In 1891, ten years after the First Anglo-Boer War and eight years before the Second Boer War, a British rugby team docked in Cape Town harbour to tour the relatively peaceful Cape Province, whose prime minister was Cecil Rhodes.
Little did they know that they were about to embark on a journey that would lead to the birth of the Springboks.
They brought a gift, a gold cup from Sir Donald Currie, to give to the local union that gave the British the best match (that ended up being Griqualand, who bequeathed it to South Africa, as we all know).
The Cape Province funded the tour, which was certain to mirror the result of both Boer Wars: physically taxing for the British, but ultimately a Royal win.
In retrospect, this was a Lions team: 10 players were or went on to be either English or Scottish internationals. The majority were Cambridge rugby Blues.
There were three “Test” matches; all won by the British visitors, with a cumulative score of Britain 10 – South Africa 0. The locals wore white and the British wore hoops.
South Africa needed to work on their menacing nicknames. One of their players was “Fairy” Heatlie. Another was “Oupa” Versfeld.
But a funny thing happened; South Africa fell in love with the game, and in the next few years the calibre of rugby in the Cape, learning the lessons learnt by losing, improved dramatically.
When the British came back in 1896, they lost their fourth Test to the white-clad South Africans, at Newlands (5-0), in front of a massive crowd of 3,500 fans. The fantastically-named Percy Twentyman-Jones (take a seat, Halfpenny) played for South Africa in this Test, which must have been enthralling.
In 1903, after the Second Boer War ended, the British toured again, but they came as equals, not superiors.
The touring side won only half of it’s matches.
Western Province teams (all three) beat the British. In the Tests, South Africa, still wearing white, drew 10-10, then 0-0 (in Kimberly, where evidently it’s easier to find diamonds than tries), and at Newlands, in front of 6,000 fans, won 8-0.
From that time until 1974, South Africa did not lose a home Test series.
It was at Newlands, in 1903, that the South Africans wore green. The Old Diocesan’s Club was defunct, and had a pile of unused, clean green jerseys. That’s the tale.
South Africa had not sent a team abroad before that. It was in 1905 that New Zealand toured Britain. The banner success of the All Blacks’ tour created the impetus for South Africa’s tour of 1906.
In 1906, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi lived in Johannesburg. It was there that he chaired a meeting of more than 3,000 people and advanced his non-violent “passive resistance” doctrine.
Paul Roos led the 1906 tour of the British Isles. He and his “Springbokken” (a nickname that was almost a joke to the tourists at first, but became a deep symbol to an entire nation – complex, disputed, contentious, beloved, and in the end, unifying) wore “myrtle green jerseys with gold collars” and “dark blue shorts and stockings.”
“Embroidered in mouse-coloured silk on the left breast: a springbok, a small African antelope,” said the programme.
The Boks played an unbelievable 28 matches on tour and scored 533 points to 79 from the opposition. The Tests were tight.
Scotland beat South Africa. The overall series though was two wins, one draw, one loss to South Africa. The British public, especially the Welsh (who had been certain they would easily subdue the South African provincials), were awestruck by the speed, strength, and skill of the tourists. (The “big” guys were only 6 foot 3 or so, 175-195 pounds).
From that point on, South Africa always believed it would win at home, and in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
From 1906 to 1956, the Boks won or drew all series they played, anywhere.
There you go; some dusty old history, for those Roar folk who like that sort of thing.
TIGHTHEAD DON
Guest
Thanks left wing. Hard to say re 1949. The All Blacks lost two international matches on the same day. In 1949 two separate All Blacks sides were selected. One lost 11-6 at home to Australia and the other 9-3 in South Africa. In a column for Scrum.com, Huw Richards wrote, "This double failure was rooted in the New Zealand Rugby Union's guilt at having betrayed their players by bowing to South African apartheid laws, sending a touring team there minus their Maoris." So a home series against Australia was organised, with the Bledisloe Cup at stake. Before the 1960 tour many New Zealanders campaigned to stop the tour, using the slogan ‘No Maoris – No Tour’. More than 150,000 New Zealanders signed a petition opposing the tour – this remains one of the largest petitions in our history. Others marched in the streets to voice their opposition. To those interested in the history of the All Balcks vs the Springboks, I suggest you read that great book by Spiro Zavos, ‘Winters of Revenge’ Tight Head Don
Left Wing
Guest
The fact that the New Zealand rugby administraters agreed not to select their Maori countrymen for All Black tours went as a signal to the South African government that their racist attitude and policies were acceptable in some places outside of South Africa. If the New Zealand decision affected the 1949 tour (as you say) then it must be the reason why the All Blacks of 1949 lost to tiny little Rhodesia!
