View + 3 Photos A principled stand against the Wallabies 1971 rugby tour of South Africa might have ended James Roxburgh's playing career but he remained philosophical throughout his life. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading $ 0 / $ NaN /year All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The former Goulburn man is being remembered not just for his opposition to apartheid and treatment of the black population, but as a respected and influential teacher with an unconventional streak.
Mr Roxburgh died at his Sydney home on Sunday, August 11, aged seventy-seven. In recent years he had lived with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Wife Carolyn, also a former Goulburn teacher, said James never wallowed in thwarted national rugby potential.
"It was just part of him and he was proud to have been a Wallaby," she said. Mr Roxburgh and six other players pulled out of almost certain selection in the team's 1971 Springbok tour. Their views were forged in the Wallabies 1969 tour of South Africa where they witnessed firsthand the black population's treatment.
Carolyn said James was his harshest personal critic and felt he should have done more beforehand. "The exposure certainly made him extremely aware of the injustice of the system," she said. "It was always going to result in him refusing to play.
It effectively ended his r.