South African Rugby League Players Info. Required

Just had an e.mail sent to the site (see Below) if anyone has any info.? can they e.mail me ron@wiganworld.co.uk
Thanks

I was referred to your forum by Bilko of Wigan Rugby League Fans Forum. I am a current member of the board of South African Rugby League and tasked with compiling a database of all former South African Rugby League players in the UK and Australia between the years 1895 – 1995 as part of our Rugby League Pioneer Project and Roll of Honour. Information at my disposal indicated that quite a number of former South Africans spent their time with Wigan and also became an intimate part of Wigan society. I have obtained usefull statistics from the club and fan forum. Photographs are however in short supply. Details about the post rugby careers of most players are also sketchy. I am therefore in urgent need of information , photograps or any other information about the following players:

· Attie van Heerden

· Tank van Rooyen

· Carl Burger

· David Booysen

· Nicholas van Heerden

· Constant van der Spuy

· Rob Louw

· Nick du Toit

· Green Vigo

· Andre Stoop

· Ray Mordt

· Fred Griffiths

· Bill Oliver

· Tommy Gentles

· Any other

Due to the repression of rugby league as a code, information is really hard to come by. Your assistance would also assist South African Rugby League in writing its full history. Proper acknowledgement of all contributions will be given.



Thanking you in anticipation.

tom van vollenhoven.

trevor lake.

Ron, I've just sent you an e-mail. Elmos, I was also pondering over Trevor Lake but I think he was from Rhodesia. Also Andre Stoop I think was a Namibian.

Beware, there are lots of viruses around at the moment - just avoid clicking on any links. 'Teaching grandmother to suck eggs' - possibly but there are some folks out there who are probably not as aware about what some some nasty individuals will do to wreck your computer.
Is this a genuine request??

Jan Prinsloo played with Tom van Vollenhoven at St Helens in the 60s.

you may be right about lake granada, thought it was all classed as south africa.

Jan Prinsloo went to Wakefield after St. Helens. Remember him playing against Wigan in a cup game at Wakefield, in 1962/3 when before the game they were filming a bit of the film with Richard Harris as a Rugby Player. in 'THIS SPORTING LIFE'

I'M TEMPTED TO AGREE WITH 1934 granada about Trevor Lake, but what about Len Kileen,ex Saints winger played at the same time as Vollenhoven,and won the Lance Todd in '66 against Wigan

Fred Griffiths [a prolific goal kicking full-back for Wigan in the late 50s and early 60s],used to live with a family in Downall Green. Then he went to play in South Africa, but to the best of my knowledge he was an Aussie. He went back to Australia and died there only in the last few years.

Fred Griffiths was a member of the 1963 South African rugby league team. He lodged with Joe Griffiths and family at Rectory Road in North Ashton.
Len Kileen was born in Port Elizabeth.
Trevor Lake and John Winton came over from Rhodesia.Both were involved in a cover up when they played under assumed names in a rugby union cup game for Lymm who easily beat more fancied opposition. They ran a car sales pitch at the corner of Frog Lane and Prescott Street.
Wakefield Trinity played three notable South Africans in the 1960's. Alan Skene, Colin Greenwood and Oupa Coetzer.
Also in the 60's Johnny Gaydon was a South African playing for Widnes.

I remember Toby Du Toit the South African who Alex Murphy signed for Warrington early seventies. He was a class winger. He played in the same Warrington side as a friend of mine, Brian Brady the prop forward.

I was wrong about Fred Griffiths being an Aussie. He was indeed born in South Africa. But he did go to Australia to play and lived there for the rest of his life. Incidently, the family he lodged with in Leyland Green Road, North Ashton [Downall Green]were also called Griffiths, but were no relation.

What about Alf Carletti? Or was he Italian...?

Thank you all for the first stream of information but we need more. Also faces to the names since most of the players in question and their pictures had been deliberately omitted from the official Rugby Histories of South Africa.

Here's Vigo.

South African Green Vigo arrived at Central Park in the Summer of 1973 amidst claims that the ‘Second Billy Boston’ had arrived. In retrospect such claims were foolish , but that does not detract from the mark that Vigo left at Wigan during his 7 year stay at the club.

