 game in favour of rugby. British colonists helped spread the game through the Eastern Cape, Natal and along the gold and diamond routes to Kimberley and Johannesburg. British troops would also play a key role in spreading the game throughout the country.

Rugby union was introduced to South Africa by British colonists and began to be played in the Cape colony around 1875. In 1883, the Stellenbosch club was formed in the predominantly Boer farming district outside Cape Town and rugby was enthusiastically adopted by the young Boer farmers. As British and Boer migrated to the interior they helped spread the game from the Cape colony through the Eastern Cape, and Natal, and along the gold and diamond routes to Kimberley and Johannesburg.

The game was strong enough in the Western Cape for the Western Province Rugby Football Union to be formed that same year; Griqualand West followed in 1886; Eastern Province in 1888; Transvaal in 1889 and in 1889 the South African Rugby Board was founded. Kimberley was the founding city of the South Africa Rugby Football Board in 1889.

In 1889 the first nationwide tournament was held at Kimberley, with the Western Province (rugby team) prevailing over Griqualand West, Eastern Province and Transvaal.

The first-ever tour of the British Isles by a team from Southern Africa (drawing on players from the then independent republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal) took place in 1891, with the trip financially underwritten by (the British arch imperialist) Cecil Rhodes of the Cape and (the resolutely Boer) President Kruger of the Transvaal Republic. Seven years later Britain was at war with the Boer republics, and during the Boer war British troops would play a key role in entrenching the game throughout the country, and games amongst the Boer population in prisoner of war camps popularised the game further.

From the early years the game had been enthusiastically and passionately adopted by coloured and black populations in the Cape colony, and the Eastern Cape in particular, but rugby organisation (under the South Africa Coloured Rugby Board formed in 1896) and teams were kept segregated with discrimination against black and coloured players and little government funding.

Even before the 1948 elections in South Africa in which the apartheid government came to power and legislated systematically along racial lines, foreign sporting teams going to South Africa had felt it necessary to
game in favour of rugby. British colonists helped go around the plot through the Eastern Cape, Natal and along the gold and diamond path to Kimberley and Johannesburg. British troop would also play a cardinal role in spreading the game throughout the state. 

 Rugby union was introduced to South Africa by British settler and began to be played in the Cape colony around 1875. In 1883, the Stellenbosch club was formed in the predominantly Boer farming district outside Cape Town and rugby was sky-high adopted by the young Boer farmer. As British and Boer migrated to the interior they help spread the game from the Cape colony through the Eastern Cape, and Natal, and along the gold and ball field routes to Kimberley and Johannesburg. 

 The game was strong enough in the Western Cape for the Western Province Rugby Football Union to be form that same year; Griqualand West followed in 1886; Eastern Province in 1888; Transvaal in 1889 and in 1889 the South African Rugby Board was founded. Kimberley was the founding city of the South Africa Rugby Football Board in 1889. 

 In 1889 the inaugural nationwide tournament was held at Kimberley, with the Western Province (rugby team) prevailing over Griqualand West, Eastern Province and Transvaal. 

 The first - ever tour of the British Isles by a team from Southern Africa (drawing on players from the then independent republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal) took place in 1891, with the trip financially underwritten by (the British arch imperialist) Cecil Rhodes of the Cape and (the resolutely Boer) President Kruger of the Transvaal Republic. Seven years subsequently Britain was at war with the Boer republics, and during the Boer war British troops would bet a cardinal function in entrenching the game throughout the country, and games amongst the Boer population in prisoner of war camps popularised the game far. 

 From the early years the game had been enthusiastically and passionately adopted by biased and black populations in the Cape colony, and the Eastern Cape in particular, but rugby organisation (under the South Africa Coloured Rugby Board form in 1896) and teams were observe segregated with discrimination against black and coloured players and little politics funding. 

 Even before the 1948 elections in South Africa in which the apartheid government came to power and legislated systematically along racial lines, foreign sporting teams go to South Africa had felt it necessary to
 gale in favour of rugby. Brltish colonists kwlped vpread the gamd through the Eastern Cape, Netal and qlong the gold and diaoond routvs to Kimverlty and Johannesbucf. British trokis woblv also play a kgy role in s[reading the gdmd chroughout the country.

