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Rugby football was introduced
he Reverend George Ogilvie is credited with introducing a unique type of football to South Africa, following his appointment as Headmaster of the Diocesan College at Rondenbosch, near Cape Town in 1861 and remained until 1885. -
The South African Rugby Football Board was established
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The first international match of the British Isles tour in SA
British Isles versus Cape Colony match (Cape Colony won) -
First International tour to the British Isles and France
The nickname Springboks was used during this period -
Springbok tour to New Zealand and Australia
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Australia toured South Africa
This was the first Springbok defeat for 15 years -
The All Blacks toured in 1960 without their Maori players, who were excluded at the insistence of South Africa.
This created controversy in NZ -
All Blacks toured South Africa once again
South African government agreed to treat Maoris in the team, and Maori spectators, as 'honorary whites'. -
South Africa Toured NZ once again
South Africa lost the series, but the tour and the massive civil disruption in New Zealand had consequences far beyond rugby.