He entered the Wigan record books on 21 August 1976 when he scored 7 tries against St. Helens in a Lancashire Cup tie. Only the greats Johnny Ring , Gordon Ratcliffe and Boston himself had performed such a feat. Vigo still holds down a place in the rugby league records as the most recent person to have scored seven tries in a match.

The former South African Fisherman made his Wigan debut in the opening game of the 1973/74 season, against Bramley, and for a while, scored many spectacular tries. He was in the team that beat Salford to win the Lancashire Cup in his first season and then in 1976/77 he was the club’s top try scorer with 18, 7 of them in that match against Saints. Wigan played St. Helens six times that season and Vigo scored in three of them. He was leading try scorer again the following season with 29, plus one goal, and he collected a Lancashire Cup runners up medal.

Following a broken arm he struggled to hold down a regular first team place in 1979/80 after the emergence of Dennis Ramsdale and, after one outing in 1980/81 he moved to Swinton that October.

Karel Thomas Van Vollenhoven.


“The Greatest of them all,” said the lyrics to the Vollenhoven Calypso – a seven inch record released to coincide with his Testimonial Season in 1967/68. It has always been a matter of debate as to whether the Flying Springbok was, actually, the best winger of his generation in English Rugby League. Wigan fans point to the block-busting ability of Billy Boston, while over at Wilderspool, Brian Bevan was breaking all try-scoring records with his particularly unorthodox - some would say freakish - attacking style. Yet Tom Van Vollenhoven is without question the greatest winger to wear the famous red and white jersey, although, once again, Alf Ellaby a star of the late 1920s, is also championed by a host of Knowsley Road greybeards!

Tommy Vol was truly a phenomenon, with 392 tries in 408 appearances –says it all, doesn’t it! A blond, crew-cutted figure, who possessed terrific pace and athletic ability, he was also extremely strong for his size. Apart from finishing with aplomb if given even minimal space down the touchline, there was no contest - three points every time! He could conjure up tries from the most unlikely scenarios, regardless of the craft and skill of his centres.

Those who witnessed his incredible three-try performance against Hunslet in the 1959 Championship Final at Odsal could scarcely believe what they were seeing. Until Tom’s intervention, there was a real chance that the Yorkshiremen would have snatched the initiative - and he notched up his hat-trick despite the pain of a torn hamstring, that took most of the close season to heal. What he would have been like fully fit is anybody’s guess!

He was nursed in gently in his early days at Knowsley Road by legendary centre Duggie Greenall, although his most famous touchdown involved superb interplay with another fine three-quarter, Ken Large, at Wembley in the 1961 Challenge Cup Final against Wigan. BBC commentator and former Saints player Ray French included this try in his Top Ten Challenge Cup tries. He played in two Wembley finals, both against the Old Enemy, with Saints lifting the coveted trophy each time.

Tom was also a superb defensive wingman, rushing over to the other flank to pull off many a try-saving tackle. It is this aspect of his game that certainly took him past Ellaby, who was not a particularly good defensive wingman. He was, however, first and foremost a winger. He had spells at centre and even one game at full-back, but it didn’t suit. Inevitably, injury took its toll by the mid 1960s. His opponents would do anything to stop him, such as the ferocious stiff-arm unleashed by Huddersfield’s Peter Ramsden , during a particularly ill-tempered cup tie at Knowsley Road in 1963, which saw Vol lying prostrate on the turf like a spent balloon. He was reduced to the status of a ‘very good’ club player during his final season in 1967/68, although he was still capable of notching three tries in his last appearance against Wigan at Knowsley Road. His final game of rugby league was guesting for Great Britain in a trial match for the 1968 World Cup, at Thrum Hall, Halifax.

