2) Rugby as separation of populations

In New Zealand, the Maori played at the XIX against white. This is not the case in South Africa. Indeed, the Afrikaner tended to exclude black by claiming their lack of interest in this sport. Today, if we look the number of South African rugby practicing, we can clearly say that these remarks dating from apartheid to say the least wrong!

In fact, it was not until 1989 and published by Paul Dobson, professor of Latin, to discover « that there are Africans in Africa! » Indeed, the history of South Africa is that of a « separate story » according to Paul Coquerel. Few clubs then let them play the whites, blacks and colored together.

Western Province Rugby Union Coloured (WPCRU) born between 1883 and 1886 allows no-whites whatsoever playing rugby. But only the club of Fair Plays Johannesburg, founded in 1897, does not separate the colored, black and white. It will be removed during apartheid.

Non-white club in South Africa before 1914

Legend: black-club – coloured club

Supporters are also separated. The colored have their tribunes, as Newland called « Malay Stand ». Or an entire stadium like that of Mowbray. The only white found in this stadiums are usually coaches or players.

Until 1914 held the Cup of Rhode Coloured. This is a meeting between five teams located mainly in the south of the country: Western Province Western Province League Board and located in Cape Town, Griqualand West (Kimberley), Transvaal (Johannesburg) and South Western District.

This cup was played again in 1928 with 7 games in 10 years. In 1939 Rhode Cup gives the idea to create a selection of the best colored players. These players also wore them with the name of Springbok (antelope for logo). Most of the players were from the South and clubs were urban dwellers from the middle bourgeoisie.

They realized a national tour during which they contended 9 games and won seven. The idea of ​​a tour overseas is then invoked, but World War II prevented the realization of this project. In addition, the SARB all white felt such contempt for rugby colored it would probably aborted the plan.

Do not forget the black’s rugby. This is mainly present in the Cape Colony in particular in the cities of East London and Port Elizabeth. Players are workers or miners. In the inter-war years, in Johannesburg, there were only seven black’s rugby clubs  against thirty three of football.

So there is a big difference in rugby between colored and black. Indeed the first are bourgeois and established itself in Africa through Rhode Cup. When black people make up some clubs and are much poorer than the majority colored.

longside rugby non-whites, the English and Afrikaner continually strengthens and begins to meet with teams overseas territories. The entrance to the South African rugby in international competition, however, is stopped by the Boer War, although a surprising continuity is observed in the practice of this sport.