 Tobias was a member of the Springbok touring party to South America in October 1980 which was denied visas to enter Argentina.Due to international political pressure to sever cultural and sporting ties with South Africa because of apartheid, the tour was wrapped in secrecy, and matches played against Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile drew crowds as small as one hundred.In 1981 Tobias was selected at centre for the Springboks to play against the touring Irish team.