Wynand Claassen

Last updated

Birth nameWynand Claassen
Date of birth (1951-01-16) 16 January 1951 (age 73)
Place of birth Schweizer-Reneke
SchoolMiddelburg High School, Mpumalanga
University University of Pretoria
University of Natal
Notable relative(s)George Claassen (father)
Antonie Claassen (son)
Occupation(s)Architect
Rugby union career
Position(s) No. 8
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1976–80 University of Pretoria ()
1981–85 University of Natal ()
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Northern Transvaal 61 ()
- Natal ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1981–82 Springboks 7 (0)
Correct as of 6 July 2023
Coaching career
YearsTeam
1986–89 University of Natal

Wynand Claassen (born 16 January 1951, in Schweizer-Reneke) is a former South African rugby player and Springbok captain. [1]

Contents

Playing career

He was selected as eighth-man for Northern Transvaal whilst studying architecture at the University of Pretoria in the late 1970s. He formed a loose-trio with Thys Lourens and Burger Geldenhuys and soon had two Currie Cup final victories, in 1975 and 1977. [2]

In 1980 he moved to Natal and was selected for the Springboks in 1981, captaining the team on his debut against Ireland. Despite Natal's relegation to the Currie Cup B section at the end of 1981 he continued as Springbok captain until 1984. [3] He played seven test matches for the Springboks, all as captain and also played in six tour matches, scoring two tries. [4]

Claassen is credited with reviving rugby at the University of Natal, both as a player and later as a coach. In 1988 he coached the Durban campus of the University of Natal to the Moor Cup title.

Test history

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1.IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 23–15 Number 8 (c)30 May 1981 Newlands, Cape Town
2.IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 12–10Number 8 (c)6 June 1981 Kings Park Stadium, Durban
3.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 24–12Number 8 (c)29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington
4.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 22–25Number 8 (c)12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland
5.Flag of the United States.svg  United States 38–7Number 8 (c)20 September 1981Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York
6. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars 50–18Number 8 (c)27 March 1982 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
7. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars12–21Number 8 (c)3 April 1982 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Springbok captain

In 1981 he earned international acclaim as captain during the infamous "Rebel Tour" in New Zealand. [3]

Political influence in South African Rugby

Since retiring from the sport, he has maintained an active role in South African Rugby across the spectrum. He is often invited to the Captain's Table at various fund raising events.

He has also earned great respect through his active involvement along with other Springbok captains supporting AfriForum's memorandum against political interference and racial discrimination in rugby.

On 12 August 2008, Wynand Claassen and a delegation of former Springbok captains met with the South African Rugby Union as part of their campaign to express concerns and lobby against the use of race to determine team selection.

In this meeting they expressed their intent to send a memorandum to the International Rugby Board. They assert that racial discrimination in sport and team selection is in conflict with international sporting regulations.

Autobiography

His autobiography, "More Than Just Rugby" was published in 1985.

Social Appearances

Wynand Claassen was an honorary host on the Amabokoboko Blue Train which departed in June 2009 on a rare and distinguished journey from Pretoria. He played host to exclusive guests en route to watch the Springboks vs the British & Irish Lions in their first test match in Durban.

Architect

Claassen is also an architecture graduate and occasional artist. In a Sunday Times interview with Jani Allan he described his passion for architecture: "I'm very interested in old architecture – I think it's a great pity that beautiful buildings that are part of our heritage are torn down to make way for great glass boxes." A self-portrait also accompanied the column. [5]

Personal

His father was George Claassen, a schoolmaster from Middelburg Hoërskool and winner of the 1961 Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

Gary Hamilton Teichmann is a retired South African professional rugby union player. He played number eight and captained the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Bulls</span> South African rugby team

The Blue Bulls is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship. They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province.

Louis Christiaan Moolman was a Northern Transvaal and Springboks Rugby Union player. He was born in Pretoria, South Africa and went to school at Hoërskool Verwoerdburg. He played in the lock position.

