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.
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."A little help from Hitler", April 14, 194, The Spectator Although only Ralph Knibbs of Bristol made opposition to apartheid his reason,"Where are they now? Bristol Rugby's glorious 1983 John Player Cup final winning side", July 11, 2015, The Bristol Post many other top players were also unable to tour,"Anti-Apartheid Movement Annual Report on Activities and Developments" , 1984, via Aluka 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 Scores and results list England's points tally first. Opposing Team For Against Date Venue StatusCurrie Cup "B" Section 31 21 19 May 1984 Kings Park Stadium, Durban Tour MatchSouth African Federation 23 21 23 May 1984 Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch Tour MatchWestern Province 15 15 26 May 1984 Newlands, Cape Town Tour MatchSouth African Rugby Association 30 8 29 May 1984 Border Rugby Union Ground, East London Tour MatchSouth Africa 15 33 2 June 1984 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth First TestSouth African Country Districts XV 33 12 5 June 1984 DP de Villers Stadium, Sasolburg Tour MatchSouth Africa 9 35 9 June 1984 Ellis Park, Johannesburg Second Test
Test matches First test
South Africa England Johan HeunisFB15FBDusty Hare Avril WilliamsW14WMark Bailey Danie GerberC13C John Palmer John VilletC12CHuw Davis Carel du Plessis W11W David Trick Errol TobiasFH10FH John Horton Divan SerfonteinSH9SHRichard Hill Gerrie SonnekusN88N8Chris Butcher(capt.) Theuns StofbergF7F John Hall Rob LouwF6F Peter Winterbottom Rudi VisagieL5LJohn Scott (capt.) Schalk BurgerL4L John Fidler Hempies du ToitP3PPhil Blakeway Chris Rogers H2H Steve Mills Ockie OosthuizenP1PMalcolm Preedy Replacements Nick Stringer Coaches Cecil Moss Dick Greenwood
Second test
South Africa England Johan HeunisFB15FBDusty Hare Avril WilliamsW14WMark Bailey Danie GerberC13C John Palmer John VilletC12CHuw Davis Carel du Plessis W11W Tony Swift Errol TobiasFH10FH John Horton Divan SerfonteinSH9SHRichard Hill Gerrie SonnekusN88N8Chris Butcher(capt.) Theuns StofbergF7F Peter Winterbottom Rob LouwF6FJohn Hall Rudi VisagieL5LJohn Scott (capt.) Schalk BurgerL4L John Fidler Hempies du ToitP3PPaul Rendall Chris Rogers H2HSteve Brain Ockie OosthuizenP1PGary Pearce Replacements Gary Rees Coaches Cecil Moss Dick Greenwood
Touring party Tour manager : Ron Jacobs Team manager: Derek Morgan Coach: Dick Greenwood Captain: John Scott (Cardiff) 31 caps
Backs
Dusty Hare (Leicester) 23 caps Nick Stringer (Wasps) 2 caps Mark Bailey (Cambridge University) No caps Steve Burnhill (Loughborough Coll) No caps Paul Dodge (Leicester) 25 caps John Palmer (Bath) No caps Tony Swift (Swansea) 5 caps David Trick (Bath) 1 cap Huw Davies (Wasps) 12 caps Richard Hill (Bath) No caps John Horton (Bath) 11 caps Nick Youngs (Leicester) 6 caps Bryan Barley (Wakefield) 3 caps
Forwards
Phil Blakeway (Gloucester) 14 caps Steve Brain (Coventry) No caps Chris Butcher (Harlequins) No caps David Cusani (Orrell) No caps John Fidler (Gloucester) 2 caps Jon Hall (Bath) 3 caps Steve Mills (Gloucester) 3 caps Gary Pearce (Northampton) 14 caps Malcolm Preedy (Gloucester) No caps Paul Rendall (Wasps) 1 cap Gary Rees (Nottingham) No caps John Scott (Cardiff) 31 caps Mike Teague (Gloucester) No caps Peter Winterbottom (Headingley) 13 caps
See also History of rugby union matches between England and South Africa
References