TIGHTHEAD DON
Guest
Hmmm, Great game! After the Auckland test and comments of “we was robbed” etc., I was really looking forward to the Ellis Park test. What the All Blacks achieved today was HUGE! Great game and attitude by SA. Makes me think back to all those games in the 70s as a farm boy in NZ, listening on the radio when we got beaten (mostly) in SA. Slowly the need for “Revenge” has faded. It is still in the memories of some New Zealanders that our Maoris and Polynesian players could only tour in 1970 due to the Honorary Whites Act: Buff Milner, Blair Furlong, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. The great wing played as an honorary white on the 1970 tour. It is a term Williams dislikes, saying instead that he was a Samoan who represented the All Blacks. The All Blacks are immensely popular in South Africa, but especially in Port Elizabeth. The ABs played a test there, in 1970, with their “Honorary Whites”. It was no surprise to see the welcome the ABs received in 2011, especially players like Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams and Piri Weepu. Ironically the ABs have never won in Port Elizabeth. “Honorary whites”… “As early as 1919, South African politicians and rugby administrators made it known to New Zealand authorities that they would not allow Maori to set foot in South Africa. This would affect successive All Black Tours to their country in 1928, 1949 and 1960. Only in 1970 would the Maori & Polynesian be allowed to visit the republic. This occurred only after they were officially labelled as “Honorary Whites”. Three conditions were set by the South African Prime Minister John Vorster; that there should not be too many, that no controversy should accompany their dispatch, and that the colour of the players should not be “too black”. It wouldn’t be until 1976 when Maori players toured South Africa without requiring any special dispensation.” (Malcom Mulholand) The above is astounding especially when one considers that the first NZ team to travel overseas was not the ABs, but the New Zealand Natives side which toured New Zealand, Australia, Egypt and the British Isles in 1888. Yes to those interested, I suggest you read that great book by Spiro Zavos, ‘Winters of Revenge’
gustavo
Guest
Hoa Left Wing, well uuhh a great player which may be due to we are not a rugby country, he has not the recognition as in other countries. i heard there is a statue in a Rugby Museum in New Zealand, also hv heard tales like someone also from New Zealand has asked permision for naming his horse race with his full name, and in order to show that this horse was not anyone, they also send the pedigree in order to shpw that it was a great one. another that has been told by him in a very nice tv show called Leyends of Rugby he tol that once on tour in SA, he took a taxi and after talking for a while, the driver recognised him and he cudnt belive who his passenger was, so he took Hugo to the destination and hv not charged for the trip, but get tickets and also his sgnature !! would to alsomention a few words on Mr D Craven, whom he has a special good feeling for Argentina, i know that he got the chance to watch a torunament played By Uruguay, Paraguay, Brasil and Argentina in 1964 and he considered that Argentina with good training and preparation cud perform well visiting SA. so he set a tour for 1965 and for the same spring of 1964 was sent to Argentina Mr Izack van Herden for assisting the Argentinian trainers, but of course he took the lead, it is said that he changed many thing mentaly wise considering the way of training and rugby being played. first day, it was raining like hell and of course in those days there was no training and players were playing cards in the bar, when he arrived asked why they were not changed, to make it short they train under the rain for 2 hours and Mr Izack was still woring his jacket, tie and leather shoes !! when no one was able to tour in South Africa, Mr Craven came with a bright idea, SA will invite players from different countries in South America, so most of the Pumas received and invitation and also were invited a player from uruguay, Paraguay and guess some one from Chile, upon arrival to SA they receive the uniform to play as Southamerica XV, this type of tour in 1980, was also performed in 82 and 84 and also gave the idea for the Cavalliers tour before the first world cup. I will not talk about politics, just mention that Mr Craven was very important in the development of the Argentine rugby and we owed much that we Argentina cudnt say NO when he suggested such visits for playing, just rugby. all the best.
Harry Jones
Guest
Rather than try to turn a rugby forum into a political debating society, write about Universal RFC in Kimberley. Tell us what positions you played. Did your father play? His father? Who were your big rivals? Did you tour? Where? We all love rugby here. Nothing's perfect. But rugby comes close.
Harry Jones
Guest
We'll agree to disagree. I say: In part, because of the Springboks, not DESPITE that symbol, it is obvious that SA in 2013 is a better, freer, fairer place than SA in 1963 for sportsmen of colour, and the people who paved the way include men like Craven and Tobias and Mandela. This doesn't mean the past is forgotten. But we must live, love, and yes, celebrate progress in sport. You say apartheid is alive.
felix
Guest
Wow judging by a number of posts,things got heated here,releaved to witness just battle scars not the war :-)
Mark Fredericks
Guest
Dennis Brutus & Dennis Jacobs?
