{"id":45058,"date":"2024-08-30T07:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T05:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T22:53:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T20:53:17","slug":"inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Abe Williams, the team manager of the 1981 Springbok rugby tour to New Zealand, reflects on the challenges and controversies of the tour, known for protests and flour-bomb incidents. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Williams, who was appointed to represent non-white rugby players, navigated the complex political landscape and media scrutiny while supporting Errol Tobias, the first Springbok of colour. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The tour highlighted the divisions within New Zealand and South Africa over apartheid and sports.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>When you think of the 1981 rugby tour under Wynand Claasen to New Zealand, Errol Tobias, the first Springbok of colour, and the flour-bombs immediately spring to mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Abe Williams (84) from Pinelands was the team manager and he had to do a lot of explaining what was happening in South Africa for non-white rugby players to the NZ media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWynand Claasen was the captain and the remaining touring squad came together earlier this year for a reunion and to launch a book. Initially, Doc Danie Craven appointed the late Dougie Dyers as the team manager, but Cuthbert Loriston, the president of the South African Rugby Football Union, sent me instead. When I got the nod to travel with the team, I promised myself I would tell the truth and not sugar-coat any hard questions when interviewed by the New Zealand radio, television and print media,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In rugby history, this tour is also known for causing a rift in families and dividing families in NZ who were for or against the tour and is referred to as the \u2018Rebel Tour\u2019 known for the riots at matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ |&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/news24\/community-newspaper\/peoples-post\/behind-the-blitzboks-bronze-helping-a-young-netball-star-achieve-her-dreams-20240805\" target=\"_blank\">Behind the Blitzboks\u2019 bronze: Helping a young netball star achieve her dreams<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI never knew how the New Zealanders felt about the tour until our arrival and the riots at our hotels. We were forced to sleep at the stadia where the matches would take place, and as you know, the flour-bomb incident was publicised worldwide. The focus was more on Errol during the tour and before we left, Doc Craven told him the tour was going to be tough and that he\u2019ll always be known as the first black\/person of colour Springbok and that he should remember he was in the team on merit and not as window-dressing. While everyone was focussing on him, I attended meetings and gatherings with the media and everyone who wanted to know more about the situation for blacks and coloureds in South Africa. After receiving reports from NZ, Craven called me and said he supports me being an assistant team manager and I am deserving of the Bok blazer and I am wearing it with pride,\u201d Williams says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-honorary-white\">\u2018Honorary white\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The New Zealanders still remembered the visit of Bryan Williams and Sid Going, receiving honorary white status from the apartheid government for the duration of the tour ten years prior in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the questions frequently asked by the media was what was being done for non-whites in sports. I told them there was progress although the coloured rugby communities were divided, where one section supported Sacos and others, like the SA Federation and Sara, wanted to test them against the best rugby players, whether in the country or touring sides. At that time, South Africa was banned from international sports and was only allowed back into the international fold in 1992 when unity was reached. I explained about our rivalry with the South African Rugby Association (Sara) in Test matches and that we shared the spoils on the field. The Federation and Sara were all part of the South African Rugby Board of Doc Craven and when unity talks were held we could only observe and not participate as entities,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Williams will also be remembered as the founder of the Federation Junior Rugby Weeks, similar to the Craven Week, for young coloured players<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI attended a rugby convention in Rugby in England where ideas were shared on how to develop rugby in your country. When I returned, I asked the late Norman Langley \u2013 we are both from the West Coast, I from Saldanha and he from Hopefield and Vredenburg \u2013 to start the Junior Weeks for our kids. The first was held at the South African Coloured Corps (SACC) Base in Faure and then it moved to the Navy base in Saldanha and every June school holiday 500 kids attended the Week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome of those juniors later became provincial or Springbok players, like Chester Williams and Thinus Line and many others. Dougie Dyers and Ian Kirkpatrick were in charge of the coaching clinics and they would regularly invite Springboks or provincial players to come and teach the youngsters at these clinics. Some of these youngsters later competed in the Craven Weeks and the first one was held in Worcester in 1980 when Doc Craven forced the organisers to open the Craven Week for all races. In that team was Sammy Paulse and Aubrey Noble, younger brother of John Noble. The latter was the first player of colour who scored a try at Newlands under Morne du Plessis against the French in 1975,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Williams was a teacher at Diazville for years. He coached the Tigers Rugby Club and still has ties with the communities of the West Coast. Whenever he can, he visits the West Coast and the communities and has empathy and sympathy with the fishing community that is