1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe

In 1912-13 the South Africa national rugby union team toured England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, playing a series of test matches, as well as games against club, regional, and representative teams. South Africa accomplished their first Grand Slam by winning all four tests against the Home Nations sides, and also won the test match against France. This was the second South African tour of the Northern Hemisphere, after the very successful 1906 tour.

1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour of Europe
Manager	Max Honnet
Tour captain(s)	William Millar
Summary	P W D L
Total	27 24 00 03
Test match	05 05 00 00
Opponent	P W D L
Scotland	1 1 0 0
Ireland	1 1 0 0
England	1 1 0 0
Wales	1 1 0 0
France	1 1 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour	1906–07 Europe
Next tour	1921 Aus & NZ

Although not managing to win all the matches on the tour, the Springboks won all five test matches against international opposition. Billy Millar was the tour captain even though he was the last person chosen for the tour and was not the selectors' choice of captain, but they were over-ruled by the South African Rugby Board.[1] Millar did have the advantage of being one of the few players to have toured Britain in the previous test, but was seen by the hosts as a fiery character and was not as popular with the players or fans as the 1906's tour captain, Paul Roos.[2] The other two members of the squad to have played in the 1906 tour were vice-captain Fred 'Uncle' Dobbin and Doug Morkel.

In the touring party were two sets of brothers; Richard, Freddie and John Luyt and Gerhard and Jack Morkel.[2]

Touring party

Manager: Max Honnet Captain: William Millar Vice-captain Frederick Dobbin Full back J.J. Meintjies (Griqualand West) Gerhard Morkel (Western Province) Three-quarters Otto van der Hoff (Transvaal) William Krige (Western Province) Richard Luyt (Western Province) E.E. McHardy (Orange Free State) Wally Mills (Western Province) Jacky Morkel (Western Province) Johan Stegmann (Transvaal) G.M. Wrentmore (Western Province) Half-backs Uncle Dobbin (Griqualand West) J.H. Immelman (Western Province) Freddie Luyt (Western Province) J.D. McCulloch (Griqualand West)

Forwards J.S. Braine (Griqualand West) S.N. Cronje (Transvaal) E.T. Delaney (Griqualand West) J.A.J. Francis (Transvaal) Saturday Knight (Transvaal) Septimus Ledger (Griqualand West) L.H. Louw (Western Province) John Luyt (Eastern Province) William Millar (Western Province) Douglas Morkel (Transvaal) W.H. Morkel (Western Province) E.H. Shum (Transvaal) Gerald Thompson (Western Province) T.F. van Vuuren (Eastern Province)

Match summary

Complete list of matches played by the Springboks in Europe:[3]

  Test matches

Captain Douglas Morkel holding the ball, besides him, G. Thompson (left) and S.N. Croje, entering the pitch to play Cornwall in Redruth

England and South Africa teams posing together for their Test match at Twickenham, 4 Jan 1913

#	Date	Opponents	City	Venue	Score
1	1912	Somerset RU	Bath		24–3
2	1912	Devon RU	Exeter		8–0
3	10 Oct 1912	Cornwall	Redruth		15–6
4	12 Oct 1912	Monmouthshire	Pontypool	Recreation Ground	16–0
5	17 Oct 1912	Glamorgan	Cardiff	Cardiff Arms Park	35–3
6	19 Oct 1912	Llanelli RFC	Llanelli	Stradey Park	8–7
7	24 Oct 1912	Newport RFC	Newport	Rodney Parade	3–9
8	1912	London	Blackheath		12–8
9	1912	United Services	Portsmouth		18–16
10	1912	East Midlands	Northampton		14–5
11	6 Nov 1912	Oxford University RFC	Oxford		6–0
12	1912	Midland Counties	Leicester		25–3
13	1912	Cambridge University	Cambridge		24–0
14	1912	London	Blackheath		8–10
15	1912	North of England	Newcastle		17–0
16	23 Nov 1912	Scotland	Inverleith		16–0
17	1912	West of Scotland	Glasgow		38–3
18	30 Nov 1912	Ireland	Dublin	Lansdowne Road	38–0
19	1912	Ulster	Belfast		19–0
20	1912	North of England	Birkenhead	Birkenhead Park	21–8
21	14 Dec 1912	Wales	Cardiff	Cardiff Arms Park	3–0
22	19 Dec 1912	Neath RFC	Neath	The Gnoll	8–3
23	21 Dec 1912	Cardiff RFC	Cardiff	Cardiff Arms Park	7–6
24	26 Dec 1912	Swansea RFC	Swansea	St Helen's Ground	0–3
25	1912	Gloucestershire RU	Bristol		11–0
26	4 Jan 1913	England	London	Twickenham Stadium	9–3
27	11 Jan 1913	France	Bordeaux	Le Bouscat Stadium	38–5