Mark Fredericks
Guest
The process of reconciliation & racial harmony in South Africa is bedevilled with all sorts of problems, and sadly the situation just keeps on getting worse. With regard to one of the most powerful pillars of apartheid symbolism - the rugby Springbok, it is evident that the history is never presented honestly or objectively. This in turn leads to all sorts of counter arguments and subjective scribblings. It is very clear from this thread and the related posts, that glorification of this distasteful symbol and all that it stood for, and still stands for, is all that matters i.e. EXCLUSION! Someone remarked on this thread, that I should 'honour' those excluded by apartheid, and write about the wrongs, but look at how this has been received on this forum - with derision and poorly veiled insults (*YAWN* GIVE IT UP KAAPIE) - we all know what that bigot is referring to. That said, let's look at just a few other issues: Danie Craven, saintly non-racialist that he was, slept with a fully loaded revolver under his pillow when doing coaching duty amongst 'coloured' communities stating: "YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THESE PEOPLE" - It is on record & I suggest that some here try to get hold of Douglas Booth's excellent book "THE RACE GAME, SPORT & "POLITICS IN SOUTH AFRICA". There are also books by David R Black & John Naughright on the the subject of South African sport - specifically rugby. I would also suggest Ashwin Desai's "THE RACE TO TRANSFORM SOUTH AFRICAN SPORT". Former Springbok captain. Dawie Devilliers (a Broederbonder) was also a key negotiator at CODESA, and he stated in 1980 "BLACKS HAVE ONLY KNOWN WESTERN SPORTS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO" (by which time my rugby Club Universal RFC, had been around for 94 years already). The post 1994 sporting windfall has benefitted mainly those communities who have benefitted under apartheid. The skewed nature of South African society remains entrenched not only physically, but ideologically as well - entry to the 'New' South Africa is for those who can afford it. Springbok hero Uli Schmidt, also famously remarked "RUGBY IS NOT A BLACK SPORT, IT'S NOT IN THEIR CULTURE. THEY SHOULD STICK TO SOCCER". We should also not forget how quickly Henry Tromp was forgiven for the murder of a black youth (19), as he was too valuable to the Springbok cause, coach Markgraaf selected him. Another commentator here on this thread asked whether I also questioned the broader state of affairs in South Africa - Well yes I do. In 2011, just after South Africa were beaten by Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, a Facebook petition was started to stop Bryce Lawrence from ever officiating in another rugby match - it elicited a huge response, and in just over 5 months, garnered 85,000 followers. This year, just after the Springboks were thumped by New Zealand in Auckland, another petition was started by the same group, and within a few weeks, over 64,000 followers were recruited! Amazing. On the socio-political front however, just after the Marikana massacre (16 August 2012), a group was started on Facebook called "JUSTICE FOR MARIKANA" - and to date their number hovers just under 5,000 followers. I further compiled a data sheet detailing our social standing regarding a whole host of issues plaguing our country - we may not be number one in rugby, but we're tops in rape, and inequality. It would seem rugby, specifically elitist rugby, carries precedence over the social crises in South Africa. In January 2013 (NO HOLY COWS - 24 January 2013), I debated SARU President Oregan Hoskins & his deputy, on the issue of the Springbok, and rugby's role in South African society. The alarming rise in All Blacks support was also part of the discussion. During that talk it became very clear that legitimisation of SARU was the only reason why 'black' faces were allowed into the Springbok set-up. The mentioning of Errol Tobias, Tinus Linee, Chester Williams, Avril Williams & Co. gives credence to that requirement of 'legitimisation', because if it wasn't for their 'sellout' which names would you have put forward here now? Of course, it is conveniently forgotten, that when Errol Tobias ran out for his Springbok debut, a young 'black' girl of between 10 - 12, merely leaned on a "WHITES ONLY" bench at De Aar station, and was handcuffed to that bench for that crime, while the railway police went off to enjoy the game. She was released after the match. Look I concede that your article was focussed on the glorious history of the Springboks, and maybe I should have left it at that, because that is what is remembered and written about them. Apartheid, more often than not, is described as being "UNFORTUNATE", but blame cannot be levied onto the Springboks. The injustices of apartheid live on with us today. It has never been addressed, and Mandela, with his myopic reconciliatory message, liberated not those who suffered under apartheid, but those who benefited through it. The Springboks are a celebration of this truth.
