Salty du Rand
Encyclopedia
Jacobus Abraham Du Rand is a former South African rugby union
footballer. He played numerous times for South Africa
, including on their 1951-52 Grand Slam tour of Europe
, as well as captaining them once against the All Blacks
.
He made his debut for the Springboks in 1949 in a Test against the All Blacks, which was played at Ellis Park
in Johannesburg
. The game was won by South Africa, defeating the New Zealanders 12 to six. South Africa also won the subsequent contest in Durban
, defeating the All Blacks again, nine points to three.
In 1951 he was capped three times for the Springboks, who went on a tour of Europe. The first Test he played in on tour was against Scotland
at Murrayfield
in late November, which the Springboks won 44 points to nil, in which he scored his first try
in a Test. He then played in the 17-5 victory over Ireland
at Lansdowne Road
and the 6 to 3 win over Wales
in Cardiff
.
The tour continued into early 1952, and du Rand was capped in matches against England
at Twickenham
, which the Springboks won 8 to three, and then against France
, which South Africa won 25 to three, and thus, completed a grand slam of Europe.
He was then chosen to play in a four match series against the Wallabies
in 1953, scoring a try in the first Test at Ellis Park, which South Africa won 25 to three. He also scored in the following Test, and played in the two other games as well.
In 1955 the British Lions
came to South Africa. Du Rand played in all four Tests. The following season he was capped twice against the Wallabies, both of which the Springboks won. The tour then continued to New Zealand
, and du Rand captained South Africa against the All Blacks
on July 14 at Carisbrook
. He was capped another three times against the All Blacks, playing his last Test for South Africa on September 1 at Eden Park
. He died in 1979.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He played numerous times for South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, including on their 1951-52 Grand Slam tour of Europe
1951-52 South Africa rugby union tour
The 1951-52 South Africa tour of Britain, Ireland and France was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against the four British Home Nation teams and France. The tour also took in several matches against British, Irish and French club,...
, as well as captaining them once against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
.
He made his debut for the Springboks in 1949 in a Test against the All Blacks, which was played at Ellis Park
Ellis Park Stadium
Ellis Park Stadium, also known because of its sponsorship by The Coca-Cola Company as Coca-Cola Park, is a rugby union and association football stadium in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the country's...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. The game was won by South Africa, defeating the New Zealanders 12 to six. South Africa also won the subsequent contest in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, defeating the All Blacks again, nine points to three.
In 1951 he was capped three times for the Springboks, who went on a tour of Europe. The first Test he played in on tour was against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
at Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
in late November, which the Springboks won 44 points to nil, in which he scored his first try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in a Test. He then played in the 17-5 victory over Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
and the 6 to 3 win over Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
The tour continued into early 1952, and du Rand was capped in matches against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
, which the Springboks won 8 to three, and then against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, which South Africa won 25 to three, and thus, completed a grand slam of Europe.
He was then chosen to play in a four match series against the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in 1953, scoring a try in the first Test at Ellis Park, which South Africa won 25 to three. He also scored in the following Test, and played in the two other games as well.
In 1955 the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
came to South Africa. Du Rand played in all four Tests. The following season he was capped twice against the Wallabies, both of which the Springboks won. The tour then continued to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and du Rand captained South Africa against the All Blacks
1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand
The 1956 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia and New Zealand-Tour itinerary:-Australia First Test:-Australia Second Test:-New Zealand First Test:-New Zealand Second Test:-New Zealand Third Test:-New Zealand Fourth Test:...
on July 14 at Carisbrook
Carisbrook
Carisbrook was a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. The city's main domestic and international rugby union venue, it has also been used for other sports such as cricket, football, rugby league and motocross. Carisbrook has also hosted a Joe Cocker concert and frequently hosted pre-game...
. He was capped another three times against the All Blacks, playing his last Test for South Africa on September 1 at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
. He died in 1979.
External links
- Salty du Rand on the Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame
- Wellington fifty years ago