1998 Wales rugby union tour of Africa
The Wales national rugby union team toured southern Africa in June 1998, playing test matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as tour matches against the Emerging Springboks and three of the South African provincial sides.
| 1998 Wales rugby union tour of Africa | |||||
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| Coach(es) | Dennis John | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Rob Howley | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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| Zimbabwe |
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| South Africa |
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Wales head coach Kevin Bowring had resigned at the end of the 1998 Five Nations Championship, and with a replacement yet to be appointed, Dennis John was made caretaker coach ahead of the tour.[1] Prior to the tour, 18 players from Wales made themselves unavailable to participate, while a further 8 picked up injuries during the tour.[2]
Wales won their initial match against Zimbabwe in Harare, before moving on to the second leg of the tour in South Africa. Here they would play four tour matches against representative and provincial opposition and a test match against the Springboks. Wales lost all four of the tour matches, and then were defeated by South Africa in the test match. The final scoreline of 96–13 was the biggest defeat Wales had ever had,[3] and remains so as of 2024.
Squad
Pending the appointment of a replacement for coach Kevin Bowring, who resigned after the 1998 Five Nations Championship, Wales named Pontypridd's Dennis John as their interim coach for the tour of southern Africa. With 16 regular squad members unavailable due to injury, including fly-half Neil Jenkins and centre Scott Gibbs, they named a 30-man squad that included 10 uncapped players[4] A further seven players were injured during the tour, including captain Rob Howley; called up in their place were the likes of Ebbw Vale back rower Kingsley Jones – in what would turn out to be his final Wales call-up – and uncapped Llanelli fly-half Stephen Jones.
Results
Scores and results list Wales's points tally first.
| Opponent | For | Against | Date | Venue | Status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 49 | 11 | 6 June 1998 | Harare | Test match | [5] |
| Emerging Springboks | 13 | 35 | 12 June 1998 | Secunda | Tour match | |
| Border Bulldogs | 8 | 24 | 16 June 1998 | East London | Tour match | |
| Natal Sharks | 23 | 30 | 19 June 1998 | Durban | Tour match | [6] |
| Gauteng Falcons | 37 | 39 | 23 June 1998 | Vanderbijlpark | Tour match | [7] |
| South Africa | 13 | 96 | 27 June 1998 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | Test match | [8] |
Zimbabwe vs Wales
| 6 June 1998 |
| Zimbabwe | 11–49 | Wales |
| Try: Bekker Pen: Tsimba (2) | Report | Try: Hayward (3) Rees (2) A. Thomas (2) Proctor Con: A. Thomas (3) Pen: A. Thomas |
| National Sports Stadium, Harare Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Johnnie Meuwesen (Namibia) |
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Emerging Springboks vs Wales
| 12 June 1998 |
| Emerging Springboks | 35–13 | Wales |
| Try: Daniels (3) Fleck L. Venter Con: Koen (2) Pen: Koen (2) | Try: James Con: Hayward Pen: Hayward (2) |
| Secunda Stadium, Secunda Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Natal) |
Border Bulldogs vs Wales
| 16 June 1998 |
| Border Bulldogs | 24–8 | Wales |
| Try: Heidtmann Van der Walt Con: Bradbrook Pen: Bradbrook (4) | Try: Rees Pen: A. Thomas |
| Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London Referee: Tappe Henning (Northern Transvaal) |
Natal Sharks vs Wales
| 19 June 1998 |
| Natal Sharks | 30–23 | Wales |
| Try: Brink (3) Joubert Con: Joubert (2) Pen: Joubert (2) | Try: A. Thomas Hayward Con: A. Thomas (2) Pen: A. Thomas (3) |
| Kings Park Stadium, Durban Referee: André Watson (Eastern Transvaal) |
Gauteng Falcons vs Wales
| 23 June 1998 |
| Gauteng Falcons | 39–37 | Wales |
| Try: Geyer (2) Strydom Lourens Moyle Booysen Con: Van Straaten (2) Van As Pen: Van Straaten | Try: Funnell Arnold Woodard Taylor Con: Hayward (4) Pen: Hayward (3) |
| Isak Steyl Stadium, Vanderbijlpark Referee: Carl Spannenberg (Western Province) |
South Africa vs Wales
| 27 June 1998 |
| South Africa | 96–13 | Wales |
| Try: Rossouw (3) Montgomery (2) Terblanche (2) Venter (2) Van der Westhuizen Otto Smith Erasmus Skinstad Hendricks Con: Montgomery (9) Pen: Montgomery | Report | Try: A. Thomas Con: A. Thomas Pen: A. Thomas (2) |
| Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 33,633 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand) |
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References
- Howell, Andy (20 June 2014). "'It was like a scene from the film, Zulu!' The inside story of South Africa 96-13 Wales...through the eyes of those who were there". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Orders, Mark (1 April 2020). "The day fuming Colin Charvis turned on his own Wales team-mates". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Godwin, Hugh (27 June 1998). "Rugby Union: Blackest day for the Welsh". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Hewett, Chris (21 May 1998). "Rugby Union: Wales call on John for the short term". The Independent. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- Godwin, Hugh (6 June 1998). "Rugby Union: Hayward launches Wales' tour". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- "Rugby Union: Joubert has final word as Natal ease past Wales". The Independent. 19 June 1998. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- "Rugby Union: Thomas sent off as Wales succumb". The Independent. 23 June 1998. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Osterhuis, Mark (28 June 1998). "Rugby Union: Boks brand Wales as worst in history". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Cleary, Mick, ed. (1999). Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1999-00. Headline. ISBN 0-7472-7531-9.