SAARB Leopards (rugby team)

The Leopards (also known as the African XV) was the representative side of the South African African Rugby Board which governed black rugby in apartheid South Africa. The team's name was reflected in the eponymous emblem that they wore on their rugby shirts.^[1]

In 1972 the Leopards played against England in a team that included lock Liston Ntshongwana, who was also part of the Leopards in their 1975 match-up with the French touring side.^[2]

The Leopards undertook the first tour by a black South African rugby team abroad when they embarked on a month-long tour of Italy on 2 May 1974. The Leopards was also "the first South African team to tour Italy".^[3]

1974 Match vs Lions

On 9 July 1974 the Leopards met the Lions on what would turn out to be the visitors' unbeaten tour of South Africa. The team was captained by hooker T. Magxala and featured Ntshongwana and Morgan Cushe at 8th Man. In their 10-56 loss to the Lions at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, wing Charles Mgweba scored a try and N. Mbiko succeeded with two penalties. Willie John McBride's side answered with 8 tries, one by scrum-half Gareth Edwards and a hat-trick by wing Tom Grace.^[4] The significance of Mgweba's try can be measured by the fact that the Springboks had not scored any tries in the two Tests that had been played against the Lions by that time.^[1]

Lineups:

See also

South African African Rugby Board

References