2x 1981 Ireland rugby tour to South Africa programmes to incl programme - to incl versus South Africa Gazelles 1st match played in South Africa and versus South Africa Country B – both overall (VG) and v Canada 2009 (A) (3) Note Ireland embarked on their first tour to South Africa after twenty-years. Despite condemnation from political and ecclesiastical sources, the IRFU honoured their promise to undertake a seven match tour against multiracial sides and included twelve uncapped players as well as half a dozen former British and Irish Lions in the touring party.