Bazza
Guest
*yawn* - give it up Kaapie - apartheid ended over 20 years ago - stop harping on and on about it - just acknowledge the greatness of the Boks (which has been very well written here by Harry Jones) and get off your soap-box - it's just boring
Left Wing
Guest
Thanks for that, very interesting, gustavo....and while we are on the Springbok topic; there is one player the Springboks will not forget....HUGO PORTA....brilliant fly half!
gustavo
Guest
hi Left Wing, well he was born with asthma and for that reason the family moved from Buenos Aires to Cordoba which was suggsted by doctors in those days. at the age of 14th years old he started to paly rugby with friends at Estudiantes a newly founded club in Cordiba which was an excision of a larger club. thereafter the family returned to Buenos Aires, i dont know whether his father was one of the founders, among others, of the San Isidro Club (SIC) an excision on the Club Atletico San Isidro (CASI), but in those day when the family returned to BUE, the presindent of SIC was the brother in law of Ches father, he still was facing asthma and in those days he was aprox 18/19 years old and Doctors suggested that rugby game cud kill Che, but Chancho,his nick name, (Pig) because lack of regular bath, the story tells that he told his father " if I`m going to day it will be playing rugby because i love this game". in view of his reaction his parents decided to talk to the SIC president and the Rugby Captain Mr Dolan has the difficult situation to talk to Chancho (Pig) and tell him that he wont be able to play rugby in SIC. with that decision he went out very angry and decided to go an play for Atalaya in those days Atalaya Polo Club was also in the neighborhod of San Isidro and was playing the catholic league, therefater Atalaya joined the River Plate Rugby Union and one season payed against SIC and Atalaya won 6 to 3 and the wining try was scored by Che. tale states that when having tea after the game Chancho was willing to box Mr Dolan for expelling him from SIC. thereafter he started to travell arround argentina before his southamerican trip and started to write on a rugby magazine and he signed his articles as Chan Chou which is related to his rugby nick name Chancho. yu mentioned or refer to Club Universitario de Buenos Aires (CUBA), it might be because Atalaya was used in 1953, Already Che was travelling around, by CUBA players (nothing to to do with the country) when the Peronist government decided suspend CUBA from the league at that time. apparently some CUBA players were involved in "acts" against the government. may be due to this cud be the confussion that he played for Universitario. yesterday were played semifinals at CASI whose jersey colours are black and white (hoizontal stripes) and game was against SIC (horizontal stripes light blue, black and white, today it is the greatest derby of Argentine RUGBY, (at time of Che, the famous Derby was between CUBA and PUCARA (my club), the latest, is the Club that gave the first overseas victory to the Argentine Rugby when in 1952 won against Ireland 11 - 6. well yesterday among the many flags of CASI all with different black and white figures, like pirates, zebras, images of Maradona, there was also the iconic figure of the Che. hope yu enjoy this post.
Harry Jones
Guest
Who'd you play for? Were you a flyhalf? Errol Tobias was not just good, man. Come on! Balanced, strong, quick, clever, always poised. I think he was better at inside centre. He was too old for me to have played against. But we were able to play an Invitational team from Athlone. Fantastic ball and eye-to-foot skills. And funny as hell. Not as serious as you. :) I like how we can combine skill, speed, and power, using all the human assets that SA has to offer. I reminded you of where Danie Craven came from, to put his life in context.
gustavo
Guest
Harry, please find here some short info on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Heatlie yu will se that he played for western province when he got back in SA, also he has been recognised in 2009 entering the IRB hall of fame. the are also other books where something is being mentioned about him. regards Gustavo
sheek
Roar Guru
As an outsider, the Springbok is the symbol of South African rugby. That it may have originally flourished under an extreme regime is not the fault of the springbok itself. In any case, non-whites have been representing the Boks since 1981 & more profusely since 1995. In the future, the Springbok emblem can reinvent itself as belonging to ALL South African rugby lovers. That can't be a bad thing.....
Harry Jones
Guest
Cheers! I like Argentine rugby very much. Mucho gusto!
sheek
Roar Guru
Aubrey/Harry, I'm not going to get into the past politics here of South African sport. Obviously, it's a festering sore that won't go away any time soon. However little I saw of Errol Tobias, heck, he was one hell of a player to me. He was first selected for the Springboks to tour NZ in 1981 at age 31. In 1984 at age 34, he led the Springboks attack from #10 while Naas Botha was enjoying his NFL sabbatical in the states. I cannot help but wonder if Tobias was so good at age 31 to 34, when most players are contemplating retirement, how much better he might have been had he been selected in his early to mid 20s. From afar I cannot help but feel the only South African back from the 70s & 80s who might have been better than Tobias, was Danie Gerber.
Simon
Guest
No wonder you struggle to beat the All Blacks!
Left Wing
Guest
How about an article on the birth of the Pumas in that great soccer country Argentina? As a matter of political interest ( very topical at present), I understand that Che Guevara, the Marxist Revolutionary, was a devoted follower of rugby union, had his own rugby union news letter and played fly half for Club Universitario de Buenos Aires....any more information on the history of rugby in Argentina and in the rest of South America?
MasonStretch
Guest
@CarlMarsarlis, I think you will find that Kylie covered Newton-Johns song in 2001 for the movie Moulin Rouge, Kaino (and most likely Mace) are big Kylie fans which is where the reference came from. Shame that you wasted your one comment without doing your homework. Keep thinking.