Back in 1957, the Vollenhoven Effect was immediate, with Tom scoring on his debut against Leeds at Knowsley Road and he was able to add much-needed ‘pep’ to a side that had previously been under criticism for its negative forward-orientated football. Of course, all that was soon to change. The Saints went on to produce one of the great displays of attacking football in the 1959 Championship Final, with fellow-South African Jan Prinsloo on the other flank. His signing, a top-secret affair from under the noses of the Rugby Union authorities - and under intense competition from Wigan - is a story in itself. Credit to the initiative and drive of former Chairman Harry Cook on that score. I’m sure that even Cook could not have really foreseen what an effect this fellow would have on the team and the town! It was always a nervous time if Tom went home for the Summer. We were only really happy once he returned! He was the obvious choice to front the club’s Centenary celebrations in 1990 and spent almost three hours the day before signing up to five hundred autographs at the Saints’ Exhibition at the Museum. Fans queued around the block to meet him. You were left in no doubt, some twenty two years after he had last put on a Saints’ jersey, what he will always mean to the people of St. Helens - a genuine superstar!

Attie Van Heerden was a star of South African Rugby Union playing for Stellenbosch University before being picked to tour Australia and New Zealand with the Springboks in 1921. He played two tests against the All Blacks, scoring a try.

A year before Attie's arrival at Central Park the RFL had admitted a second Wigan team to the league championship. Wigan Highfield, who played at Tunstall Lane in Pemberton, were known for being a team full of local players where as Wigan became known over time as being the "team of nations". This tag was down to the signing of Attie who made such an impact at Central Park that the club went and searched for more South African talent with David Booysen, George Van Rooyen, Constant Van der Spuy, Carl Burger and Bill Oliver all following him to Central Park. These signings were on top of Welsh talent from that period like Jim Sullivan, Tom Howley and Johnny Ring.

Attie signed for Wigan in October 1923 and made an impressive start with 5 tries in a "A" team match. He soon went into the first team and made his debut in a Lancashire Cup tie at home to Broughton. Wigan won 11-6 but he would have to wait a week before scoring his first try which came in a 35-0 hammering of Rochdale at their Athletic Grounds venue. Little did he know that day that his season would end in great joy at the same venue.

Van Heerden went on to consistently score tries in league games, including four tries in each of the home wins over Hull KR and Hunslet. In the Hunslet match he scored what was one of Central Park's greatest ever tries in which he went the full length of the field and beat half the Hunslet team to score in the process.

His tries help lead Wigan to a top of the table finish come the end of the 1923-24 season. Back then their was a top 4 play off system to crown the League Champions but unfortunately Wigan lost the Championship Final to Batley!

Disappointing as that must have been, it wasn't all bad as Wigan won the Challenge Cup for the first time ever and Attie played a massive part in the triumph. The road to the final began with a local derby against Leigh which was a tight affair but a try from Van Heerden saw Wigan creep through 7-5 at Central Park.

Round 2 was a different story as Wigan cruised to a 49-0 home victory over Broughton in which Van Heerden scored twice. He scored another vital try in the 13-8 Quarter Final away success over Hunslet before two tries from him helped Wigan reach the final in a 30-5 Semi Final win over Salford.

The Final was played in the days before Wembley Stadium and was held at a neutral venue. The venue for this final was Rochdale's Athletic Grounds which is where Attie scored his Wigan first try earlier in the season. Wigan had reached the Cup Final twice before but lost both times so this was a massive match. 40,000 fans had paid to watch the game but many more got in without paying. The crowd was bigger than the ground could hold and thus it spilled onto the pitch with police on horseback struggling to get them back onto the terraces.

Year Appearances Tries Goals Points Honours
1923-1924 37 39 - 117 Challenge Cup (1)
1924-1925 30 29 - 57 -
1925-1926 35 26 - 78 League Champions (1), Lancashire League (1)
1926-1927 25 13 - 39 -
Totals 127 107 - - -

Can't find a photo of Attie.

You are some kiddie xrh - always full of info = well done mate
But nobody has confirmed anything about Len Killeen = help me xrh

Len Killeen (born on 19 November 1938 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape) was a South African rugby league footballer. A goal-kicking three-quarter, he played in England for St Helens RFC, with whom he won the Challenge Cup in 1966. Killeen also played in Australia for the Balmain Tigers, winning the NSWRFL premiership with them in 1969 and becoming the club's all-time top point-scorer.

Sorry Kenny owd lad i didn't see thi post!


21st May 1966: Jubillant St Helens players carry their skipper Alex Murphy on their shoulders after they had won the Rugby League Challenge Cup at Wembley stadium, London. One of the heroes of the match was Len Killeen (second from left)

Signed Auto Trevor Lake.

