This Saturday the Boks arrive at Murrayfield 112 years to the day after they first arrived in Scotland in 1906
However on that historic occasion it was to Glasgow they came and to Hampden Park because there was no stadium in Edinburgh that could accommodate them such was the attraction and reputation of the tourists. A Springbok jersey from that match is on display in the New Anniesland pavilion

It fell to a Kelvinside Academical J Crawford Findlay to make the necessary arrangements with Queens Park FC the owners of Hampden A year earlier Findlay had acquired the use of the same stadium to host the original All Blacks for their tour match against Glasgow
The Springboks had led a triumphant tour until that is they faced Scotland at Hampden Park
The Hampden name had already hosted a Calcutta Cup victory over England some ten years earlier in 1896 albeit at a previous version of Hampden the ground that is known as Cathkin Park where Third Lanark FC played

Richard Robinson Queens Park historian recorded the historic match in the Fifty Year book on Queens Park which was published in 1920

“A Rugby match which had far-reaching results, and became historical in its way, was the great Rugby International between Scotland and South Africa, played 17th November, 1906, on Hampden Park. The Africans had had a most remarkable record since their arrival in this country, and had conquered all opponents until they met their Bannockburn on what was to them the fatal field of Hampden Park. How it was done, and who performed the trick, are worth relating here. The match was played under the auspices of the Scottish Rugby Union, and Mr. J. Crawford Findlay, as representing the Union, considered— so great was the reputation of the Colonials—Hampden Park was the only enclosure capable of holding the attendance anticipated. The all-conquering Springboks were handsomely defeated by six points to nil, in presence of an enormous crowd, for a Rugby match, of 30,000. The Scots from the very beginning more than held their own, and their line was not in danger more than a couple of times during the match. Their success was principally, if not altogether, due to grand forward play, backed up by clever half-back work. The close footwork of the Scottish forwards completely nonplussed their opponents, and the Colonials, who so far had depended mostly on their back divisions, found that the Scots were playing for a forward game. Consequently the backs got little or no opportunity to shine. So vigilant was the tackling of the Scots, no progress could be made by the visitors. Several attempts were almost successful in dropping goals for Scotland, Munro and Walter just missing the posts, while K. G. Macleod, from a penalty, failed by inches. Up to half-time neither had scored. In a few minutes Munro got the ball, and kicked high across the field, where Macleod was alone, and the Cantab was not stopped until he had grounded the ball behind the Colonials' line. M'Callum, who took the place, was unsuccessful in bringing out the major points. From a combined rush by the home forwards, Bedell-Sivright obtained a second try for Scotland, but again M'Callum failed to convert. The Africans made desperate efforts to retrieve their position, but could not, the Scottish forwards maintaining their superiority, and victory remained with Scotland by two tries to nil. It was a sensational game, and K. G. Macleod's try has been spoken of to this day by old Rugbyites, as it brought about the defeat of the unbeaten Springboks, and caused international interest. An event of the first importance, it demonstrated that the South Africans were not invincible. L. L. Greig (Glasgow Academicals) captained this famous Scottish team.”

98 years later in 2004 Scotland returned to Hampden to play Australia

The Boks have played regularly over the years at Old Anniesland against the Combined Cities in 1951 and Scottish Districts in 1994 and then returned in 1999 to use the ground as a training base during the World Cup campaign
In 2014 New Anniesland was the base for the Blitzboks who took Gold at Ibrox in Commonwealth Games Sevens

Let’s hope for a repeat of that Hampden result on Saturday