1984 England rugby union tour of South Africa

Summary

The 1984 England rugby union tour of South Africa was a series of seven matches played by the England national rugby union team in South Africa in May and June 1984. England played seven games, including two test matches against the South Africa national rugby union team. They won four of the seven matches but lost both of the test matches as well as drawing the fixture against Western Province.

1984 England rugby union tour of South Africa
Summary
P W D L
Total
07 04 01 02
Test match
02 00 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 South Africa
2 0 0 2

England's decision to take part in the tour drew public criticism, and was the subject of covert political pressure, partly due to the prevailing apartheid system in South Africa. The Council of the Rugby Football Union voted in favour of the tour proceeding by 44 votes to 6.[1] Although only Ralph Knibbs of Bristol made opposition to apartheid his reason,[2] many other top players were also unable to tour,[3] and the squad was relatively inexperienced. 10 of the 26 players were uncapped before the tour and 7 gained their first caps in South Africa.

Matches edit

Scores and results list England's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Status
Currie Cup "B" Section 31 21 19 May 1984 Kings Park Stadium, Durban Tour Match
South African Federation 23 21 23 May 1984 Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch Tour Match
Western Province 15 15 26 May 1984 Newlands, Cape Town Tour Match
South African Rugby Association 30 8 29 May 1984 Border Rugby Union Ground, East London Tour Match
South Africa 15 33 2 June 1984 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth First Test
South African Country Districts XV 33 12 5 June 1984 DP de Villers Stadium, Sasolburg Tour Match
South Africa 9 35 9 June 1984 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Second Test

Test matches edit

First test edit

2 June 1984
South Africa  33–15  England
Try: du Plessis
Gerber, Louw
Con: Heunis 3
Pen: Heunis 5
[4]Pen: Hare 4
Drop: Horton
Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: René Hourquet (France)
South Africa England
Johan Heunis FB 15 FB Dusty Hare
Avril Williams W 14 W Mark Bailey  
Danie Gerber C 13 C John Palmer
John Villet C 12 C Huw Davis
Carel du Plessis W 11 W David Trick
Errol Tobias FH 10 FH John Horton
Divan Serfontein SH 9 SH Richard Hill
Gerrie Sonnekus N8 8 N8 Chris Butcher
(capt.) Theuns Stofberg F 7 F John Hall
Rob Louw F 6 F Peter Winterbottom
Rudi Visagie L 5 L John Scott (capt.)
Schalk Burger L 4 L John Fidler
Hempies du Toit P 3 P Phil Blakeway
Chris Rogers H 2 H Steve Mills
Ockie Oosthuizen P 1 P Malcolm Preedy
Replacements
Nick Stringer  
Coaches
Cecil Moss     Dick Greenwood



Second test edit

9 June 1984
South Africa  35–9  England
Try: Gerber 3
Stofberg, Sonnekus, Tobias
Con: Heunis 3
Tobias
Pen: Heunis
[4]Pen: Hare 3
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Referee: René Hourquet (France)
South Africa England
Johan Heunis FB 15 FB Dusty Hare
Avril Williams W 14 W Mark Bailey
Danie Gerber C 13 C John Palmer
John Villet C 12 C Huw Davis
Carel du Plessis W 11 W Tony Swift
Errol Tobias FH 10 FH John Horton
Divan Serfontein SH 9 SH Richard Hill
Gerrie Sonnekus N8 8 N8 Chris Butcher
(capt.) Theuns Stofberg F 7 F Peter Winterbottom
Rob Louw F 6 F John Hall  
Rudi Visagie L 5 L John Scott (capt.)
Schalk Burger L 4 L John Fidler
Hempies du Toit P 3 P Paul Rendall
Chris Rogers H 2 H Steve Brain
Ockie Oosthuizen P 1 P Gary Pearce
Replacements
Gary Rees  
Coaches
Cecil Moss     Dick Greenwood

Touring party edit

Backs edit

Forwards edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "A little help from Hitler", April 14, 194, The Spectator
  2. ^ "Where are they now? Bristol Rugby's glorious 1983 John Player Cup final winning side"[permanent dead link], July 11, 2015, The Bristol Post
  3. ^ "Anti-Apartheid Movement Annual Report on Activities and Developments" Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, 1984, via Aluka
  4. ^ a b Van Rooyen, Quintus (1985). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1985. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 47.