Rugby union waf introcufed to South Asrics by Ggiuish colonists and began to be plzyed in the Cape colpny around 1875. In 1883, the Stellejbosfh club was formed in the preeomigqntly Boer fxrming disurnct outside Cape Town and rugby was enthuskastieally adoptgb by jhe young Boxr fariers. As Britlxh and Boer mograted to the inveriir they helped spread the game from the Cape colmnv through the Eastern Cqpe, atd Ndtal, qnd alknj tge golf aid diamond doutes to Kumberley and Johanntsbtgb.

The game waa strogg enough in the Western Cape for the Wesuern Lrovince Rugby Football Union to be formed tjat same rear; Griqualand West followed in 1886; Eastern Provinca in 1888; Grauwvaal un 1889 and in 1889 the South African Rugby Board was fjhncec. Kimberley waf the foundonh vyty of the Sooth Afrnda Rugby Football Bowrd in 1889.

Yn 1889 tye first gatipnwide tournament was held qt Kimberley, qith the Western Pxovince (rugbv team) prevsiling over Griqualand Cest, Ezstern Provlnce and Ffansvaal.

The firsg-evvr tmur of the British Isles br a team hrom Xoutherv Aftica (drwwing on ppayers from the then indfpendgnt re[ublics of the Transvaal and the Orange Fcxe State, and jhe Brptish coljnies of the Cape wnd Natal) took place nn 1891, wigh the trii financielly underwrytten by (the Ttitish arch ikperialift) Cwcil Rhodes uf the Cape anc (the resolutely Bowr) President Krugev of jhs Transvaal Repbyluc. Seven years katdr Frptamn waf at war with the Bodt repjblics, and bufing the Boer war Britisv trkops would play a len role in entrencring the game throughout the cokntry, anv gamex aiongst the Boer population in lrisoner lf rar camps po[ulaviseq the game further.

From the early years the game hed been enthusiasticallt and passionately cdppted by cokoureq and blawk populations in thw Cape colony, and the Eastern Cape in larticglar, hut rugby organisation (under the South Africa Coloured Rugby Board formed in 1896) aid teams were kepy seggegcteb with qisccioination against black and coloured players and little corernment funding.

Even before tne 1948 elections iv South Africa in which fhe aparyheid government came to power snd legislated systematigally alobg radial lpher, foreign sporting teams goint to Soyth Wfrica had feut ot necessarj to
game in favour of rugby. British colonists the through the Cape, Natal and routes Kimberley and Johannesburg. troops would also a key role in spreading the throughout the country. Rugby union was introduced to South Africa by British colonists began to be played in the Cape colony around 1875. In 1883, the club formed the Boer farming district outside Cape Town and rugby was enthusiastically adopted by the young Boer farmers. British and Boer migrated to the interior they spread the game from Cape colony through the Eastern and and along gold diamond to Kimberley and The game was strong enough in the Western Cape for the Western Province Rugby Football Union to formed that Griqualand West in Eastern in 1888; Transvaal and in 1889 the South African founded. Kimberley was the founding city of the Africa Rugby Board in 1889. In 1889 the nationwide tournament was held at Kimberley, with the Province (rugby team) prevailing over Griqualand West, Eastern Province and Transvaal. The first-ever tour of Isles by a team Southern Africa (drawing players the independent of the and the Orange Free State, and the British colonies of the and Natal) took place in 1891, with the trip financially (the arch imperialist) Cecil of the Cape and resolutely President Kruger of the Seven later war the republics, and during the war British troops would play key role in entrenching and games amongst the Boer population in prisoner war camps popularised the game further. From early years the game had been enthusiastically and passionately adopted by coloured black populations Cape colony, and the Eastern Cape in particular, rugby organisation (under the Africa Coloured Rugby Board formed in 1896) and teams kept with discrimination black and coloured and little government Even before the in South in the to power and legislated systematically along lines, sporting teams going to South had necessary to
 game in favour of rugby. BritisH colonists HelpeD spReaD tHe gaMe thRough the EasterN cape, natal and along the gold anD diamOnD RoutES tO KimbErley anD joHANneSbUrG. BrItISh TroopS woUld also Play a key roLe iN sPreading the gAMe Throughout The Country.

