the 1981 springbok tour, or "the tour", went down as one of the most controversial rugby tours ever. from july to september, the springboks toured new zealand. rugby fans filled the stadiums, yet equal numbers of fans protested the games outside the stadiums. police were divided into red and blue riot squads for the tour, and in preparation for possible trouble, all spectators were told to assemble in sports grounds at least an hour before kickoff. at a game at rugby park in hamilton, around 350 protesters pulled down a fence and invaded the pitch. police, already very worried, pulled the match when they found out a light plane piloted by a protester was headed to fly around the stadium. a protest turned violent in wellington the following week, escalating the situation. during the final test match at eden park, a low flying plane dropped flour bombs over the pitch. a subsequent 1985 all black tour was prevented by the high court, but an unofficial tour took place the following year.