Long rugby tours are over
WHEN the England rugby tour to South Africa was announced earlier this year, a certain individual said in a newspaper that it was like a long tour of the past era.
I totally disagree and it just shows that the person has very little knowledge of past rugby tours and history.
With regards to this topic we can take a look at incoming and outgoing tours.
Incoming tours to South Africa were only undertaken by New Zealand, Australia and the British and Irish Lions, consisting of 24 games, including four tests, over three months. Outgoing tours were undertaken to the UK, France and Australasia. These tours lasted three months each.
To the UK and France 24 games were played in the UK, including Tests against the four home unions and a game against the British Barbarians. Then the Boks were off to France to play four games that included one test.
To Australasia, six games in Australia, including two tests were played, then the boys were off to New Zealand for 24 games with four tests against the All Blacks.
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa was only a medium tour that consisted of 10 games with three Tests against the Springboks, making this England visit a short tour compared with the tours of yesteryear.
Long tours will not be undertaken again because of the current rugby calendars. JOP FOURIE
Durban