware of this, and it was an extremely brave decision.
jus de couchon
Guest
Hindsight has perfect vision. The Idea that sport could be seperate from politics was a reasonable view at the time. History proved differently though .
Tock
Guest
Well written Lorry I have a very vague recollection of the 71 tour as I was only a boy at the time, but the images from the protests at that time I well remember. It would be interesting to know how the work and rugby careers of the 6 unfolded apart from their non selection at rep level. It would also be interesting to know who was responsible for the blacklisting.