In 1981 a south African rugby tour known in New Zealand as the springbok tour and in south Africa known as rebel tour. There was a opinion to protest across New Zealand and also extended to united states where the south African rugby team continued their tour after departing New Zealand. Apartheid had south Africa had made south Africa an international parish and other countries were strongly discouraged from having sporting contracts with it. Rugby union was and is an extremely popular sport in New Zealand and the south Africa known as Spingbok's were considered to be New Zealand's most formidable opponent's therefore there was a major split in opinion in New Zealand as to whether politic's should influence sport in the way and whether the springboks be allowed to tour.