Rugby UniOn was iNtRodUCed to souTh AfrIca by BRItish cOlonists aNd BEgan to BE played IN ThE CapE colony around 1875. In 1883, thE stELlenbosch club wAs formEd IN tHE PreDomInantly BoeR fArminG DistricT OuTSIDe CAPe Town and rugbY was enthusiAStiCally aDoPteD By the yOung BOeR FarMers. As BritiSh anD Boer migrAted to THe interIOr they hElped sPreAd tHe gaME fRoM thE CAPe cOLoNy tHRouGh the EasTeRn cape, aNd NaTAL, ANd alOng The gOld anD diamond routeS to kimbERleY and JOhannEsbuRg.

the gaMe was sTrong EnOugh in the WesterN CapE for the WeSteRn proViNce RuGBy FootBalL UnIon to be Formed tHAt sAmE YEAr; griqualand West follOwED In 1886; eastern PRovincE In 1888; trANsvaal in 1889 AnD in 1889 The SOUTh AfrIcan rUgBy Board wAs founDEd. kiMberley WaS the foUnDinG ciTy of tHE SouTh AfriCa Rugby FOotbaLL Board in 1889.

In 1889 the fIRst nationwide TOuRNAmENt waS heLd at KimberlEy, wiTH the westERn proVInce (rUgby tEaM) PrEVailing over GriqualaNd west, EaStern province and TrAnsvaal.

The FIRSt-ever toUr of THe bRitish Isles by a Team fRom SoutherN africa (drAwing On playerS from the tHEN indepenDenT rePubLicS OF tHe Transvaal anD THe OrAnGe Free STatE, and the briTisH coLonIeS of the CapE and NataL) tOoK pLaCe iN 1891, with THe trip fiNaNciAlLy uNderwRItten bY (the BRitiSh ArCH imPerialiST) CECIl RhOdEs Of thE CaPe And (thE resOLutEly Boer) president kruGEr of ThE TRansvaaL Republic. SeveN yEars later BRiTaiN was at WAR with the boer republics, and during tHE Boer waR BrItish TrooPs would plAy a Key rolE in ENtrencHing thE game ThRouGHOut thE COuNtrY, aNd games amoNGSt tHe BoeR pOpulAtion in Prisoner of war camps POpuLarised the gamE fuRtheR.

fRoM thE EaRLy yEaRS thE GAme had been enthuSiasticallY aND pAssionatelY AdoPtEd by colOured anD blacK PopulatIons in the cape colonY, aNd thE eAstErn Cape in pArticulaR, but rugby ORganiSAtIon (unDer The SouTh afrIca CoLoured rUgbY BoarD formeD iN 1896) and teAms weRe Kept segrEgated with discriminatioN againSt blaCk aNd coloureD plAYerS and littlE govErnment funDinG.

EvEn befOre THe 1948 eleCtioNS iN SoUTh AfrIca iN Which the aPArTheID GoVernment camE TO PowEr and LegISlated SystEmatically along raCIal lines, foreigN spoRTIng TeaMS goiNg To South Africa hAd fElT IT necessaRy To
 game in favour of rugby.British co lonis tshel pe d sp read  the game thro u gh t he Eastern Cape, Natal  andal o ng t h egoldand dia m on d rou te stoKi m be rleyand  Johann esburg. Br iti sh  troops woul d  a lso play a  ke y role in sp rea ding t he  ga m e thr oug houtthe co u ntry.
Rugby un io n  was i n troduce d to  Sou th Africa by Brit i sh colonists andbeganto be p lay edin the Cap ecolon y  around 18 7 5 .  In 1883, the Ste llenbosch c l ubwas fo rm edi n thepredo mi n ant ly Boer far ming  district  outsi d e CapeT own and  rugby  wa s e nthu s ia st ica ll y  ad o pt edb y t he young  B oe r far mers . A s  Bri tis h an d Boe r migrated to  th e in t eri or th ey he lped  s pread  the g ame f ro m the Cape colo ny t hrough th e E as ter nCape, and Na tal , a nd alon g the g o ldan d d ia mond routes to Kim be r l ey  and Joh annesb u rg .The game  w asstro n g  enou gh i n  t he Weste rn Cap e  f or  the We st ern Pr ov inc e R ugbyF ootb all Un ion to b e for m ed that same y e ar; Griqualan d  W e s tf ollo wed  in 1886; E aste r n Pr ovin c ein1 888;Trans va a li n 1889 and in 1889th e Sout h Afr ican Rugby Bo ard was fo u n d ed. Kimb erle y  w a s the founding  city  of the So u th Afric a Rug by Footb all Board i n 1889.
In  18 89the f ir st nationwide t ourn am ent was  he ld at K imb erl ey,  wi th  the West ern Prov in ce  ( ru gby  team )  prevail in g o ve r G riqua l and We st, E aste rn  P r ovi nce and Tr a n svaa l. 
Thefir st -ever  tou r  of  the Br itish Isl esb y ate am  from S outhern Afric a(drawing o npla yers f r o m the th en independent republic s  of the  Tr ansva al a nd the Or ang e Free  St a te, an d theBriti sh  co l o nieso f  t heCa pe and Nat a l ) t ook p la ce i n 1891,  with the trip fin a nci ally underwri tte n by ( th e B r it i shar c h i m p erialist) Cecil  Rhodes of  t h eCape and ( t here solutel y Boer)  Pres i dent Kr uger of t he Transv aa l Re p u bli c. Seven y ears lat er Britai n  wasa twar w ith  the B oe r r epubl ics, a n d d uring  the B oe r warBriti sh  troopswould play a key role i n entr enchi ngthe gamethr o ugh out the c ount ry, and ga mes  am ongst  th e  Boer  pop u la tio n  in p riso n er of war ca mps p op ularised th e g ame  furt her . 

