The 1906–07 South Africa tour of Europe was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national team against the four British Home Nation teams. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams before finally travelling to France to play the national team.
| 1906–07 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The South Africa touring squad photographed in London | |||||
| Manager | Cecil Carden | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Paul Roos | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Scotland |
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 Ireland |
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 Wales |
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 England |
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 France |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Next tour | 1912–13 Europe | ||||
This was the inaugural South Africa tour and is recognised as the event that coined the phrase Springboks as a nickname for the South African team. The sports-themed South African novelty song "The Springboks' Waltz" was released in 1906 to commemorate the tour.[1]
The 1906 Springboks were "the first national team to utilize the 3–4–1 formation".[2]
The tour was extremely successful for the South Africans which helped garner respect from the Northern Hemisphere teams and established South Africa as a formidable rugby playing country. In the tests played the team would only lose to Scotland and drew against England. The South African defeat of Wales was a shock to many critics and ended the international careers of some of the greatest Welsh players of the time. Out of 29 matches played, South Africa won 26, lost two and drew one.
Touring party
Management
Full backs
Three-quarters
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Half backsForwards
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Match summary
Complete list of matches played by the Springboks in Europe:[3]
Test matches
| Pl | W | D | L | Ps | Pc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 595 | 141 |
Match details
Devon
| 17 October |
| Devon RU | 6–22 | South Africa |
| Try: Roberts Pen Lillicrapp | Try: Dobbin (2) Stegmann Martheze Con D Morkel (2) Pen D Morkel (2) |
| Plymouth County Ground Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Mr E. Williams (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
|
Devon: F Lillicrapp (Albion), AJR Roberts (Exeter), J. Schulz (R.N. College, Dartmouth), De Smidt (Plymouth), F SCott (Bristol), R Jago (Albion), J Peters (Plymouth), W Mills (Albion), SG Williams, (Albion), J Cummings (Albion), EW Roberts (R.N. College, Dartmouth), TS Kelly (London Harlequins), GD Roberts (Exeter), Dix (R.N. College, Dartmouth), G Farr, (Torquay) The South African match against Devon is noted for events that occurred before the game began. On the day Devon fielded England international James Peters, the first black player to be capped for his country. On learning they would be facing a black player, the South Africans refused to take to the field. The South African High Commissioner, who was in the crowd, approached the Springboks and successfully persuaded them to play.[4] |
Newport
| 27 October |
| Newport | 0–8 | South Africa |
| Try: Stegmann (2) Con:D Morkel |
| Rodney Parade Attendance: 19,000 Referee: Gil Evans (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
|
Newport: Dai Boots, Reg Plummer, WH Gunstone, S Adams, WR Thomas, Walter Martin, Tommy Vile, Charlie Pritchard capt., Edwin Thomas Maynard, Jehoida Hodges, William Dowell, Ernie Jenkins, H Davies, Harry Wetter, George Boots |
Glamorgan
| 31 October |
| Glamorgan | 3–6 | South Africa |
| Try: Joseph | Try: Stegmann (2) |
| Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 40,000 Referee: A.O. Jones (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
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Glamorgan: Bert Winfield (Cardiff), Hopkin Maddock (London Welsh), Billy Trew (Swansea), Rhys Gabe (Cardiff), Teddy Morgan (London Welsh) (capt.), H Toft (Swansea), Dicky Owen (Swansea), John Alf Brown (Cardiff), G Northmore (Cardiff), Billy O'Neill (Cardiff), Dai Jones (Aberdare), Jack Williams (London Welsh), Will Joseph (Cardiff), H Hunt (Cardiff), Dick Thomas (Mountain Ash) |
Scotland
| 17 November |
| Scotland | 6–0 |  South Africa |
| Try: Purves, MacLeod | Report |
| Hampden Park, Glasgow Attendance: 32,500 Referee: HH Corley (Ireland) |
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
Scotland: JG Scoular, KG MacLeod, T Sloan, MW Walter, ABHL Purves, LL Greig capt., P Munro, HG Monteith, IC Geddes, JC MacCallum, David Bedell-Sivright, GM Frew, LM Spiers, WP Scott, WH Thomson |
Ireland
| 24 November |
| Ireland | 12–15 | South Africa |
| Try: Sugars (2), Maclear Pen: Parke | Report | Try: Loubser (2), Krige, Stegmann Pen: Joubert |
| Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast Attendance: 15,000 Referee: JD Tulloch (Scotland) |
| Team details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Ireland GJ Henebrey, HB Thrift, Bertie Gotto, James Cecil Parke, Basil Maclear, TTH Robinson, ED Caddell, A Tedford, CE Allen capt., Harold Sugars, George Hamlet, M White, G McIldowie, HG Wilson, JJ Coffey |
Wales
| 1 December |
| Wales | 0–11 | South Africa |
| Report | Try: Joubert, Loubser, Raaff Con: Joubert |
| St. Helen's, Swansea Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Arthur Owen Jones (England) |
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
Wales: John Dyke (Penarth), Teddy Morgan (London Welsh), Gwyn Nicholls (Cardiff) capt., Rhys Gabe (Cardiff), Johnnie Williams (Cardiff), Percy Bush (Cardiff), Dicky Owen (Swansea), Will Joseph (Swansea), George Travers, (Pill Harriers), Dai Jones (Treherbert), Arthur Harding (London Welsh), Jack Jenkins (London Welsh), Jack Williams (London Welsh), Charlie Pritchard (Newport), Dick Thomas, (Mountain Ash) |
Before the game hopes were high that the Welsh would be able to see off the South African threat.[5] As one commentator wrote, "There was nothing in the South African's play to forbid Welsh hopes of repeating their success of last season...",[6] harking back to Wales' famous victory over the All Blacks. When a Glamorgan XV team, which contained many Welsh caps that were to face South Africa, could only manage a drew against Gloucester, it caused some people to re-think the team's chances of winning.[6] This caused an outcry for Welsh star, Gwyn Nicholls, to come out of international retirement to face South Africa. Even the South African players' voiced their disappointment at not facing Nicholls on the pitch.[7] When Billy Trew withdrew from the Glamorgan XV against Monmouthshire on 22 November, Nicholls was the surprise replacement, and a few days later Nicholls told the Daily Mirror that he intended to "have a shot at the Springboks"[8]
On the day of the match, South Africa were without some of their star players, including lead try scorer Stegmann, who had suffered a leg strain in the Belfast encounter. However, captain and talisman Paul Roos was back in the squad though sporting a heavy pad on his injured shoulder.[5] The weather on the day was dry and the hard pitch suited the visitors. After an aggressive but blunt opening from the hosts, the South Africans found their pace and quickly took advantage. By half time the tourist were 6–0 ahead with tries from Joubert and Loubser. Gwyn Nicholls had a particularly poor game, wasting a panicked kick from Marsberg in the first half and throughout the game he and Gabe were so tightly marked that they were ineffective. In the second half it was a Nicholls error that handed the Springboks their third try when he caught a high ball safely, only to release it into open play. 'Klondyke' Raaff dribbled the ball away and scored a try that Joubert duly converted. The final result was 11–0 to the visitors; the majority of Welsh crowd were silenced by such a terrible result, though enough good-will was shown to carry captain Roos, and the constantly impressive Marsberg from the pitch.
