Looking Back

From the Sunday Times 50 years ago

AN SABC broadcast, “Racialism in South Africa”, given this week on the English programme by Mr Blyth Thompson, founder or the South Africa Society in London, is “the worst thing the SABC has done so far”, say Opposition Members of Parliament. Expressing their “shock” and “disgust” at what some described as a vicious broadcast, they said its effect would be to create ill-feeling between English and Afrikaans speakers.

In his broadcast, Mr Thompson said that those who “rather presumptuously nowadays purport to represent the English community of South Africa” would rather see South Africa sink than “be seen to be helping Afrikaans-speakers to succeed”. He added that from time to time some South African English newspapers printed articles which constituted “the cheapest and most vulgar diatribes” about Afrikaners. — June 7 1964

From the Sunday Times 25 years ago

RUGBY boss Dr Danie Craven plans sweeping changes to the rules of the game. He is calling for the virtual elimination of scrums to reduce injuries. For most infringements, tap kicks will be awarded instead of scrums, reducing the number by about three-quarters in an average game.

Dr Craven will demonstrate the new rules to visiting IRB members in 20minute trial matches to be played as curtain-raisers to the two centenary Test matches between the Springboks and a World XV in August.

He said yesterday: “The scrum is a vital, traditional part of rugby. But players are getting softer and the game is getting tougher, so more injuries are occurring in the scrums and, to a lesser extent, the lineouts.” — June 11 1989