The South African Country Districts XV was an invitational rugby union side selected to play against touring international teams. In 1978 and 1980 the team was multi-racial in composition. The Districts' multi-racial predecessor was the South African Invitation XV which on 7 June 1975 beat the French at Newlands in Cape Town by 18 points to 3.[1]
In August 1978 the Country Districts XV played the touring American Cougars at the Border Rugby Union Grounds in East London before 5,500 spectators, winning 44-12.[2] [3] [4]
On Wednesday 4 June 1980 the South African Country Districts XV team lost 7-27 at Windhoek's South-West Stadium to the Lions on their tour of South Africa. A crowd of 9,000 saw replacement Charles Williams score a try and fly-half Errol Tobias add a penalty to complete the Districts' score. Jim Renwick, Gareth Williams, Clive Woodward and Colm Tucker scored a try each for the visitors, while Gareth Davies added 11 points through a conversion and three penalties. [5]
Lineups:
| SA Districts | Position | Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Solomon Mhlaba | Fullback | Bruce Hay (capt) |
| E Durrheim | Wing | Clive Woodward |
| J Els | Centre | Ray Gravell |
| Hennie Shields | Centre | Jim Renwick |
| Brendan Venter | Wing | Peter Morgan |
| Errol Tobias | Fly-half | Gareth Davies |
| JP Venter | Scrum-half | John Robbie |
| J Volschenk | Prop | Ian Stephens |
| Noel van Rensburg (capt) | Hooker | Peter Wheeler |
| D Mather | Prop | Phil Orr |
| A Botha | Lock | Alan Tomes |
| R Meyer | Lock | Allan Martin |
| M Cushe | Flanker | John Beattie |
| Hendrik Schrader | Flanker | Colm Tucker |
| J Wolfaardt | 8th Man | Gareth Williams |
| Charles Williams | Replacement |