Code 99

Rugby term to remember: Code 99. Scary when you know it. Scarier if you've seen it. Much scarier if you're in it.

Article from Wikipedia.org:

"In rugby union, the "99" call was a policy of simultaneous attack by the Lions during their 1974 tour to South Africa. The tour was marred by on-pitch violence, which rugby historians partly blame on the tensions of the era which included violence in Vietnam, Ireland, England and Apartheid era South Africa.

Lions' captain Willie John McBride instigated a policy of "one in, all in" - that is, when one Lion attacked, all other Lions were expected to join in the melee or hit the nearest Springbok. By doing so, the referee would be unable to identify any single instigator and so would be left with the choice of sending off all or none of the team. In this respect, the "99" call was extremely successful, as no Lions player was sent off during the tour.

Many players involved in this match called the 'Battle of the Boet' (named after the venue - the Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) have since admitted this was a regrettable 'lowlight' in their careers. Dr Hannes Marais, the captain of the Springbok side has stated the misrepresentation and vilification of South Africans of the time was unfortunate although understandable and had little factual basis on a player to player level. Many critics refer to this match as the dirtiest game in the history of rugby union while it also marks the beginning of ostracism of Apartheid on the sportsfield internationally.

Some argue the Battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium was a precursor to the sentiments that boiled over on the 1981 New Zealand tour. There is famous video footage of J.P.R. Williams running over half of the pitch and launching himself at Johannes van Heerden after such a call, something that Williams says he is not proud of."



So far, I use Code 99 to describe wide scale violence on the pitch. It happens at times and not always pretty to look at. Especially when it goes like the one below.