User:Stormie/1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand

Some notes, details and links, which can hopefully be fleshed out into a proper article on the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand 

South Africa was excluded from Olympic competition by the International Olympic Committee on August 18, 1964. They missed the 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympics, before being re-admitted on July 9, 1991.

A Commonwealth ban on all sporting contact, known as the Gleneagles Agreement, had been in place since July 1977.

The Springboks toured New Zealand in 1965, but that was the last tour until 1981.

A Springbok tour of the UK in 1969-1970 saw 50,000 demonstrators protesting, and a 1970 South African cricket tour was cancelled.

"In 1981 the nation was divided. In 56 days there were 205 demonstrations in 28 centres, involving more than 150,000 New Zealanders." 

"In 1981 Rob Muldoon stated that nothing, not even death would stop that year's Springbok tour of NZ." This almost started a civil war in New Zealand.

"In October, a month after the Springboks went back home, a NZ Herald poll showed that 54% were against the tour, while 42% were for it." 

There were more than 2000 arrests.

Hamilton, July 25, 1981
Cancelled. "Hundreds of protesters invaded the pitch in Hamilton and out-numbered police, told that a tour opponent had stolen a light aircraft and was threatening to crash it into the grandstand, called the game off." 

Nelson Mandela reportedly said, of hearing about the cancellation whilst in prison, "it felt like the sun coming out."

With the New Zealand general election 1981 approaching, Muldoon refused to order an end to the tour, and remaining matches were played under virtual siege conditions, with riot police and barbed wire barriers surrounding the grounds.

Timaru, ??, 1981
Cancelled. "Police advised that it was impossible to prevent the protesters from upsetting play and the game was withdrawn from the itinerary." 

Christchurch, August 15, 1981
New Zealand 14 df. South Africa 9

Wellington, August 29, 1981
South Africa 24 df. New Zealand 12

Auckland, September 12, 1981
New Zealand 25 df. South Africa 22

Game was cut short after flour bombs from a low flying light plane were dropped on the pitch.

Full list of scores

 * v Poverty Bay w 24-6
 * v Taranaki w 34-9
 * v Manawatu w 31-19
 * v Wanganui w 45-9
 * v Southland w 22-6
 * v Otago w 17-13
 * v NZ l 9-14
 * v Nelson Bays w 83-0
 * v NZ Maori d 12-12
 * v NZ w 24-12
 * v Bay of Plenty w 29-24
 * v Auckland w 39-12
 * v North Auckland w 19-10
 * v NZ l 22-25

The game aqainst Waikato (after Poverty Bay) was of course abandoned before kick-off, and one scheduled against, I think, South Canterbury was cancelled.

More links

 * Tony Charles' recollections, with photos (maybe he could be asked to contribute some to Wikipedia?) (I am happy for anybody to use my photos- Tony Charles 27/12/14)
 * Keith Quinn on the tour
 * "Barbed Wire and Barricades" (PDF) - article about protest tactics