battling to survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only 200 books of the 1981 tour were published and handed out to members of the squad and the media touring with the side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you think of the 1981 rugby tour under Wynand Claasen to New Zealand, Errol Tobias, the first Springbok of colour, and the flour-bombs immediately spring to mind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":45060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"b20450c6-46d7-4743-a312-c33f5a4702d0","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Avril Fillies","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-45058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective | People&#039;s Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When you think of the 1981 rugby tour under Wynand Claasen to New Zealand, Errol Tobias, the first Springbok of colour, and the flour-bombs immediately spring to mind.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"People&#039;s Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PeoplesPostNewsPaper\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"810\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Avril Fillies\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thepeoplespost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thepeoplespost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"People&#039;s Post\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"People's Post\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a55ab3f8723ad7eb7c816b50d6f060e0\"},\"headline\":\"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":922,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2024\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/\",\"name\":\"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective | People&#039;s Post\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg\",\"width\":810,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Abe Williams wearing his Springbok blazer of 1981 with Roger Daniels at the funeral of the late Dougie Dyers. PHOTO: SUPPLIED\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/\",\"name\":\"People's Post\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Peoples Post\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/peoples-post-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/peoples-post-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Peoples Post\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PeoplesPostNewsPaper\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/thepeoplespost\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/peoplespostnewspaper\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@peoplespostnewsCPT\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a55ab3f8723ad7eb7c816b50d6f060e0\",\"name\":\"People's Post\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"People's Post\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peoplespost\\\/author\\\/peoplespost\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective | People&#039;s Post","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective","og_description":"When you think of the 1981 rugby tour under Wynand Claasen to New Zealand, Errol Tobias, the first Springbok of colour, and the flour-bombs immediately spring to mind.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/","og_site_name":"People&#039;s Post","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PeoplesPostNewsPaper","article_published_time":"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":810,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Avril Fillies","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@thepeoplespost","twitter_site":"@thepeoplespost","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"People's Post","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/"},"author":{"name":"People's Post","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#\/schema\/person\/a55ab3f8723ad7eb7c816b50d6f060e0"},"headline":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective","datePublished":"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/"},"wordCount":922,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2024","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/","name":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective | People&#039;s Post","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","datePublished":"2024-08-30T05:00:27+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-19T20:53:17+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","width":810,"height":1080,"caption":"Abe Williams wearing his Springbok blazer of 1981 with Roger Daniels at the funeral of the late Dougie Dyers. PHOTO: SUPPLIED"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/inside-the-controversial-1981-springbok-rugby-tour-a-managers-perspective-20240830\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Inside the controversial 1981 Springbok rugby tour: A manager\u2019s perspective"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/","name":"People's Post","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#organization","name":"Peoples Post","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/peoples-post-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/peoples-post-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Peoples Post"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PeoplesPostNewsPaper","https:\/\/x.com\/thepeoplespost","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/peoplespostnewspaper\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@peoplespostnewsCPT"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/#\/schema\/person\/a55ab3f8723ad7eb7c816b50d6f060e0","name":"People's Post","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7ea284cb64e6d80623a001a22682bdd8e89e02e917c1f92b662fe747122e799b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"People's Post"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/author\/peoplespost\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/a218155da8dc407f814105499beb3af0.