Rugby Rivalry
Key Historical Idea: Rugby became a key part of New Zealand’s national identity with the test matches between South Africa and New Zealand becoming a highlight for New Zealand rugby supporters.
New Zealand and South Africa have had a long tradition of rugby rivalry. These countries are the world’s powerhouses for international test rugby. For this reason there few games bigger than a test between the Springboks and the All Blacks. The first official test series between the two countries was in 1921 when South Africa visited New Zealand, playing at Wellington’s Athletic Park. In 1928 The All Blacks toured South Africa in which the test series was tied, sparking rivalry between the countries. The All Blacks were beaten in 1949 but defeated the Springboks in 1956. The All Blacks were greeted back into the country as if they had won a war. From then on Rugby became a big part of New Zealand’s national identity. In 1960, the New Zealand rugby union excluded Maori from an All Blacks team travelling to South Africa under its policy of Apartheid. Later that year the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’ occurred putting pressure on South Africa as sporting boycotts ensued. As a result the All Black Tour of South Africa planned for 1968 was cancelled much to the disappointment of many New Zealand rugby supporters. Under pressure South Africa modified its policy to allow Maori to go on tour with the All Blacks in 1970, they were classed as ‘honorary whites’. In 1973 Prime Minister Norman Kirk decided to tell the NZRFU to postpone the 1973 tour as he believed it would ‘engender the greatest eruption of violence this country has ever known’. This was because anti-tour groups were becoming more prevalent in New Zealand society and he could see the potential for civil unrest if the tour was to go ahead. Much of the New Zealand criticised this decision and believed that politics should be kept out of sport. Rugby was a key political play in Robert Muldoon’s election campaign in 1975, in which he refused to prevent a 1976 tour by the All Blacks to South Africa. This made him very popular with pro-tour supporters. He maintained that a National Government would welcome a Springbok team to New Zealand, ‘even if there were threats of violence and civil strife’. This led to a National party victory.
New Zealand and South Africa have had a long tradition of rugby rivalry. These countries are the world’s powerhouses for international test rugby. For this reason there few games bigger than a test between the Springboks and the All Blacks. The first official test series between the two countries was in 1921 when South Africa visited New Zealand, playing at Wellington’s Athletic Park. In 1928 The All Blacks toured South Africa in which the test series was tied, sparking rivalry between the countries. The All Blacks were beaten in 1949 but defeated the Springboks in 1956. The All Blacks were greeted back into the country as if they had won a war. From then on Rugby became a big part of New Zealand’s national identity. In 1960, the New Zealand rugby union excluded Maori from an All Blacks team travelling to South Africa under its policy of Apartheid. Later that year the ‘Sharpeville Massacre’ occurred putting pressure on South Africa as sporting boycotts ensued. As a result the All Black Tour of South Africa planned for 1968 was cancelled much to the disappointment of many New Zealand rugby supporters. Under pressure South Africa modified its policy to allow Maori to go on tour with the All Blacks in 1970, they were classed as ‘honorary whites’. In 1973 Prime Minister Norman Kirk decided to tell the NZRFU to postpone the 1973 tour as he believed it would ‘engender the greatest eruption of violence this country has ever known’. This was because anti-tour groups were becoming more prevalent in New Zealand society and he could see the potential for civil unrest if the tour was to go ahead. Much of the New Zealand criticised this decision and believed that politics should be kept out of sport. Rugby was a key political play in Robert Muldoon’s election campaign in 1975, in which he refused to prevent a 1976 tour by the All Blacks to South Africa. This made him very popular with pro-tour supporters. He maintained that a National Government would welcome a Springbok team to New Zealand, ‘even if there were threats of violence and civil strife’. This led to a National party victory.