With the Rugby World Cup 2011 at the knockout stage, it seemed appropriate to have a song with a rugby connection. In 1981 the South African 'Springbok' rugby team toured New Zealand. It influenced violent protests throughout the country for the duration of the tour. South Africa's apartheid policy was isolating them on the world stage and sporting contact was discouraged throughout the world. The newly elected National government had a strong stance against politics in sport and decided to allow the New Zealand Rugby Union to proceed with the tour. The protest movement grew in momentum and the country was suddenly divided in two. There were those who strongly opposed apartheid and could not accept any association with South Africa, particularly in their country... and there were others that didn't agree with politics getting in the way of sport, regardless of their opinion on apartheid. Because of the strength of the protest movement, the police had formed two riot squads and they became the face of the police during the tour.
Sometime in 1980 there was a police raid at the popular Auckland rock/punk venue XS Cafe (although, it wasn't highly publicised) where ska/post punk band 'The Newmatics' were playing. They later released a single "Riot Squad" about that incident in 1981. However, history changed all of that during the Springbok tour and it suddenly found itself as the anthem for the protest movement... and I am sure The Newmatics and Simon Grigg of Propeller Records didn't mind one bit. "Riot Squad" is a great slice of New Zealand history.... and musically, it stands up well today.
!981 Springbok tour footage (The flour bomb plane at Eden Park)
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