Did you know? South Africa played their first test in 1891 in Port Elizabeth against the British Isles, and lost 0-4; Percy Montgomery is the first and so far only Springbok to have played in 100 tests. He retired in 2008 after a record 102 tests and 893 points in the Springbok jersey; Ten sets of fathers and sons have played for South Africa, the most recent being Hennie and Andries Bekker; The wives of twelve Springboks have represented South Africa in other sports, the most recent being swimmer Hannelie du Randt, wife of Os. This book brings you everything there is to know about the famous team, from the very first match played to the present. The authors' meticulous research reveals records and facts never published before, while they also recount the popular stories involving South African rugby down the years. Tables, notes, facts and statistics make this book a treasure trove of everything a rugby fan will want to know about the Springbok team: the players, heritage, disasters and triumphs.

The Extraordinary Book of South African Rugby will hook any rugby fanatic. Packed with facts, stats, quotes and anecdotes, from the comical to the controversial, this collection celebrates the rich history of South African rugby. This extraordinary book will run fans through the most enthralling stories to come out of South African rugby, including: How Manie Reyneke was late for his wedding reception after playing a club semi-final; the 90-metre penalty by Oostelikes; how the first Springboks to travel by plane limped over the ocean on three engines; how Kimberley travelled 60 hours by mule wagon on their first tour to Cape Town; how Springbok Andy MacDonald killed a lion with his bare hands; the spectator tackle that cost Western Province the Currie Cup; Paul Roos' weekly 260 km cycle to Pretoria to play club rugby.

Forty years ago, a South African rugby tour in the United States became a crucial turning point for the nation’s burgeoning protests against apartheid and a test of American foreign policy. In Flashpoint: How a Little-Known Sporting Event Fueled America's Anti-Apartheid Movement, Derek Charles Catsam tells the fascinating story of the Springbok’s 1981 US tour and its impact on the country’s anti-apartheid struggle. The US lagged well behind the rest of the Western world when it came to addressing the vexing question of South Africa’s racial policies, but the rugby tour changed all that. Those who had been a part of the country’s tiny anti-apartheid struggle for decades used the visit from one of white South Africa’s most cherished institutions to mobilize against both apartheid sport and the South African regime more broadly. Protestors met the South African team at airports, chanted outside their hotels, and courted arrests at matches, which ranged from the bizarre to the laughable, with organizers going to incredible lengths to keep their locations secret. In telling the story of how a sport little appreciated in the United States nonetheless became ground zero for the nation’s growing anti-apartheid movement, Flashpoint serves as a poignant reminder that sports and politics have always been closely intertwined.

This fact-filled handbook will: • Give you information on all past Rugby World Cup encounters • Amaze your mates with Springbok statistics past and present • Provide you with hours of entertaining reading • Help the Bokke win the next World Cup! Okay, the last point might be an exaggeration. But The Springbok Handbook does contain everything there is to know about our team, from the very first match played in 1891 to the present. It's all here, everything you wanted to know about the 'Bokke' - including a special section on the World Cup.

This miscellany explores the fascinating and enigmatic world of Sherlock Holmes, his place in literary history and how he has become the iconic, timeless character who is loved by millions. Contains facts, trivia and quotes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary stories, the reader can also explore the often weird and wonderful characters who graced Conan Doyle’s pages. Do you know the difference between a Penang Lawyer and a Tide-Waiter? And if you think a ‘life preserver’ is a cork-filled flotation device, how does Wilson Kemp fit one into the sleeve of his jacket? The Sherlock Holmes Miscellany is light-hearted and highly informative, and perfect for both the Sherlock aficionado and those new to the world of 221B Baker Street.