The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand (known by many in New Zealand as The Springbok Tour, and in South Africa as The Rebel Tour) was a controversial tour of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 by the South Africa national rugby union team

South Africa national rugby union team

The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...

, known as "the Springboks". The South African government's policy of racial segregation polarised opinions and sparked controversy throughout New Zealand. The decision to proceed with the tour inspired widespread protests across New Zealand.

South Africa's policy of racial apartheid had made the nation an international pariah

Social stigma

Social stigma is the severe disapproval of or discontent with a person on the grounds of characteristics that distinguish them from other members of a society.Almost all stigma is based on a person differing from social or cultural norms...

, and other countries were strongly discouraged from having sporting contacts with it.