Birth name | George Lionel van Reenen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 29 March 1914 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Darling, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 12 November 1967 53) | (aged||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Maritzburg College, Stellenbosch Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
George Lionel van Reenen (29 March 1914 – 12 November 1967) was a South African rugby union player. [1]
Van Reenen played provincial rugby for the Western Province in the South African Currie Cup competition. He was a member of the 1937 Springbok touring team to Australia and New Zealand and played his first test matches for South Africa on 17 July 1937 against the Wallabies at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He played in one further test, the first of the three test matches in the test series victory over New Zealand. [2]
The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.
The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks, is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem is the Springbok, a native antelope and the national animal of South Africa. The team has represented South African Rugby Union in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Currently, the Springboks are the top-ranked rugby team in the world and reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup a record four times. South Africa have won half of the Rugby World Cups they have participated in and are also the second nation to win the World Cup consecutively.
Daniël Hartman Craven was a South African rugby union player (1931–1938), national coach, national and international rugby administrator, academic, and author. Popularly known as Danie, Doc, or Mr Rugby, Craven's appointment from 1949 to 1956 as coach of the Springboks signalled "one of the most successful spells in South African rugby history" during which the national team won 74% of their matches. While as a player Craven is mostly remembered as one of rugby's greatest dive-passing scrumhalves ever, he had also on occasion been selected to play for the Springboks as a centre, fly-half, No.8, and full-back. As the longest-serving President of the South African Rugby Board (1956–93) and chairman of the International Rugby Board, Craven became one of the best-known and most controversial rugby administrators. In 1969, Craven sparked outrage among anti-apartheid activists when he allegedly said, "There will be a black springbok over my dead body". Craven denied saying this and in his later career promoted coloured training facilities.
John William Smit, OIS, is a South African former professional rugby union player and former chief executive officer of the Sharks. He was the 50th captain of the Springbok rugby union team and led the team to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played most of his senior career as a hooker, but also won 13 caps as a prop, where he had also played for South Africa's under-21 team. He retired from international rugby following the 2011 Rugby World Cup as the most-capped South African player ever, with 111 appearances.
Frederick George Turner was a South African rugby union international who represented his country in 11 Tests. Sometimes his name is given as "Freddie" Turner.
Johannes Jacobus Strydom was a South African rugby union player who played as a lock. He earned 21 caps for the South Africa national rugby union team between 1993 and 1997.
Gerhard Hamilton Brand was a Springbok rugby union footballer who played in 16 tests between 1928 and 1938. Brand has been described as the best kicker of his era, as well as a "magnificent defensive player" with a "wonderful tackle". According to Guinness World Records he executed the longest drop goal in rugby union to date. Brand's 55 test career points for the Springboks set a 27-year record (1938–65), which was eventually surpassed by Keith Oxlee.
The History of the South Africa national rugby union team dates back to 1891, when the British Lions first toured South Africa where they played against South African representative sides. The South Africa national rugby union team played few international matches during a period of international sanctions due to apartheid. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has once again fully participated in international rugby.
In 1992, the South Africa Springboks played a rugby union test match against the New Zealand All Blacks, which later became known as the Return Test. The match was played at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on 15 August 1992. It was named as the Return Test as it was South Africa's first test match since the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) had banned them due to apartheid.
Jan Theodorus Jansen van Rensburg is a former South African rugby union player who played for the South Africa national rugby union team. He played as fullback.
Philip "Flippie" Rudolph van der Merwe is a South African former rugby union player who played six test matches for the South Africa national rugby union team from 1981 to 1989.
William Eberhardt Bastard, also known as Ebbo Bastard, was a South African rugby union player from Kokstad, Natal. He predominantly played as a flanker and played for Natal and the South Africa national rugby union team. On 14 February 1949 he was shot dead by his wife's ex-husband.
James White was a rugby union player who played for the Springboks. Born in Queenstown, he was educated at Queen's College where he played for the school's 1st XV Rugby team.
The 2021 Rugby Championship was the ninth series of the annual southern-hemisphere competition, involving Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Springboks returned to the tournament after a year out in 2020 due to South African government travel restrictions and player welfare and safety concerns related to COVID-19. The tournament returned to its normal window of August, kicking-off on 14 August and concluding on 2 October.
Lukas Cornelius Strachan was a South African rugby union international.
Jan Willem Lotz was a South African rugby union player.
Mauritz Albertus van den Berg was a South African rugby union player.
Daniël Ferdinand van de Vyver also known as "Vandie", was a South African rugby union player.
George Philip "Flappie" Lochner was a South African rugby union player.