Wing legend signs for Wigan
It was on Saturday 3rd November 1962 that the former Rhodesian rugby union winger Trevor Lake made his Rugby League debut for Wigan against Oldham.
He made a sensational start to his new career, scoring two tries in the 14-14 draw. During the following four years Lake made 140 appearances for Wigan, and scored 132 tries. He was the league’s leading try scorer during the 1964-65 season, and ended that campaign by scoring two superb tries in Wigan’s classic 20-16 victory over Hunslet at Wembley.
Twelve months later he was back at Wembley, although on that second occasion Wigan, and Lake, were starved of possession by St Helens, who won the Cup 21-2. Lake’s other Cup Final appearance came in his very last game for the club, the 1966 Lancashire Cup Final, when Wigan beat Oldham 16-13 and Billy Boston at last got his hands on a winners’ medal for that particular competition.
The only representative recognition received by Lake during his stay in Britain came in August 1965, when he played for a Commonwealth XIII against the touring New Zealand Kiwis at Crystal Palace. He failed to score that night in a 15-7 defeat.
After enjoying so much success in England, Lake was expected to be an even bigger sensation when he joined the St George club in Sydney. Unfortunately he never achieved his potential on the firmer grounds of Sydney. A succession of injuries hampered his two years with the Dragons, and he made only eight appearances and scored four tries.
After retiring from the game Lake was involved in developing the game in South Africa, and he returned to Australia in 1993 as an official for the South African squad involved in the World Sevens, which were staged at the Sydney Football Stadium.

I know he's Rhodesian! But it didn't matter to a Wigan lad.

I am learning about a whole new world - rugby league -one that we as Africans also need to record as part of our history. Thank you everybody for what you have provided thus far, especially XRH59. Can I get more ?

xrh,

why don't you give any reference to the web pages form which you have cut and paste this information?

I didn't think it mattered for such little info, is there a problem?

It could help those who are seeking information to see the whole of what is written on the web page.

Yes i know that Getwom but i have took most of the relative information that i thought would be needed.They could just as easily typed the players name into their search engine and found the same info as i have.

Fred Griffiths (born in South Africa) is a former rugby league footballer. He played club football in England for Wigan RLFC and in Australia for North Sydney, and also represented the South Africa national rugby league team.

A fullback and skillful goal-kicker, Griffiths kicked six goals in Wigan's victory in the 1959-60 Northern Rugby Football League season's championship final. In his time with the club he amassed a total of 1,455 points.

Moving to Australia to play with the North Sydney club, Griffiths' prolific point-scoring continued as he went on to become the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership's leading point scorer for the 1963, 1964 and 1965 seasons. His last year with the Bears was the 1966 season. In his time with the Bears he amassed a total of 590 points.

Griffiths also played in the South African national team against the Australian side in 1963.

South African Rugby League
by Ken Thornett

The South African Rugby League Springboks who toured Australia in 1963 would probably like to forget the results of the matches they played.

Although reinforced by South African-born players from English clubs in Colin Greenwood, John Gaydon, Oupa Coetzer and for a few games, Fred Griffiths and Alan Skene from Sydney clubs, the tourists were unable to justify the two Tests played.




In order to analyse the reasons for their heavy defeats and indeed understand the motive behind the tour, it is necessary to study the history of the formation of a Rugby League body in that country.

From various official statements and in particular from a summary written by Mr. W. Fallowfield, Secretary of the English Rugby League, in Bev Risman's "Rugby League Football Book", I have pieced together the following train of events.

The first reports of Rugby League promotion in South Africa occurred in 1953, when it was reported that a syndicate had been formed with a view to the promotion of the game. Mr. Ludwig Japhet was the contact man and he discussed the possibilities of Rugby League with Mr. Fallowfield at a London meeting in December 1953.

It was decided that games between British and French teams would be staged at Benoni, Durban and East London (South Africa) in 1957. A lot of preparatory work had to be undertaken in order to obtain suitable grounds. Strangely enough, the President of the S.A. Rugby Union unwittingly helped when he publicly described Rugby League players as "reptiles". Suitable grounds immediately became available!

