The early days of the Springboks

Rugby, it is said, is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen. The gentlemen of the UK and South Africa helped to build that legend. Whether they were playing on foreign fields or fending off a touring side on home turf, South Africa’s early Tests were truly ‘a prelude to greatness,’ as Graham Jooste writes.

- Graham Jooste

South Africa’s strong association with the British rugby union dates back to 1891, when a team captained by William Edward Maclagan arrived on our shores. The visitors, unsurprisingly, won the tour.

In 1896, the British returned under the captaincy of Johnny Hammond, the year after the disastrous Jameson Raid, which had tried to capture Johannesburg and overthrow Paul Kruger’s Transvaal government.

To some sections of the Dutch/Afrikaans-speaking population, the tour seemed like the ideal opportunity to settle a simmering score. It was not to be, however: the visitors emerged victorious.

The next visit by Britain took place in 1903, the year following the horrors of the Anglo-Boer War. This side was captained by the popular Mark Morrison, and the first Test was played in Johannesburg at the Wanderers Ground in front of approximately 5 000 spectators. It ended in a 10-10 draw. It was clear that the fledgling nation’s rugby side, ably led by Alex Frew, was starting to flex its muscles.

The second Test of the tour was played on a stifling hot day in Kimberley and ended in another draw. The captain in this case was Jimmy Powell from Griqualand West.

The British team travelled down to Cape Town by train for the third and final Test. A crowd of 3 500 enthusiasts welcomed the sides onto the turf at Newlands. The local newspaper favoured the tourists, while the Stellenbosch and Paarl regions were in favour of South Africa.

Obtaining rugby jerseys for the South Africans was always a problem at this stage, as the country had as yet no official status or registered colours. In all of the previous Test matches, the team had had to borrow the jerseys of the province hosting the match.