Springbok Glory

This is the first book written by a British journalist covering a tour in the British Isles by a South African rugby team, and it is an experiment. It may not be entirely successful, but its purpose is to put on record one of the most unusual tours of modern times. For that I have been allowed special facilities.

Western Mail colleague John Billot, it due to the kindness of my General Manager, David Cole, and Editor, D. C. B. Daniell, I was privileged to watch the majority of matches played by the Fifth Springboks and report them for the Western Mail as well as for the Western Mail.

Those matches at which I could not be present I watched through the “eyes” of my good friends Vivian Jenkins of the Sunday Times, who so readily agreed to contribute the foreword to this book, A. C. Parker of the Daily Telegraph, and the members of the Press Box of the Daily Telegraph.

It may not please everyone that each match played by the Springboks and their supporters in this country, where our rugby writers were often under fire from South Africa since has been discussed in terms of British and South African sporting certain matches. This should refute any suggestion of parochialism! Much that is written is critical of the Fifth Springboks and their management, but nothing has been written that is not intended to help and improve the approach to the Game. Since the Five ended South Africa, the Springboks remain, always, a member of the rugby brotherhood.

I am indebted to my colleagues of the Rugby Union members of the International Board, the secretaries of the four Home Unions, the management of the Fifth Springboks and especially officials of Messrs. T. H. Hanser, Ltd., Thomson Newspapers Ltd., Sport and General Ltd., and Les Grist, Picture Editor of the Western Mail, for help given in the preparation of this book.

Cardiff
J.B.G.T.