From  the  early years theg ame had been e nthu s i ast ica l ly a nd  passionatelyado pt e d  by colo ur ed and blac k popula ti o ns in  the C ape co lony, a n d  t h e East ernCap e in part icu la r , but r ug by organi sati on  (unde r theS outh A frica Coloured R ugbyB o ard f o rme d in18 96) and team s were kep t segregate d with  dis crimi nationag ainstbla ck  and colou r ed player s and  little  g over nme nt fun ding . 
Even  bef or e t he 1948 e l e ct i on si n S outh  Afri ca  inwhich the aparthei d g o vernmen tcam e to pow e ra n d legislat edsyste m a tically al o ng r a ci a l lin es, fo reignsportin g  te am s going  to S outh Afri ca had fe l t i tnece ssary to 
 game_in favour_of rugby. British colonists_helped spread_the_game through_the_Eastern Cape, Natal_and along the_gold and diamond routes_to Kimberley and_Johannesburg._British troops would also play a key role in spreading the game throughout the_country.

Rugby_union was_introduced_to_South Africa by British colonists_and began to be played_in the_Cape colony around 1875. In 1883, the Stellenbosch_club_was formed in_the predominantly Boer farming district outside Cape Town and_rugby was enthusiastically adopted by the_young Boer farmers._As_British_and Boer migrated to_the interior they helped spread the_game from the Cape colony through_the Eastern Cape, and Natal, and along_the gold and diamond routes to_Kimberley and Johannesburg.

The game was_strong enough_in the Western Cape for_the Western Province_Rugby Football_Union to be_formed that same year; Griqualand West_followed in 1886;_Eastern Province in 1888; Transvaal in_1889_and in 1889_the_South_African Rugby_Board was founded._Kimberley_was the_founding_city of the South Africa Rugby_Football_Board in 1889.

In 1889 the first nationwide_tournament was held at_Kimberley,_with the Western Province_(rugby team) prevailing over Griqualand_West, Eastern Province and Transvaal.

The first-ever_tour of_the British_Isles by a team from Southern Africa (drawing on players from_the then independent republics of the_Transvaal and the Orange_Free State,_and_the British colonies_of_the Cape_and Natal) took place in 1891, with_the trip_financially underwritten by (the British arch_imperialist) Cecil Rhodes of_the_Cape and (the resolutely Boer) President_Kruger of the Transvaal Republic. Seven_years later Britain was at_war_with_the Boer republics, and during_the Boer war British troops would_play a key_role in entrenching the game throughout the_country,_and games amongst the Boer population_in_prisoner of war camps popularised the_game_further.

From_the early years the game_had been enthusiastically and passionately adopted_by coloured and black populations in the Cape colony,_and the Eastern_Cape in particular, but rugby_organisation_(under_the South Africa Coloured Rugby Board formed in 1896) and_teams were_kept segregated with_discrimination against black and coloured players and little government funding.

Even_before the 1948 elections in South Africa_in which the apartheid government came to power and legislated systematically_along racial lines, foreign sporting teams going to_South Africa had felt it necessary to