The matches staged between Britain and France did little to further the cause of Rugby League in South Africa. Both teams regarded the matches as mere exhibitions and engaged in a "touch" type of football at Benoni. The South Africans, brought up in the dour atmosphere of Rugby Union, with its heavy rucking, were not impressed.

The slick passing and fancy work indulged in by both teams was spectacular enough, but without any real efforts being made to tackle opponents the game had a hollow ring to the sceptical South African critics. Mr. Fallowfield, aware of the public reaction, read out the "riot act" to the British team after the Benoni fiasco.

The British team played with more gusto in the second match at Durban but the French team unfortunately had not received the message. They refused to take the game seriously. Feelings ran high between the two visiting teams after this match with the French players expressing resentment at Britain's sudden volte-face.

It was anticipated that the third match at East London, in view of the strained relations now existing between both teams, would prove a thriller. This supposed grudge match did not eventuate, and the series faded out on a gentle note with Britain again winning with consummate ease. One result of these matches was a sudden awareness in South African Rugby Union circles of the financial rewards which Rugby League bad to offer. South African players arrived in Great Britain in a veritable flood.

The Rugby Union nabobs were not amused. Colin Greenwood, for example, who signed up with Wakefield, was asked by the Rugby Union controllers to return his Springbok gear, including jerseys and blazer. Colin's answer never hit print. Other players who appeared almost overnight on the British scene included Van Vollenhoven, Rosenburg, Griffiths, Prinsloo, Forster, Gillespie, the Diesel brothers, Skene, Lotriet, Pretorious, and Dorrington. The publicity arising out of this tour had at least made the game known in South Africa, even if the game itself was no further advanced in any material way.

Mr. Japhet died in 1957, not long after this experimental tour. This was a blow to Mr. Fallowfield, who had been deeply impressed with Mr. Japhet's sincerity. Rugby League promotion then became a dormant issue until August 1961 when Mr. Maurice Smith, a sporting promoter, wrote to Mr. Fallowfield and advised him that he had formed a caretaker committee and was seeking suitable grounds. Mr. Smith then handed over his Rugby League interests to Messrs. John B. Weill and Irwin Benson of Johannesburg.

It was reported in the press that Mr. Norman Lacey, a Rhodesian resident in Johannesburg, had expressed the intention of forming a Rugby League organisation. These two promoters worked separately and were not connected in any way. Messrs. Weill and Benson's Organisation became known as Rugby League South Africa while Mr. Lacey bestowed the name of National Rugby League on his group.

Rugby League S.A. was in constant contact with the English Rugby League authorities and advised them regularly regarding their activities. National Rugby League was rather tardy in making an initial contact however and some months elapsed before this League officially came into the picture. Both bodies were at loggerheads from the start. It was like having two trains on the one track.

They commenced signing up players from local Rugby Union sources, some of international standard, others being drawn from the inter-provincial competition. The English Rugby League despatched propaganda material - films, books and so on - to both organisations. They also simultaneously announced that competitive football would commence in the winter of 1962 - Great Britain's summer.

In February 1962 National R.L. apparently aware at last that some contact was necessary with Great Britain sent over one of their directors to interview Mr. Fallowfield. In this interview Mr. Fallowfield suggested that interest in the game in South Africa might be stimulated if a South African tour of England in September, 1962 could be arranged.

In the meantime the rival organisation, Rugby League S.A., was not letting any grass grow under its feet. As evidence of good faith officials had contacted the British authorities and requested that standard English playing equipment be forwarded to them so that there would not be any difference between the playing equipment of both countries.

With both organisations in official contact with the English Rugby League rivalry became intense. It was obvious that neither group was prepared to do a deal with the other and differences were patently irreconcilable. It was in this atmosphere, one of suspicion and sheer distrust between the two bodies, that Rugby League was born in South Africa. Natioinal R.L. claimed to have four club sides, Rugby league S.A., five. Practices were accordingly begun, but what could have been an interesting competition between nine teams was split down the middle by these two warring factions.

The National R.L. representative canvassed Great Britain in an effort to bring out a club side to play teams from his Organisation. One does not know at this stage whether this was a genuine attempt by National R.L. to improve the playing standard, or alternatively, a gimmick to bolster a sagging competition and make a few quid in the process. No doubt these aspects were examined by the English Rugby League, which finally sanctioned a tour by Wakefield Trinity.

