Des van Jaarsveldt, the oldest living Springbok, has died. He was 96.
Van Jaarsveldt played one Test, in which he was also the captain, in 1960. He led South Africa to an 18-10 victory over Scotland at the Boet Erasmus stadium in what was then Port Elizabeth. He also scored a try.
Van Jaarsveldt was born in what was then Southern Rhodesia. At the time Southern Rhodesia (and later Rhodesia) played in the Currie Cup, and its players were eligible for the Springboks. Other players who were born in Rhodesia and who captained the Springboks include Gary Teichmann and Bobby Skinstad.
The President of SA Rugby, Mark Alexander, said: “Des will not only be remembered as the oldest living Springbok in the last number of years, but he was a leader with a deep love for the game who leaves behind a wonderful legacy. He will not only be remembered for his achievements on the rugby field, but Des was also an accomplished boxer and athlete, and was devoted to assisting and giving back to sport in his native Zimbabwe.”
Van Jaarsveldt believed he had not played more for the Springboks because of pressure from the Broederbond not to select him, as he was a Rhodesian. Despite his surname, Van Jaarsveldt could not speak Afrikaans, and joked about his selection as captain that it was the first time that a Springbok captain had to give his team talk in English. Commenting on his appointment at the time, Die Transvaler said: “It is an evil day for South African rugby when the country has to seek its rugby captain from beyond its borders in the territory of a strange land.”
Van Jaarsveldt had a short-lived political career, unsuccessfully standing for a Senate seat in Zimbabwe on the ticket of Ian Smith’s Republican Front in 1983.
Springbok legend, Frik du Preez, at 89, is now the oldest living Springbok.