- 99 call
In
rugby union , the "99" call was a policy of simultaneous retaliation by the1974 British Lions tour to South Africa . The tour was marred by on-pitch violence, which the match officials did successfully control and the relative absence of cameras compared to the modern game made citing and punishment after the fact unlikely.The Lions' Captain,
Willie John McBride therefore instigated a policy of "one in, all in" - that is, when one Lion retaliated, all other Lions were expected to join in the melee or hit the nearest Springbok. Paul Doyle [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0,,1888496,00.html Small talk: PR Williams]The Guardian unlimitedOctober 6 ,2006 ] 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 - no Lions player was sent off during the tour.At the battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium, [Staff. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article834762.ece Sports File: Caught in Time: Lions in South Africa, 1974] ,
The Sunday Times ,24 November ,2002 ] one of the most violent matches in rugby history, [ [http://www.lionsrugby.com/feature9.html Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 13 July 1974] Official Website of the British and Irish Lions] [ George Byron, [http://www.weekendpost.co.za/main/2005/05/14/sport/st01_14052005.htm Recalling those legendary 'Battles of the Boet'] , [http://www.weekendpost.co.za/ Weekend Post]14 May 2005 ] there is famous video footage ofJPR Williams running over half of the pitch and launching himself at Johannes 'Moaner' van Heerden after such a call, [Tom English [http://www.2005lions.net/tour_1974_article_01.shtml Rampant Lions - South Africa 1974] , cites it is a copy an article inThe Sunday Times ,20 May 2001 . Accessed 5 January 2008] something that JPR says he is not proud of.References
External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnPVfbG3rVM A video of the 99 call in action]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EwTel67EdI A video of the build up to a 99 call]
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