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":267619,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/breaking-news-springbok-star-jasper-wiese-banned-for-four-matches-after-italy-red-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":0},"title":"BREAKING NEWS: Springbok star Jasper Wiese banned for four matches after Italy red card","author":"Novus Media","date":"15 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CAPE TOWN\u00a0- Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has been hit with a four-match suspension following a World Rugby disciplinary hearing today, ruling him out of crucial upcoming fixtures in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. The 29-year-old Leicester Tigers forward received the ban after his red card 'head-banging' incident during South\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has been suspended for four matches following a World Rugby disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for the red card against Italy.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/jasper-wiese-springboks-e1752579395505.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/jasper-wiese-springboks-e1752579395505.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/jasper-wiese-springboks-e1752579395505.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51152,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/dougie-dyers-legacy-celebrated-after-local-rugby-legend-laid-to-rest-20230117\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":1},"title":"Dougie Dyers\u2019 legacy celebrated as they prepare to lay the local rugby legend to rest","author":"People's Post","date":"17 January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The contribution by the late 85-year-old Dougie Dyers from Belhar to South African rugby is well-documented and cannot be understated.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/967d7ae872af4cafb6a422569269a374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/967d7ae872af4cafb6a422569269a374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/967d7ae872af4cafb6a422569269a374.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/967d7ae872af4cafb6a422569269a374.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266721,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/historic-first-first-official-springbok-store-opens-in-south-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":2},"title":"Historic first: First official Springbok store opens in South Africa","author":"Novus Media","date":"4 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"JOHANNESBURG\u00a0- South African rugby fans now finally have a dedicated home for official Springbok merchandise after the country's first-ever Springbok store opened its doors this morning at Sandton City shopping centre in Johannesburg. The groundbreaking retail venture was officially inaugurated at a ceremony on Thursday, attended by Sport, Arts and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Minister van Sport, Kuns en Kultuur Gayton McKenzie het die ho\u00eb koste van Springbok-kaartjies vir tuiswedstryde skerp gekritiseer en ges\u00ea dat pryse meer bekostigbaar gemaak moet word vir die Suid-Afrikaanse publiek.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/minister-gayton-mckenzie-springboks-store.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/minister-gayton-mckenzie-springboks-store.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/minister-gayton-mckenzie-springboks-store.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/minister-gayton-mckenzie-springboks-store.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":302720,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/bo-kaap-doctor-insaaf-levy-earns-springbok-women-call-up-for-africa-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":3},"title":"Bo-Kaap doctor Insaaf Levy earns Springbok Women call-up for Africa Cup","author":"Kaylynne Bantom","date":"21 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Bo-Kaap resident and medical doctor Insaaf Levy has earned a Springbok Women call-up for the Rugby Africa Women\u2019s Cup in Kenya.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Insaaf Levy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JkbRugby.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JkbRugby.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JkbRugby.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JkbRugby.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JkbRugby.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46392,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/athlone-man-has-eyes-set-on-springbok-jersey-20240416\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":4},"title":"Athlone man has eyes set on Springbok jersey","author":"People's Post","date":"16 April 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"When the Covid-19 pandemic hit South Africa more than four years ago, Mogammad Sauliegh Arendse from Surrey Estate in Athlone, now a loose forward at the Boland Cavaliers, was part of the Western Province Supersport Challenge which was subsequently c","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/431ffe9ac5ea46d3ae76be44652a8569.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":266238,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/your-dreams-are-valid-makhazas-rise-from-uct-rugby-to-springbok-hopeful\/","url_meta":{"origin":45058,"position":5},"title":"\u2018Your dreams are valid\u2019 : Makhaza\u2019s rise from UCT rugby to Springbok hopeful","author":"People's Post","date":"1 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cI wasn\u2019t in a professional set-up, but someone believed in me , and that belief means the world,\u201d he said. \u201cIt shows there are different paths to success.\u201d Makhaza recently trained alongside national greats like Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am and Bongi Mbonambi. For the young fullback, the experience was surreal.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ntokozo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ntokozo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ntokozo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ntokozo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"People&#039;s Post","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45058"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=45058"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=45058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}