Alfred Renfrew Richards was a South African sportsman who represented his country at Test cricket and rugby union. Born in Grahamstown, Cape Colony, and educated at The Leys School in Cambridge, Richards was capped three times for South Africa in rugby, including captaining them once, and made one Test cricket appearance, also as captain.
James Henry "Biddy" Anderson was a South African cricketer and rugby union player who represented South Africa at each sport.
Rugby union in South Africa is a highly popular team sport, along with cricket and soccer, and is widely played all over the country. The national team is among the strongest in the world and has been ranked in at least the top seven of the World Rugby Rankings since its inception in 2003. The country hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and won again in 2007, 2019 and 2023.
Morné du Plessis OIS is a former South African rugby union player often described as one of the Springboks' most successful captains. During the five years from 1975 to 1980 that he served as captain, the Springboks won 13 of 15 matches, giving Du Plessis an 86.66% success rate as captain.
Lieutenant-General Henry James "Kalfie" Martin was a South African military commander.
Francois Louw is a South African former professional rugby union player. A flanker, he played for Western Province, the Stormers and English club Bath. He won 76 international caps for South Africa, and was part of the team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Jan Albertus Jacobus Pickard was a South African rugby union international who played as a lock. Born in Paarl and a product of Stellenbosch University, Pickard made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1951. He was the grandfather of Francois Louw, who also played for Western Province and South Africa. Pickard was selected to represent South Africa on the 1951–52 tour of Great Britain and France, although he was not selected for any of the Test matches. His first appearance in a Test match came in September 1953, against Australia in Durban. South Africa won the game 18–8, this was followed by a further victory over Australia a week later—a 22–9 victory in Port Elizabeth, which Pickard also took part in. The next time Pickard was selected for South Africa was for the 1956 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was selected to play in the second Test of the four match series against New Zealand and played as a number eight in an 8–3 South Africa victory. Pickard made his final appearance for South Africa in August 1958 against France at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. France won the game 9–5, with Pickard playing in his usual position at Lock. Pickard died in Cape Town in May 1998 at the age of 70.
Coenraad Frederik "Popeye" Strydom was a South Africa national rugby union team player. In all, Strydom made six appearances for the Springboks between 1955 and 1958.
George Philip "Butch" Lochner was a South African international rugby union player. He made nine appearances for the Springboks between 1955 and 1958, mostly as a number eight. He also scored two tries during his international career, at a time when tries were worth three points. Lochner, who studied agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch, started playing provincial rugby with Western Province in 1951, before moving to Boland in 1954. He made his international debut for South Africa during the 3rd Test of the 1955 British Lions tour at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria. The match was won by the Lions, giving them a 2–1 lead in the four Test series. He was not selected for the 4th Lions Test, but was included in the squad for the 1956 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He played in all six of the tour Tests, including two victories over Australia. After Australia, the Springboks travelled to New Zealand to compete in a four Test Series. Following a loss in Dunedin and a win in Wellington, the series with the All Blacks was level going into the 3rd Test at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. Lochner, playing as a flanker, scored a try as South Africa lost the match 17–10. New Zealand went on to win the series 3–1. He then played in both Tests of France's 1958 tour. He scored a try in the opening match, a 3–3 draw at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, before making his final appearance as a Springbok in the 2nd Test at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. France won the game to take the series 1–0.
Mauritz Christiaan Willem Egmond "Mosey" van Buuren was a South African international rugby union player who played as a wing.
Marthinus "Oupa" Versfeld was a South African international rugby union player.
Charles "Hasie" Versfeld was a South African international rugby union player. Born in Wynberg, Cape Town, he was educated at Green Point Grammar School before playing provincial rugby for Western Province. Versfeld made his only appearance for South Africa in the 3rd Test of Great Britain's 1891 tour, he played on the wing. His brother, Oupa Versfeld, was also selected to play in the 3rd Test of the series, making the Versfelds the first brothers to represent South Africa. Versfeld died in 1941, in Cape Town, at the age of 74.
William Molteno Bisset was a South African international rugby union player.
Frank Edward Huntingdon Guthrie was an England born South African international rugby union half-back.
Theodore Stratford Samuels was a South African international rugby union player. Born in George, he attended Diocesan College before playing provincial rugby for Griqualand West. He made all three of his Test appearances for South Africa during Great Britain's 1896 tour, making his debut in the 2nd Test of the series. Playing on the wing, Samuels became the first player to score for South Africa in an international, scoring two tries in a 17–8 loss at the Wanderers. Samuels switched to fullback for the remaining two Tests of the series, a loss at Kimberley was followed by a victory at Newlands, South Africa's first as a Test nation. Samuels died by drowning after suffering a severe case of cramp whilst swimming in cold seas. Cape Town, at the age of 23.
James Huskisson Crosby was a South African international rugby union player. Born in Cape Town, he attended SACS before playing provincial rugby for Transvaal. He made his only Test appearance for South Africa during Great Britain's 1896 tour. He played as a forward in the 2nd Test of the series, an 8–17 South Africa loss at the Wanderers Ground. Crosby died in 1960, in Johannesburg, at the age of 86.
Stephen Perry Fry was a South African rugby union player, most often playing as a flanker. Fry played rugby for his home town of Somerset West and provincial rugby for Western Province. He won 13 caps for the South African national team, and captained the country in four matches against the British Lions.
Johannes Daniel "Hannes" Brewis was a South African rugby union player. He was capped for South Africa ten times, and was selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; playing in all five international games of that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals. Brewis represented Northern Transvaal at regional level and is recognised as one of the great South African rugby players of the 1940s and early 1950s.
Dr. Desmond John Sinclair was a South African rugby union centre. Sinclair played club rugby for Wanderers and provincial rugby for Transvaal. He was capped for South Africa four times in 1955, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international game on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
Ryk Arnoldus Mauritius van Schoor was a South African rugby union centre, a crash ball specialist he was known for his hard tackling. Van Schoor played club rugby for Inyazura RFC and provincial rugby for both Western Province and Rhodesia. He was capped for South Africa twelve times between 1949 and 1953 first representing the team against the 1949 touring New Zealand side. He was later selected for the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France. The touring team is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