Balance

Pl	W	D	L	Ps	Pc
27	24	0	3	441	101

Match details

Monmouthshire

12 October

Monmouthshire	0–16	South Africa
		Try: Mills (2) F Luyt van Vuuren Con:Wrentmore (2)

Recreation Ground, Pontypool Attendance: 12,000 Referee: TD Schofield (Bridgend, Wales)

Team details

Monmouthshire HA James (Abertillery), W Davies (Brynmawr), J Wetter (Newport), R Plummer (Newport), WJ Thomas (Abertillery), E Marsh (Abertillery), R Lloyd (Pontypool), Rees Thomas (Pontypool), F Talbot (Pontypool), E Stephens (Pontypool), T Davies (Pontypool), F Andrews (Pontypool), J Webb (Abertillery), J Hennessy (Rhymney), J Williams (Newport) South Africa PG Morkel, EE McHardy, WA Krige, FJ Dobbin, MJ Mills, FP Luyt, GM Wrentmore, ET Delaney, EH Shum, SH Ledger, AS Knight, TF van Vuuren, LH Louw, ET Delaney, WA Millar (capt.)

Glamorgan

17 October

Glamorgan RFC	3–35	South Africa
Try: B Lewis		Try: Stegmann (4), Mills, D Luyt, F Luyt, van Vuuren Con: F Luyt Pen: D Morkel Drop: D Luyt

Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 15,000 Referee: AO Jones (Leicester, England)

Team details

Glamorgan P Howells (Penarth), G Heslop(Penarth), T Evans (Cardiff), William Davies (capt.) (Swansea), B Lewis (Swansea), J Rogers (Cardiff), Clem Lewis (Cardiff),W Jenkins (Cardiff), E Mithan (Cardiff), Bob Hayward (Llwynypia), W Hopkins (Aberavon), Harry Hiams (Llanelli), Glyn Stephens (Neath), T Williams (Swansea), T Morgan (Swansea) South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, MJ Mills, FP Luyt, JH Immelman, ET Delaney, TF van Vuuren, WH Morkel, AS Knight, JAJ Francis, G Thompson, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

Llanelli

19 October

Llanelli RFC	7–8	South Africa
Try: J Evans Drop: Hiams		Try: van der Hoff, J Morkel Con: J Morkel

Stradey Park, Llanelli Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Gil Evans (Birmingham, England)

Team details
Llanelli F Rees, J Evans, W Watts, J Owen Davies, E Thomas, L Bennett, D Lloyd, S Phillips, G Evans, R Williams, DM Job, AJ Stacey (capt.), J Morgan, H Hiams, T Williams South Africa JJ Meintjies, EE McHardy, WA Krige, JWH Morkel, FJ Dobbin (capt.), JD McCulloch, EH Shum, SN Cronje, SH Ledger, JAJ Francis, LH Louw, A van der Hoff, JS Braine, JD Luyt, G Thompson

Newport

24 October

Newport RFC	9–3	South Africa
Try: Birt Con:Birt drop: Birt		Try: D Morkel

Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 18,300 Referee: F.C. Potter-Irwin (London, England)

Team details
Newport H Wreford, Billy Geen, Walter Martin capt., J Wetter, Fred Birt, Reg Plummer, Tommy Vile, Jack Beames, J Williams, Harry Wetter, C Anderson, A Bell, R Dibble, Harry Uzzell, AR Williams South Africa JJ Meintjies, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, GM Wrentmore, A van der Hoff, FP Luyt, JH Immelman, ET Delaney, JS Braine, JD Luyt, AS Knight, TF van Vuuren, G Thompson, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

Scotland

23 November

Scotland	0–16	South Africa
		Try: Stegmann (2), McHardy, W H Morkel Con: D Morkel, G Morkel

Inverleith, Edinburgh Attendance: 26,000 Referee: F.C. Potter-Irwin (London, England)

Team details

Scotland Walter Dickson, Walter Sutherland, Alex Angus, AW Gunn, James Pearson, James Boyd, Eric Milroy, Patrick Blair, Lewis Robertson, WDCL Purves, David Howie, David Bain, JMB Scott, J Dobson, FH Turner capt. South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, FJ Dobbin capt., JD Luyt, SH Ledger, G Thompson, TF van Vuuren, JAJ Francis, DFT Morkel, WH Morkel, AS Knight

Ireland

30 November

Ireland	0–38	South Africa
		Try: Stegmann (3), McHardy (3), J Morkel (2), Francis, Millar Con: G Morkel (3), JD Luyt

Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 20,000 Referee: John Dallas (1st half)[4] Fred Gardiner (2nd half) F.C. Potter-Irwin (London, England) [sick]

Team details
Ireland South Africa Ireland CP Stuart, R Watson, GW Holmes, JB Minch, M Abraham, RA Lloyd capt., HM Read, G. S. Brown, RB Burgess, SBB Campbell, H Moore, C Adams, R d'A Patterson, FG Schute, JJ Clune South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, FJ Dobbin, WA Millar capt., SH Ledger, G Thompson, TF van Vuuren, JAJ Francis, DFT Morkel, WH Morkel, AS Knight

