- 1971 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia
The 1971 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia was a controversial six-week
rugby union tour by the South African national team toAustralia . Anti-apartheid protests came to being all around the country. The tour is perhaps most infamous for astate of emergency being declared inQueensland . In total, around 700 people were arrested whilst the Springboks were on tour.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 inMelbourne . A 5,000 strong crowd - made up mostly of university students gathered in the streets of Melbourne to march onOlympic Park in protest. [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/25/1114281482045.html] Police had set up a wall of units around the stadium, around 650 policemen many armed withtruncheon s and some onhorseback . [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/25/1114281482045.html] InSydney , several people attempted to saw down the goal posts at theSydney Cricket Ground prior to the match. [http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/2001/springboks.html] In addition, a gigantic anti-apartheideffigy was hung from theSydney Harbour Bridge but subsequently cut down. [http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/2001/springboks.html]Queensland premier
Joh Bjelke-Petersen declared a month-long state of emergency. [http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve05/1252worth.html] The game was instead played at the Exhibition Ground, being moved from its original venue atBallymore Stadium , as it was deemed easier to erect barricades at the Exhibition Ground. [http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=20] A two-metre chain wire fence was erected to separate players and spectators. [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/cultural_heritage/heritage_places/ekka_history/sport_at_the_exhibition_grounds/]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 Australiaee also
*
1981 Springbok Tour ources
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/25/1114281482045.html]
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2001_july/springbok_tour_protests_remembered_11613,4223.html]
* [http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/2001/springboks.html]
* [http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/cultural_heritage/places_and_meanings/ekka_history/sport_at_the_exhibition_grounds/ ]
* [http://www.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2001/sportsf/s320787.htm]
* [http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve05/1252worth.html]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/history/hindsight/stories/s938629.htm]External links
* [http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/652/652p13.htm Breaking the rules: the campaign in Australia against apartheid]
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/community_rugby/what_is_rugby/history_of_the_game,24.html History Of The Game] includes match image.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.