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The South African Barbarians take on Devon in 1979
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The South African Barbarians take on Devon in 1979
Rugby Union - 1979 South African Barbarians Tour of Britain - Devon 18 South African Barbarians 27
S. Tonki of the SA Baa Bs is tackled. with teammate R. Louw in support at Exeter.
This was the first game of the first multiracial South African rugby team to tour outside South Africa. The tour squad had eight white players, eight coloured players and eight black players and was managed by former Scotland international Chick Henderson.
The tour was at the centre of controversy, with the Sports Council and government calling for the invitation extended by the Home Unions to be withdrawn in light of the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement which discouraged Commonwealth countries from any sporting links with South Africa.
Despite the multi-racial nature of the team, critics accused the tour of merely window-dressing. Anti-aparthied demonstrators took to the streets of Exeter before the game and seven demonstrators were arrested for invading the pitch. Protests continued throughout the remainder of the tour
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This powerful photo captures a historic moment in rugby history - the clash between the South African Barbarians and Devon in 1979. In this intense match, S. Tonki of the SA Baa Bs finds himself tackled, with teammate R. Louw offering support at Exeter. What makes this game truly significant is that it marked the first tour outside of South Africa for a multiracial South African rugby team. The squad consisted of eight white players, eight coloured players, and eight black players, managed by former Scotland international Chick Henderson. However, controversy surrounded this groundbreaking tour as both the Sports Council and government called for its withdrawal due to the Gleneagles Agreement of 1977 discouraging sporting links with apartheid-era South Africa. Despite being a multiracial team, critics accused the tour of being mere window-dressing. This sentiment was echoed by anti-apartheid demonstrators who flooded the streets of Exeter before kickoff. Seven protesters even invaded the pitch and were subsequently arrested. The protests continued throughout the rest of their tour but did not diminish its historical significance or impact on breaking racial barriers within rugby union. This image serves as a reminder of both triumphs and challenges faced during this pivotal period in sport's fight against discrimination.
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