Wales

14 December

Wales	0–3	South Africa
		Pen: D Morkel

Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 30,000 Referee: F.C. Potter-Irwin (London, England)

Team details

Wales Bobbie Williams (Cardiff), Billy Geen (Newport), Fred Birt (Newport), Billy Spiller (Cardiff), Reg Plummer (Newport), Horace Thomas (Swansea), Tommy Vile (Newport) (capt.), F Andrews (Pontypool), Rees Thomas (Pontypool), F Perrett (Neath), Glyn Stephens (Neath), Percy Jones (Newport), Harry Wetter (Newport), Bert Hollingdale (Swansea), Johnnie Morgan (Llanelli) South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, FJ Dobbin, JAJ Francis, JD Luyt, AS Knight, TF van Vuuren, G Thompson, WH Morkel, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

Neath

19 December

Neath RFC	3–8	South Africa
Try: Richards		Try: Van der Hoff W Morkel Con: D Morkel

The Gnoll, Neath Attendance: 15,000 Referee: R.G. Smith (Bristol, England)

Team details
Neath G Gethin, H Richards, G Rees, T Owen Jones, T John, F Rees, S Evans, F David (capt.), T Jenkins, F Perrett, W Hopkins, J Pullman, W Davies, G Stephens, TC Lloyd South Africa PG Morkel, A van der Hoff, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, MJ Mills, FP Luyt, JH Immelman, EH Shum, JAJ Francis, ET Delaney, AS Knight, WH Morkel, G Thompson, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

Cardiff

21 December

Cardiff RFC	6–7	South Africa
Try: Spiller Pen: Rogers		Pen: D Morkel Drop: J Morkel

Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: J.H. Miles (Leicester, England)

Team details
Cardiff RF Williams, W Bowen, Billy Spiller (capt.), T Evans, WT Grassmore, Clem Lewis, J Rogers, WJ Jenkins, C Palmer, A Barker, JS Michael, J Birch, F Gaccon, T Mithan, A Green South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, JH Immelman, FJ Dobbin, JAJ Francis, JD Luyt, AS Knight, TF van Vuuren, G Thompson, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

Swansea

26 December

Swansea RFC	3–0	South Africa
Try: Thomas

St. Helen's, Swansea Attendance: 35,000 Referee: James Greenlees (Scotland)

Team details
Swansea D Williams, Howell Lewis, WJ Trew (capt.), T Williams, F Williams, O Jenkins, Sidney Jerram, E Morgan, David John Thomas, B Williams, Tom Morgan, B Hollingdale, G Evans, H Moultan, G Hayward South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, WJ Mills, FP Luyt, FJ Dobbin, SH Ledger, JAJ Francis, JD Luyt, AS Knight, WH Morkel, G Thompson, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

England

4 January

England	3–9	South Africa
Try: Poulton		Try: J Morkel Pen: D Morkel (2)

Twickenham, London Attendance: 29,000 Referee: John Tulloch (Scotland)

Team details

England South Africa England William Johnston, Cyril Lowe, FM Stoop, RW Poulton, VHM Coates, W. J. A. Davies, WI Cheesman, JAS Ritson, Norman Wodehouse, SEJ Smart, JA King, LG Brown, AL Kewney, Jenny Greenwood, CH Pillman South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, RR Luyt, JWH Morkel, EE McHardy, FP Luyt, JD McCulloch, SH Ledger, JAJ Francis, EM Shum, AS Knight, WH Morkel, TF van Vuuren, DF Morkel, WA Millar (capt.)

France

11 January

France	5–35	South Africa
Try: Bruneau Con: André		Try: Francis, Ledger, R Luyt, McHardy (2), D Morkel (2), J Morkel, W Morkel Con: D Morkel (2), J Morkel (2) Pen: D Morkel

Le Bouscat, Gironde Attendance: 20,000 Referee: W. Williams (England)

Team details
France South Africa France FB J Caujolle, G Andre, M Bruneau, J Sentilles, P Jaureguy, A Chatau, M Hedembaigt, P Mauriat, JR Pascarel, H Tilh, P Mouniq, M Leuvielle capt., M Legrain, F Forgues, M Communeau South Africa PG Morkel, JA Stegmann, JWH Morkel, RR Luyt, E McHardy, J Immelman, J McCulloch, D Morkel, T van Vuuren, A Knight, W Morkel, SH Ledger, JAJ Francis, WA Millar capt., J Luyt

Bibliography

• Billot, John (1974). Springboks in Wales. Ferndale, Glamorgan: Ron Jones Publications.

References

1. Billot (1974), p. 70.
2. Billot (1974), p. 71.
3. South Africa tour, 1912-13|Match results on ESPN Scrum
4. https://worldrugbymuseum.blog/2018/05/28/who-was-the-first-substitute-referee/