Anthony Abrahams AM

Anthony Abrahams played in the Australian Rugby team between 1967 and 1969. After deepening his knowledge of apartheid South Africa during the three-month Wallaby rugby tour of 1969, where he attracted the attention of the South African authorities for the depth of his inquiry, he declared his opposition to the continuation of sporting ties between Australia and South Africa. Coming directly after the end of the tour, his leading letter in the Australian press played a significant role in adding impetus to the incipient rumbles about Australia’s ties with apartheid sport in South Africa. 

After authoring further letters and being quoted in numerous press statements reinforcing his opposition, Anthony returned to Australia in 1971 to spearhead a stand, by seven Wallabies - himself, Jim Boyce, Paul Darveniza, James Roxburgh, Terry Foreman, the late Barry McDonald and the late Bruce Taafe - in support of the campaign to ban the South African Rugby and Cricket tours of that year.   

Anthony’s campaign tour took in all Australian mainland states and ultimately contributed, with the support of the other six Wallabies, to the cancellation of the South African Cricket Tour by the Sir Don Bradman-led Australian Cricket Board in mid-1971. The stand of the Seven Wallabies took place alongside the general “Stop the Tours Campaign”. The group of Seven Wallabies have ever since been recognised for their stand. Anthony Abrahams’ principal role in the stand was mentioned in the background bio to his recent award of an AM. 

Anthony Abrahams has maintained a strong commitment to Human Rights and Rule of law issues and writes on these subjects at various times. Much of his career as a lawyer has taken place in France where he was a partner in an international law firm. He returned to Australia in 1997 and lives in Sydney.