IT IS "SPRINGBOK"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 175, 11 August 1937, Page 3

IT IS "SPRINGBOK"

How to Pronounce the Word South African Rugby footballers have been known as Springboks from • the tinie of their first visit to Great Britain in the 19U6-07 beason, when the question was asked by a. newspaperman whether these South African footballers, under the captaincy of Paul Roos, had any other name by which they were popularly known. The point was made that the Nbw Zealand team in Great Britain in the previous season had become known as "All Blacks." There being no soltiixiquet for .the South Africans, Springbok was suggested and Sprinbok it has been ever since. Since the arrival in New ZeaJand of the latest South African Rugby representatives, a difterent pronunciation from that invariably used has given rise to some controversy} the point at issue being whether the New Zealand pronunciation of Springbok is correct. ln his first speech at Auckland the captain of the visiting team P. J. Nel, was heard to refer to his footballers as "Springbucks," and, a captain's lead being good enough for anything there are those who have been quick to get "on side." But there is reaily no need for the rush. "Springbok, used in the football sense, is pronounced as it is spelfc. If "Springbuck" were intended, it would be spelt that way. The fact is tha/t the South African gazeile, from which the name comes, is kno'wn as the Springbuck or Springbok, but the alternative has never been applied so far as football is concerned. Springbok is the word.