Rugby Union in South Africa: A Brief History
Rugby Union has been played in South Africa for over 100 years and has been an international game since the early 20th century. Although the sport started as mostly an elite, white-only activity, today, it’s enjoyed by all genders and races across the country and has become one of the most popular sports in South Africa. Let’s look at some of the key moments in rugby union history in South Africa to understand better why it’s so popular today!
Early days
The sport of rugby union has a long and storied history in South Africa, dating back to the 1800s. The game was first introduced to the country by British settlers and quickly gained popularity among the local population. In 1891, the first official rugby union match was played in Cape Town between two local clubs. Rugby is now played at both school and club levels across South Africa, with the National Rugby Union Team competing in international and national competitions.
In 1903, the provincial teams from Western Province (now known as WP), Eastern Province (EP), and Southern Province (SP) combined to form a national team that toured England later that year. It would be another 20 years before they faced England again on home soil, this time at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, where they defeated England 12-5.
In 1911, SARFU (South African Rugby Football Union) was formed when representatives from 13 provincial unions met at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town to discuss establishing a common governing body for all rugby activity throughout the country.
The British Isles tour of 1896–97
Rugby union had been played in South Africa since 1862, but it was only in 1891 that the first national side, known as the Springboks, was formed. The team toured Britain and Ireland in 1891, and their first game against international opposition was against a New Zealand Natives side in Cape Town in 1892. In 1906 the British Isles touring party of 1906–07 introduced rugby league rules to South Africa after their match on tour in Western Province; some players refused to play under these new rules and eventually left to form rugby league clubs for themselves or for teams such as Dalmatians or Crusaders. In 1909, France became the second country to send an overseas touring party when they visited Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa.
The British Isles tour of 1910–11 was more successful than previous tours because they won five out of six test matches against South Africa by a significant margin, including three games over 30 points apart from two losses by single points.
The Anglo-Boer War and its effect on rugby
The Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 profoundly affected the development of rugby unions in South Africa. The conflict disrupted the game’s growth and divided the country along political lines. After the war, rugby unions became an important tool for reconciliation and nation-building. The sport continues to play an important role in South African society today. South Africa has produced some great players, such as Bryan Habana, who is widely considered one of the greatest wingers ever to have played the game. One legendary player was Nkosi Albert Luthuli, also known as Brother Albert, who later served as president of both SAIRFU (1960–1967) and SARFU (1970–1971). He was awarded Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 1960 for his work toward reconciliation between races.
The country has competed at every Rugby World Cup held since 1987 (except 1995). South Africa hosted this tournament twice – once at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium in 1995 and then again at Cape Town Stadium in 2015.
After the Anglo-Boer War (1902–1907)
Rugby union in South Africa began after the Anglo-Boer War. The sport was used to unify the country and its people. The first official match was played in 1906, between Griqualand West and Transvaal. The game has been growing in popularity ever since, with the national team winning the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and 2007. South Africa’s top rugby club is the Blue Bulls, which have won more Currie Cups than any other team.
The history of rugby unions in South Africa goes back to 1891, when it was introduced by British soldiers stationed there. The First Contingent of the British Army had arrived there in 1888 to help put down an insurrection known as the Boer War, which broke out on October 11th, 1899. In 1891 they founded a club called Western Province (it still exists today), and they then went on to play their first game against Kimberley – or rather Kimberley FC – and lost 9-8! They must have improved, though, because Western Province is now one of South Africa’s best teams!
World War I, the 1920s, and early 1930s
British soldiers stationed in the Cape Colony introduced the game of rugby union to South Africa in the early 1860s. The sport quickly gained popularity among the local population, and by the early 1880s, rugby clubs were established throughout the country. However, the game was largely overshadowed by cricket during this period. This changed in 1906 when the national team played its first international match against New Zealand, which resulted in a thrilling victory for South Africa. The 1920s and 1930s were considered the golden years of South African rugby, with the team winning several prestigious tournaments. However, the outbreak of World War II brought an end to this successful period. In 1939, all the national team players joined the military. Rugby lost its place as one of the leading sports in South Africa due to strict government regulations that discouraged organized sporting activities among black people after 1948. That same year, Johannesburg’s Villagers Rugby Club members defied apartheid laws and played an all-white team at Ellis Park Stadium. Their defiance is regarded as one of the events that helped spark the anti-apartheid movement that would lead to Nelson Mandela becoming president on May 10th, 1994
Post World War II until apartheid ended (1945–1994)
The South African national rugby union team, also known as the Springboks, symbolizes pride for many South Africans. The team has a long and storied history, dating back to the days of apartheid. From 1945 to 1994, the team was banned from international competition due to the racist policies of the apartheid regime. However, that didn’t stop them from dominating the sport domestically. They won every single domestic tournament during that period. It wasn’t until after Nelson Mandela became president in 1994 that the team began competing internationally again.
The Springboks were finally allowed to compete at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, finishing third behind Australia and New Zealand. They have competed in every Rugby World Cup since then, with their best result coming in 2007 when they have crowned champions by defeating England 15-6 in front of over 77,000 people at Twickenham Stadium.
Post-apartheid era to present day
The South African national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks, symbolizes national pride for many South Africans. The team has a long and storied history dating back to the days of apartheid when they were used as a propaganda tool by the white minority government. The team has recently enjoyed success on the international stage, winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and 2019. However, they have also been embroiled in controversy, with some accusing them of being too close to the government and not doing enough to promote racial equality. Regardless of one’s opinion on the team, there is no denying that they are a large part of South African culture and will continue to be so for years to come.
