Jan du Preez

Jan du Preez

du Preez in New Zealand in 1956
Birth name	Jan Gysbert Hermanus du Preez
Date of birth	(1930-10-06)6 October 1930
Place of birth	Piketberg, South Africa
Date of death	19 June 2024(2024-06-19) (aged 93)
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	80 kg (176 lb)
School	Piketberg High School
University	University of Stellenbosch
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) – Maties () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1951–1958 Western Province () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1956 South Africa 1 (0)

Jan Gysbert Hermanus du Preez (6 October 1930 – 19 June 2024) was a South African rugby union player who made one Test match appearance in 1956. ^[1] He was the last surviving member of the 1956 Springboks rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand, dying in June of 2024. ^[2]

Playing career

Du Preez was born in Piketberg and received his schooling at Piketberg High School. He then enrolled at Stellenbosch University to study for a BSc degree and later gained a doctorate in chemistry. ^[3]

While a student, du Preez began playing provincial rugby for Western Province as a centre, before moving to the wing. ^[4] His only Test appearance for South Africa came on the 1956 tour of Australia and New Zealand. He was selected to play in the first Test against the All Blacks at Carisbrook, Dunedin—a match that South Africa lost 10–6. ^[5] Preez died on 19 June 2024, at the age of 93. ^[6]

Test history

No.	Opponents	Results (SA 1st)	Position	Tries	Dates	Venue
1.	New Zealand	6–10	Wing		14 Jul 1956	Carisbrook, Dunedin

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 327

References

1. "Jan du Preez". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
2. "Jan du Preez".
3. Craven, Daniel Hartman (1980). Die groot rugbygesin van die Maties. Kaapstad: G. & S. p. 180. ISBN   0620048794. OCLC   86067195.
4. "1956 SPRINGBOK TOUR of AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND". WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
5. "South Africa tour – Dunedin, 14 July 1956". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
6. "Jan du Preez". bokhist.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.

External links

• Jan du Preez at ESPNscrum