Sir Bryan Williams - altering rugby history

Today, Pasifika players are commonplace in the All Blacks, and rugby in general. But that hasn't always been the case. During Sir Bryan Williams' time there were cultural barriers.

The year was 1970 when a shy, 19-year-old Bryan Williams was selected to play for The All Blacks. It was an exciting and daunting time.

"I was selected alongside many of my heroes - Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Malcolm Dick, and a whole array of top players who I'd spent the 1960s absolutely idolising, and then suddenly I was selected alongside them, so I was terrified," Williams recalls.

"Coming into the All Blacks, you're always under pressure. There's the expectation that you live up to what the jersey stands for."

Williams was only just getting used to the spotlight in his rookie year, when he was selected for a three-month tour to play against the Springboks in apartheid-era South Africa.

While Williams was not the first Pasifika player to join the All Blacks - Walter Batty, and brothers Frank and Dave Solomon came well before him - Williams would be the first to travel there, but not without some anxiety leading up to the tour.

The system of apartheid, which translates as 'apartness' in Afrikaans was built on a legislation of separatism and racial segregation under a white-led National Government.

Formally coming into law in 1950, apartheid kept those of black and coloured skin completely separate from whites in the public domain. Designated areas were set up on the basis of skin colour.

'Whites Only' signs would be seen hanging in shop windows, on park benches, at entrance ways to cafes and restaurants, and even access ways to beaches.

Interracial marriages were banned and all South Africans were classified into four groups - black, coloured (mixed race), white, and later, Asian (for Pakistanis and Indians).

Previously, in 1960 Māori All Blacks were banned from touring to South Africa and New Zealanders were signing petitions opposing the exclusion and the tour.

Ten years later, Williams and the three Māori players - Sid Going, Buff Milner and Blair Furlong - would be admitted under a special pass, giving them what was referred to as 'honorary white status.'

But what did the pass look like in reality?

Williams says there was no formal piece of paper involved in the process and that it was all a bunch of nonsense.

"I knew what I was and the Māori boys knew what they were, and if someone wanted to give us a silly label, good luck to them," says Williams.

But once the team touched down in Johannesburg any fears or anxiety quickly dissipated. And when Williams was back in his comfort zone on the field; South Africa would set the scene for this new player of 'dark blood' to become a rugby super star.

In South Africa, he scored 14 tries in 13 appearances, including his first test.

Black South Africans were allocated seats only at the ends of the grounds. But Williams says it proved advantageous for the crowd who were supporters of him and his Māori team mates.

"When we were able to score tries in front of our fans they absolutely loved it, so it was great," Williams says.

Being of mixed race and playing in South Africa meant a lot to this Aucklander, who would later become known as one of the greatest wings in rugby history.

At the forefront of his mind was not only focusing on the game, but also acknowledging that he was in part representing the black and coloured people of South Africa, and he hoped that being there would illustrate to them that it was possible to compete at the top level.

"I think they took us to their hearts - we were perhaps their favourites," Williams says.

"I have always felt that by going to South Africa in 1970, the three Maori boys and myself helped to create a bit of a chink in the arm of apartheid."

Listen to the podcast to find out more about Sir Bryan Williams rugby history, and why he continues to advocate for Pasifika players and the importance of Moana Pasifika to the world of rugby.