# 1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand

The 1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, more commonly known in New Zealand as the 1956 Springboks tour was a series of rugby union matches played by South Africa in Australia and New Zealand. The Springboks won 21 matches of 29, drew 1, and lost 7. They played 6 Test matches, with two victories over Australia and one over New Zealand. The New Zealand leg of their trip was the primary focus of the tour—23 of their 29 matches were in New Zealand, which included a four Test match series against New Zealand.

## Matches in Australia

    Scores and results list South Africa's points tally first.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score |
| 1 | 15 May | Australian Capital Territory | Canberra | Won | 41–6 |
| 2 | 19 May | New South Wales | Sydney | Won | 29–9 |
| 3 | 22 May | New South Wales Country | Tamworth | Won | 15–8 |
| 4 | 26 May | Australia | SCG, Sydney | Won | 9–0 |
| 5 | 29 May | Queensland | Brisbane | Won | 47–3 |
| 6 | 2 June | Australia | Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | Won | 9–0 |

## Matches in New Zealand

    Scores and results list South Africa's points tally first.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score |
| 7 | 9 June | Waikato | Rugby Park, Hamilton | Lost | 10–14 |
| 8 | 13 June | North Auckland | Okara Park, Whangārei | Won | 3–0 |
| 9 | 16 June | Auckland | Eden Park, Auckland | Won | 6–3 |
| 10 | 20 June | Manawatu / Horowhenua | Showgrounds, Palmerston North | Won | 14–3 |
| 11 | 23 June | Wellington | Athletic Park, Wellington | Won | 8–6 |
| 12 | 27 June | Poverty Bay / East Coast | Rugby Park, Gisborne | Won | 22–0 |
| 13 | 30 June | Hawke's Bay | McLean Park, Napier | Won | 20–8 |
| 14 | 4 July | Nelson / Marlborough / Golden Bay-Motueka | Trafalgar Park, Nelson | Won | 41–3 |
| 15 | 7 July | Otago | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Won | 14–9 |
| 16 | 14 July | New Zealand | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Lost | 6–10 |
| 17 | 18 July | South Canterbury / Mid Canterbury / North Otago | Fraser Park, Timaru | Won | 20–8 |
| 18 | 21 July | Canterbury | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | Lost | 6–9 |
| 19 | 25 July | West Coast-Buller | Victoria Square, Westport | Won | 27–6 |
| 20 | 28 July | Southland | Rugby Park, Invercargill | Won | 23–12 |
| 21 | 31 July | Wairarapa / Bush | Solway Park, Masterton | Won | 19–8 |
| 22 | 4 August | New Zealand | Athletic Park, Wellington | Won | 8–3 |
| 23 | 8 August | Wanganui / King Country | Spriggins Park, Wanganui | Won | 36–16 |
| 24 | 11 August | Taranaki | Rugby Park, New Plymouth | Drew | 3–3 |
| 25 | 18 August | New Zealand | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | Lost | 10–17 |
| 26 | 22 August | New Zealand Universities | Athletic Park, Wellington | Lost | 15–22 |
| 27 | 25 August | New Zealand Maori | Eden Park, Auckland | Won | 37–0 |
| 28 | 28 August | Bay of Plenty / Thames Valley | A & P Showgrounds, Rotorua | Won | 17–6 |
| 29 | 1 September | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland | Lost | 5–11 |

## Test Matches
### Australia first Test

* 26 May 1956
| Australia | 0–9 | South Africa |
| | | (3 – 1t) Retief (3 – 1t) Nel (3 – 1pg) Viviers |
* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 36,000 Referee: R. Vanderfield

### Australia second Test

* 2 June 1956
| Australia | 0–9 | South Africa |
| | | (3 – 1t) Retief (3 – 1t) Dryburgh (3 – 1dg) van Vollenhoven |
* Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Attendance: 22,000 Referee: T. Moore

### New Zealand first Test

* 14 July 1956
| New Zealand | 10–6 | South Africa |
| Jarden (3 – 1t) White (3 – 1t) Jarden (4 – 2c) | | (3 – 1t) Howe (3 – 1pg) Dryburgh |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 40,000 Referee: F. G. M. Parkinson

### New Zealand second Test

* 4 August 1956
| New Zealand | 3–8 | South Africa |
| Brown (3 – 1t) | | (3 – 1t) du Rand (3 – 1t) Retief (2 – 1c) Viviers |
* Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 50,000 Referee: F. G. M. Parkinson

### New Zealand third Test

* 18 August 1956
| New Zealand | 17–10 | South Africa |
| Dixon (3 – 1t) Jarden (3 – 1t) White (3 – 1t) Clarke (8 – 1c, 2pg) | | (3 – 1t) Lochner (3 – 1t) Rosenberg (4 – 2c) Viviers |
* Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 51,000 Referee: W. H. Fright

### New Zealand fourth Test

* 1 September 1956
| New Zealand | 11–5 | South Africa |
| Jones (3 – 1t) Clarke (8 – 1c, 2pg) | | (3 – 1t) Dryburgh (2 – 1c) Viviers |
* Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 62,240 Referee: W. H. Fright

## Squad

* Manager: D.H. Craven
* Assistant Manager: D. de Villiers
* Captain: S.S. Viviers No Caps (Orange Free State)
* Vice-Captain: J. du Rand 15 Caps (Northern Transvaal)
| Position | Name | Caps | Club |
| Full Back | J.U. Buchler | 9 | Transvaal |
| Full Back | S.S. Viviers Captain | 0 | Orange Free State |
| Three-Quarter | K.T. van Vollenhoven | 4 | Northern Transvaal |
| Three-Quarter | P.G. Johnstone | 5 | Transvaal |
| Three-Quarter | R.G. Dryburgh | 3 | Natal |
| Three-Quarter | J. du Preez | 0 | Western Province |
| Three-Quarter | W. Rosenberg | 3 | Transvaal |
| Three-Quarter | P.E. Montini | 0 | Western Province |
| Three-Quarter | A.I. Kirkpatrick | 1 | Griqualand West |
| Three-Quarter | J.J. Nel | 0 | Western Province |
| Half-Back | C.A. Ulyate | 3 | Transvaal |
| Half-Back | B.F. Howe | 0 | Border |
| Half-Back | B.D. Pfaff | 0 | Western Province |
| Half-Back | T.A. Gentles | 3 | Western Province |
| Half-Back | C.F. Strydom | 1 | Orange Free State |
| Forward | H.P.J. Bekker | 9 | Northern Transvaal |
| Forward | A.C. Koch | 15 | Boland |
| Forward | P.S. du Toit | 0 | Western Province |
| Forward | H.N. Walker | 1 | Western Transvaal |
| Forward | A.J. van der Merwe | 3 | Boland |
| Forward | M. Hanekom | 0 | Boland |
| Forward | J. du Rand Vice-Captain | 15 | Northern Transvaal |
| Forward | J.T. Claassen | 4 | Western Transvaal |
| Forward | C.J. de Nysschen | 0 | Natal |
| Forward | J.A.J Pickard | 2 | Western Province |
| Forward | C.J. van Wyk | 10 | Transvaal |
| Forward | D.S.P. Ackermann | 3 | Western Province |
| Forward | C.J de Wilzem | 0 | Orange Free State |
| Forward | G.P. Lochner | 1 | Western Province |
| Forward | D.F. Retief | 3 | Northern Transvaal |