After the games there were many ramifications for the Welsh team. The papers stated that the weakness shown by the forwards, and too many old players in the pack, were the reasons for the poor Welsh display. The Welsh Rugby Union reacted to the press comments by dropping many of the players from international rugby. Those players that would never again represent their country included, Dai Jones, Will Joseph, Gwyn Nicholls and Jack Williams; just one year after the legendary game against the All Blacks.
England
| 8 December |
| England | 3–3 | South Africa |
| Try: Brooks | Report | Try: Millar |
| Crystal Palace, London Attendance: 40,000 Referee: JD Tulloch (Scotland) |
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
England: John Birkett, Arnold Alcock, EJ 'John' Jackett, Freddie Brooks, Cecil Shaw, Robert Dibble, William Mills, Harry Shewring, Thomas Simpson, Basil Hill, Vincent Cartwright, Thomas Kelly, John Green, Adrian Stoop, Raphael Jago |
Monmouthshire
| 26 December |
| Monmouthshire | 0–17 | South Africa |
| Try: Jackson Daneel Stegmann Con: Mare Pen:Joubert Drop:Joubert |
| Rodney Parade Referee: A. Sloper (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
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Monmouthshire: Jack Roberts (Blaina), Llew Llewellyn (Pill Harriers), John Hart Evans (Pontypool), Jack P. Jones (Pontypool), Billy Bowen (Abertillery), James Jones (Pontypool), Dai Beynon (Pontypool), Ernie Williams (Pontnewydd), George Travers (capt.) (Pill Harriers), Jake Blackmore (Abertillery), Jim Webb (Abertillery), Rees Thomas (Pontypool),Jack Foley (Brynmawr), Jack Jones (Cwmbran), Jack Jenkins (London Welsh) |
Llanelli
| 29 December |
| Llanelli | 3–16 | South Africa |
| Try: Evans | Try: Loubser (2) Raaff Con: D. Morkel (2) Pen: D. Morkel |
| Stradey Park Attendance: 15,000[9] Referee: F. Marsh (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
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Llanelli: G. Thomas, William Richard Arnold, Rhys Gabe, G. Rowe, W. Thomas, H. Thomas, D. Lloyd, J. Auckland, Harry Vaughan Watkins, H. Cole, G. Dobbs, J. Watts, Nathaniel Walters capt., W. Cole, T. Evans |
The Springboks had a magnificent reception from a crowd of 15,000.[9] The South Africans started on an attack, but the Llanelli forwards soon rallied, resulting in a try that placed the Welshmen ahead. For the remainder of the first half the Springboks persistently pressed, eventually succeeding in piercing the Welsh defence, resulting in a converted try.
The Springboks were leading 5 to 3 at the interval. After the start of the second half the Welsh made a determined effort, but the Springboks forwards gained supremacy which they maintained. Towards the end of the game the Springbok scored with a succession of backline movements, resulting in two tries for Loubser. One of these tries was converted and a penalty goal was added, for the 16 to 3 final score.
Cardiff
| 1 January |
| Cardiff | 17–0 | South Africa |
| Try: Nicholls, Gibbs, Williams, Gabe Con: Winfield Pen: Winfield |
| Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 27,000 Referee: G. Evans (England) |
| Team details |
|---|
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Cardiff: Bert Winfield, Cecil Biggs, Rhys Gabe, Gwyn Nicholls, Johnnie Williams, Percy Bush capt., Reggie Gibbs, Dickie David, Alfred Brice, G Northmore, Jack Powell, F Smith, John Alf Brown, J Casey, Billy O'Neill |
France
| 3 January 1907 |
| France | 6–55 | South Africa |
| Try: Purves, Jerome | Try: Dobbin (3), Mare (2), Loubser (2) Martheze (2), Hirsch (2), Reid, Raaff Con: Mare (8) |
| Parc des Princes, Paris |
France does not include this match in its official records and no caps were awarded.[10]
| Team details | ||
|---|---|---|
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Bibliography
- Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale: Ron Jones Publications.
- Parry-Jones, David (1999). Prince Gwyn, Gwyn Nicholls and the First Golden Era of Welsh Rugby. Bridgend: seren. ISBN 1-85411-262-7.
- Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.
- Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
References
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