Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
historyApr 30, 2026pending

07| Boycott! | Rugby, Rebels and Reconciliation

ABC Rewind

About this episode

In this extra episode Sisonke Msimang tells stories of First Nations Australians, Rugby and the fight to end Apartheid.

When Aboriginal Rugby player Lloyd McDermott refused to declare himself an honorary white for the Wallabies tour of South Africa in 1963 he began a tradition of First Nations Australians using the sport to get under the skin of the country’s regime. But when Glen Ella from the famous Aboriginal Rugby Union playing family joined a Rebel Rugby 7s tour of South Africa in 1985 he broke the sports boycott and almost tore his  family apart.

Then Rugby brought the nation of South Africa together in a magic moment of reconciliation when Nelson Mandela wore the Springboks guernsey at the World Cup. 

Get every episode summarized

Each time ABC Rewind publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

07| Boycott! | Rugby, Rebels and Reconciliation

ABC Rewind

0:00
0:00

More episodes

More from ABC Rewind

View all episodes →