The Pro-Tour Movement
Many New Zealanders maintained the perspective that how South Africans ran their country was none of our business and criticized the anti-tour movement for being run by ‘perennial protesters’ and ‘rent-a-mob’ demonstrators interested only in fighting the police.
Even today, we can see the extent of our rugby fans passion towards the game imbedded in our society. This passion existed during the 1981 tour as many pro-tour activists expressed their opinion in violent actions towards anti-tour protestors and police. Although not all rugby fanatics supported the tour (Bruce Robertson is an obvious example of this) the tour still maintained a strong pro-tour side. Large groups of kiwis attacking other fellow kiwis is a difficult concept to fathom in todays predominantly peaceful society, however this was the scene of numerous clashes between pro tour and anti-tour activists resulting in bloody violence. Many of those who were a part of the pro-tour movements were from reserved rural backgrounds who may not have fully grasped that the protest they were opposing held such a predominant significance to the international community. Many of those from rural communities who supported the tour were unable to see the ‘big picture’ and hence could only see the tour from their perspective. From their viewpoint, they believed they were being deprived of their right to view their nations team take on one of the best in the world in what was the first tour in 16 years. Understanding the different perspectives held by those involved and witnessing the protest action allows us to grasp a better understanding of the events played out during the tour and the reason for these events. |