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Story: Sport and the nation

'Don't mention the tour'

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'Don't mention the tour'

The presence of the South African Springbok rugby team in New Zealand in the winter of 1981 sparked a fierce national debate and protest within New Zealand. This cartoon suggests the strength of the feelings on both sides.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: B-144-109

by Eric Heath

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Sport and the nation – Sport and national debate, 1970 to 1990, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/41216/dont-mention-the-tour (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 26 March 2013.