Kevin de Klerk

Last updated
Kevin de Klerk
Birth nameKevin Brian Henry de Klerk
Date of birth (1950-06-06) 6 June 1950 (age 71)
Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight111 kg (245 lb)
SchoolHill High School, Johannesburg
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Glenwood Old Boys ()
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1971–78, 80–84 Transvaal 108 ()
1979 Natal ()
National team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1974–81 South Africa 13 (0)

Kevin Brian Henry de Klerk (born 6 June 1950 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Youth and Provincial career

De Klerk started his rugby career with Transvaal when he was picked to represent the Transvaal schools team at the annual Craven Week tournament in 1968. De Klerk was again selected for the Schools team in 1969. His playing career with Transvaal continued after school, when he was selected for the under-20 age group team. De Klerk made his provincial first team debut for Transvaal in 1971.

International career

De Klerk made his test debut for the Springboks on 8 June 1974 at Newlands in Cape Town against the touring British Lions team, captained by Willie John McBride. De Klerk played in the second test in the series against the British Lions, but was dropped for the third test and replaced by Moaner van Heerden. [2] In subsequent years it was often a choice between de Klerk and Van Heerden for the number 4 lock position in the Springbok team. [3]

Following the 1974 test series against the British Lions, de Klerk also represent the Springboks against the, 1975 French touring team, the 1976 All Blacks, the 1980 South American Jaguars and British Lions, and the 1981 Irish touring team. De Klerk’s last test match was against Ireland on his 31st birthday, 6 June 1981 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban. De Klerk played 13 test matches for the Springboks. [2]

Test history

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1.British and Irish Lions flag with no Lion.svg  British Lions 3–12 Lock 8 June 1974 Newlands, Cape Town
2. British and Irish Lions flag with no Lion.svg British Lions9–28Lock22 June 1974 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
3. British and Irish Lions flag with no Lion.svg British Lions9–26Reserve13 July 1974 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
4.Flag of France.svg  France 38–25Lock21 June 1975 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
5. Flag of France.svg France33–18Lock28 June 1975Loftus Versveld, Pretoria
6.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 9–15Reserve14 August 1976Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
7. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand15–10Lock4 September 1976Newlands, Cape Town
8. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand15–14Lock18 September 1976 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
9. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars 24–9Lock26 April 1980 Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
10. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars18–9Lock3 May 1980 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
11. British and Irish Lions flag with no Lion.svg British Lions26–19Lock14 June 1980 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
12.IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 23–15Lock30 May 1981Newlands, Cape Town
13. IRFU flag.svg Ireland12–10Lock6 June 1981Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Accolades

De Klerk was named one of the five SA Rugby players of the Year for 1972. The four other players named, were two members of the 1972 England team that toured South Africa, namely Sam Doble and John Pullin, as well as the South African flanker Jan Ellis and future Springbok Carel Fourie. [4]

Rugby administration

Since his playing days and from 2000, De Klerk has served in various executive capacities with the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd. and Ellis Park Stadium (Pty) Ltd. He was elected president of the Golden Lions Rugby Union in July 2009 and held this position until his retirement in August 2018. [5]

See also

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References

  1. "Kevin de Klerk". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  2. 1 2 Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 85–108. ISBN   0140250174. OCLC   36916860.
  3. Greyvenstein, Chris. (1992). Springbok saga : from 1891 to the new beginning (4th ed.). Cape Town: Don Nelson. p. 271. ISBN   1868060950. OCLC   105375255.
  4. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. p. 22. ISBN   0958423148.
  5. "Legendary Lions president calls it a day". Sport. 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2019-10-02.