Waikato team, 1956

The Waikato rugby football team that played the Springboks in 1956.

Back row: A.R. Reid (captain), J.R. Bullick, G.P. Nola, M.J. Mcdonald, G.J. Carrington, G.R. Brunskill.

Middle row: I.J. Clarke, R.C. Hemi, E.A.R. Pickering, D.E. Grant, D.B. Clarke, J.T. Graham, A. Hayes.

Front Row: D.S.B. Heather (chairman), R.B. Cooper (assistant manager), R.A. Everest (selector and coach), D.J. McKenzie, B.A.C. Cowley (vice-captain), E.H. Catley (assistant coach), W. Gilmore (manager), S. Hyslop (masseur).

Insert: J.H. Mauger. (D.J. McKenzie withdrew on the eve of match because of illness.)

Waikato 14, South Africa 10; Rugby Park, Hamilton, 9 June 1956

In amateur rugby’s heyday, touring international teams played in packed grounds all over the country. The local teams took these matches seriously and were determined to take the scalp of the visiting team. For provincial players not destined for higher honours, playing the touring Springboks or Lions might be their only crack at the ‘big time’. The history of rugby in this country is littered with famous victories against touring national sides.

New Zealand rugby fans had found losing all four tests on the 1949 tour of South Africa a bitter pill to swallow. There were high hopes for revenge in the return series in 1956.

More than 31,000 fans packed into Hamilton's Rugby Park for the opening match of the tour. They were thrilled when the home team raced to a 14-0 lead on the back of 'a rabid forward display that knocked the visitors off their feet'. The inevitable Springboks fightback was resisted and the roar was deafening when South African captain Jan Pickard presented his Waikato counterpart, Alan 'Ponty' Reid with the ceremonial Springboks head.

One of the Waikato heroes that day was Don Clarke. 'The Boot' would make his All Black debut in the Third Test of the series and play a crucial role in the victory that gave the All Blacks a 2-1 series lead.

Canterbury and New Zealand Universities joined Waikato in defeating the tourists.