Errol paved way for today's Springboks

WE mark all sorts of landmarks in rugby these days, so much so that we possibly lose sight of the really important milestones, so let’s celebrate today the 40th anniversary of the first black player representing the Springboks in a Test match.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

That man, of course, was Errol Tobias who at the advanced age of 31 made his celebrated Test debut against Ireland at Newlands in Cape Townin May, 1981, lining up at centre alongside Danie Gerber. The Boks won 23-15.

For some reason Tobias’ achievement seems to have quickly disappeared in the rear-view mirror of history along with memories of a little discussed tour which nonetheless caused much acrimony and soul searching within the Irish rugby community and beyond at the time.

After the 1980 Lions tour, the sporting and political world started to mass in earnest against the hated apartheid regime which was increasingly being sent to Coventry and there seemed no good reason whatsoever why Ireland should plough on with their planned tour, only their second visit to South Africa with their first coming in 1961.

Three men of honour, Moss Keane, Tony Ward – who hadn’t liked what he saw on the 1980 Lions trip – and Hugo McNeill, made it quite clear they would not be touring for moral reasons. One or two others withdrew citing injuries and at least one Ireland player has bitterly renounced his decision to participate on the tour.

That latter was scrum-half John Robbie who stayed on to make a life in South Africa where, after a business career, he became an outspoken opponent of apartheid in his role as a breakfast time TV and radio host. He has, however, often called his youthful decision back then as a stain on his life and something he has bitterly regretted ever since.