1971 Springbok tour

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The 1971 Springbok tour was a controversial six-week rugby union tour by the South African national team to Australia. Anti-apartheid protests came to being all around the country. The tour is perhaps most infamous for a state of emergency being declared in Queensland. In total, around 700 people were arrested whilst the Springboks were on tour.

1 Overview
2 Test Match Results
3 See also
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] Overview

The first games were then played in Adelaide and Perth, which were disrupted by mainly youth-led protesters. The third match was set to take place in Melbourne. A 5,000 strong crowd - made up mostly of university students gathered in the streets of Melbourne to march on Olympic Park in protest.[1] Police had set up a wall of units around the stadium, around 650 policemen many armed with truncheons and some on horseback.[2] In Sydney, several people attempted to saw down the goal posts at the Sydney Cricket Ground prior to the match.[3] In addition, a gigantic anti-apartheid effigy was hung from the Sydney Harbour Bridge but subsequently cut down.[4]

Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen declared a month-long state of emergency.[5] The game was instead played at the Exhibition Ground, being moved from its original venue at Ballymore Stadium, as it was deemed easier to erect barricades at the Exhibition Ground.[6] A two-metre chain wire fence was erected to separate players and spectators.[7]

[edit] Test Match Results

South Africa won the Test Series 3-0

17 July 1971 - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney,South Africa 19-11 Australia
31 July 1971 - Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, South Africa 14-6 Australia
7 August 1971 - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. South Africa 18-6 Australia