Key figures and Groups
Bruce Robertson
Bruce Robertson made his rugby union debut aged 19 and played 34 tests for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1981, scoring 34 tries. Playing in the number 13 jersey for most of the 1970s he was admired for his speed, silky pass and swerve and his reading of the game. He has been regarded as one of the best centres in the history of New Zealand rugby. Robertson toured South Africa in the 1976 with the All Blacks where they played the all-white Springbok team. During the 1981 tour he stated that he was unavailable to play and asked to be removed from selection. He indicated that this was due to his “personal abhorrence of apartheid” to which he witnessed during the 1976 tour.
Robertson is a key figure of the protest movement as he exemplified that not all rugby fans were ‘pro-tour’. He also encouraged others to stand up and fight against the tour as he had publically proclaimed his loathing of the political systems within the country of South Africa.
Bruce Robertson made his rugby union debut aged 19 and played 34 tests for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1981, scoring 34 tries. Playing in the number 13 jersey for most of the 1970s he was admired for his speed, silky pass and swerve and his reading of the game. He has been regarded as one of the best centres in the history of New Zealand rugby. Robertson toured South Africa in the 1976 with the All Blacks where they played the all-white Springbok team. During the 1981 tour he stated that he was unavailable to play and asked to be removed from selection. He indicated that this was due to his “personal abhorrence of apartheid” to which he witnessed during the 1976 tour.
Robertson is a key figure of the protest movement as he exemplified that not all rugby fans were ‘pro-tour’. He also encouraged others to stand up and fight against the tour as he had publically proclaimed his loathing of the political systems within the country of South Africa.
John Minto and HART
The Anti-Tour group ‘Halt All Racist Tours’ (HART), was founded in 1969 by University of Auckland Students. The groups were committed to undergoing non-violent demonstrations with the aim of opposing any sporting contact with South Africa.
John Minto was the national organizer of HART and throughout the Tour he became a significant public face of the anti-tour movement, drawing special attention to him from the prime minister and pro-tour supporters. Minto’s significance in the protest action is reinforced when the long battons used by police during the riots were named after him, as they were labeled ‘minto bars’.
John Minto was a crucial leadership figure within the Anti-Tour Movement and many looked up to him to exemplify how they should behave.
The Anti-Tour group ‘Halt All Racist Tours’ (HART), was founded in 1969 by University of Auckland Students. The groups were committed to undergoing non-violent demonstrations with the aim of opposing any sporting contact with South Africa.
John Minto was the national organizer of HART and throughout the Tour he became a significant public face of the anti-tour movement, drawing special attention to him from the prime minister and pro-tour supporters. Minto’s significance in the protest action is reinforced when the long battons used by police during the riots were named after him, as they were labeled ‘minto bars’.
John Minto was a crucial leadership figure within the Anti-Tour Movement and many looked up to him to exemplify how they should behave.
Ron Don and SPIR
‘Society For the Protection Of Individual Rights’ (SPIR) presented an alternative view to the protest movement. They supported the tour and strongly believed that politics and sports should not mix.
Ron Don was the chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union and an NZRFU councillor at the time on the protest. He was an important face of the pro-tour movement. Don reinforced that the tension formed during the tour still exists today, when he expressed to TVNZ in 2006 "I don't regret anything that was said or done in 1981" as in his opinion, “We (the pro-tour movement) won. We beat the protesters; we beat the media, and most important of all we beat the Springboks." Don held an important position within the protest movement, as he was a public figure prior to the movement and hence, during the movement, many looked to him for guidance as he set an example as to how civilians should act.
‘Society For the Protection Of Individual Rights’ (SPIR) presented an alternative view to the protest movement. They supported the tour and strongly believed that politics and sports should not mix.
Ron Don was the chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union and an NZRFU councillor at the time on the protest. He was an important face of the pro-tour movement. Don reinforced that the tension formed during the tour still exists today, when he expressed to TVNZ in 2006 "I don't regret anything that was said or done in 1981" as in his opinion, “We (the pro-tour movement) won. We beat the protesters; we beat the media, and most important of all we beat the Springboks." Don held an important position within the protest movement, as he was a public figure prior to the movement and hence, during the movement, many looked to him for guidance as he set an example as to how civilians should act.