Durban High School is a public English medium high school for boys situated in the suburb of Musgrave in Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourie du Preez</span> Rugby player

Petrus Fourie du Preez is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played as a scrum half for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition and the Bulls in Super Rugby between 2002 and 2011, and for Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath between 2011 and 2016. He represented South Africa between 2004 and 2015, winning 76 caps, playing in three Rugby World Cup tournaments, and winning the 2007 competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wynand Olivier</span> South Africa international rugby union player

Wynand Olivier is a former South African professional rugby union player.His usual position was at centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharks (Currie Cup)</span> South African rugby team

The Sharks are a South Africa rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The Sharks are the current representative team of the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union and they draw some of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. For most of their history, the team was known simply as 'Natal', with a nickname of 'The Banana Boys' or Piesangboere in Afrikaans, until the mid-1990s when they were re-branded as the Sharks.

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.

André Johan Joubert is a former South African rugby union player, widely known as "The Rolls-Royce of Fullbacks" for his pace, class, and seemingly effortless style. He was capped 34 times at fullback for the Springboks in the 1990s, and amassed 115 test points from 10 tries, 17 penalties and 7 conversions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Botha</span> South Africa dual-code international rugby player

Gary van Ginkel Botha is a former rugby union player, that professionally played as a hooker between 2002 and 2013. He spent the majority of his career at his home-town team the Blue Bulls and their affiliated Super Rugby team the Bulls, but he also had spells at the Sharks, at English side Harlequins and at French Top 14 side Toulouse. He also played in 12 test matches for South Africa from 2005 to 2007.

Jongikhaya Lutric Nokwe is a South African former rugby union player who played as a winger.

Jan Hendrik Ellis was a South African rugby union player who represented the Springboks in 38 tests, which at his retirement in 1976 was a record. His 7 test tries equalled Ferdie Bergh's record for forwards and were only surpassed in 1997 by Mark Andrews' 12 tries. Playing on the flank, Ellis was instantly recognisable on the field due to his red hair and uncompromising playing style. Among three Springboks invited to participate in the first unofficial rugby sevens world cup in 1973, he was ranked in 2003 as the 12th greatest Springbok of all time.

Marthinus Theunis Steyn 'Theuns' Stofberg was a South African rugby union player who was captain of the national team for four tests between 1980 and 1984. He is remembered for his speed and his size, both remarkable for a flank at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonie Claassen</span> France international rugby union player

Antonie Delport Claassen is a French and South African rugby union player. His position is Flanker and he currently plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14. He began his career with Blue Bulls in his native South Africa before moving to CA Brive in 2006. His father, Wynand Claassen was a South African international and Springboks captain in 1981–82. Claassen made his debut for France in the 2013 Six Nations Championship, qualifying on residency grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Oxlee</span> Rugby player

Keith Oxlee was a South African rugby union player who represented South Africa in 19 tests between 1960 and 1965. He amassed 88 career test points, breaking Gerry Brand's 27-year-old South African record and setting one that stood for 20 years until it was surpassed by Naas Botha.

Hanyani Masana Shimange is a former professional rugby union player. His position of choice was hooker, but he played one game for the Springboks at flank.

Dean Bradley Hall is a South African former professional rugby player. He played on the wing. He played the majority of his career for the Johannesburg based teams, the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup and the Cats in Super Rugby. Later in his career he moved to Durban and played for the Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Natal Wildebeest in the Vodacom Cup and the Sharks in Super Rugby. He was also capped thirteen times for the Springboks and scored four test tries. His career was hampered with injury and he never reached his full potential. He was quite large for a wing, but in the wake of Jonah Lomu's sensation at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, it was hoped that Dean Hall would become the Springbok's massive wing.

Cecil "Bill" Payn, born in Harding, Colony of Natal, was a Springbok rugby player. He matriculated at Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He played as a flanker. He was more commonly known as "Bill". He died in Durban, Natal, South Africa.

Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm "Edrich" Krantz is a former South African rugby union player.

Andrew Douglas Aitken is a South African former rugby union player.

References

  1. "Wynand Claassen". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  2. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. MWP Media Sport. pp. 142, 176. ISBN   0958423148.
  3. 1 2 Greyvenstein, Chris. (1995). Springbok rugby : an illustrated history : the proud story of South African rugby from 1891 to the 1995 World Cup. Cape Town: Sable Media. pp. 214–233. ISBN   0958406227. OCLC   35978057.
  4. Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 107–114. ISBN   0140250174. OCLC   36916860.
  5. Allan, Jani (1980s). Face Value . Longstreet.
  6. "George Claassen, Oldest Comrades Marathon Champion, Has Died at 97". LetsRun.com. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Springbok captain
1981–1982
Succeeded by