In an endeavour to restore the status quo Mr. Fallowfield had now to walk a diplomatic tightrope - it was proposed that the 1962 British Lions tourists should play matches against Rugby League S.A. on their way home.

Wakefield Trinity had little difficulty in defeating teams from the National R.L. with results reading more like cricket scores. At Durban, for example, they romped home 59-3, after leading 34-3 at half time, against a Combined XIII.

The Pretoria News (10.7.62) made this comment on the match: "The small crowd did not seem impressed by the code". The Rand Daily Mail was critical of,the promotion of this match. Their writer (10.7.62) stated: "Unless professional Rugby is better stage-managed than it was when Wakefield Trinity, the Rugby League Cup holders, defeated a South African Invitation team by 59 points to three at the New Kingsmead Stadium at Durban yesterday, its future in South Africa looks extremely bleak . . . . The promoters must be criticised for their failure to present the game in easy to follow form to spectators who, many of them, were watching it for the first time."

"There were no programmes for sale, although all the players were carefully numbered; only casual introduction of each man over the public address system. And one would have thought that an expert would have given the crowd a quick briefing in the salient features of Rugby (League), plus the way the scoring goes."

The Star (2.7.62) was more charitable: "It would be unwise to judge the chances of Rugby League becoming established in South Africa on the evidence of Saturday's rough and onesided match but one had the impression that the crowd would be well prepared to watch the game again". (Wakefield defeated Celtic, a club team, 52-6, in this match.)

Wakefield's expenses were guaranteed but the tour resulted in a financial loss for National Rugby League. Rugby League S.A., the fence-sitters of this project, had observed the weaknesses of the National R.L. teams and were determined to see that their teams did not suffer a similar fate against the visiting 1962 Lions. They employed Dave Brown, the former Australian, Easts and Warrington international, as coach for a period of three months.

Dave worked like a beaver and expressed confidence that Rugby League S.A. would make a creditable showing. It is interesting to observe, at this point, that Mr. Fallowfield was not nearly so sanguine. He wrote: "I felt that the South African Rugby Union forwards who had turned to Rugby League would require match experience before they could get used to League forwards pounding down the middle selling dummies right and left and generally behaving like tlireequarters."

"This proved to be the case and the British team had no trouble in beating R.L.S.A. teams although the British players admitted that the skill of the South African players was good. It was their limited knowledge of tactics, particularly in defence, that was their downfall."

It is an historic fact, as I know from my English experiences, that Rugby Union forwards do not readily settle down to the League game. In England a Rugby Union forward, even if of international status, is generally "written off" for at least a year. The resounding defeats of teams from both the National R.L. and the Rugby League S.A. at least restored parity so far as the English Rugby League was concerned. In their bids for power neither body could claim any advantage over the other.

Each Organisation had made separate applications for affiliation with the International Board. Mr. Fallowfield arrived in South Africa en route to Auckland, New Zealand, where the Board was due to meet. He had a twofold purpose - to attempt to resolve the differences between the two bodies and to prepare a report for the Board's consideration.

The principal recommendations made to the Board were:
1. That the National Rugby League be advised to form Clubs within its own Organisation, with such clubs to be responsible for the signing-on fees of players. (Up to this time players and clubs were signed by the League, clubs had no separate entity.)
2. That these National Rugby League Clubs should become part of Rugby League South Africa.
3. That a constitution be drawn up for Rugby League South Africa which would give clubs representation on a Management Committee.
4. That Honorary Membership of the International Board be conferred upon Rugby League South Africa. It was also decided that an invitation be extended to South Africa to compete in the World Cup subject to the adoption of the Board's recommendations.

Mr. Fallowfield pointed out that the founders of National Rugby League who were out of pocket through their initial investments could be reimbursed out of future National R.L. club profits, thereby freeing Rugby League South Africa of any obligations in that regard.

He also stated that it would be an advantage if Australia could agree to invite a South African team to tour Australia at the earliest opportunity. The International Board adopted Mr. Fallowfield's recommendations. The National Rugby League and the Rugby League South Africa agreed to the proposals and, on the surface at least, unanimity had at last been achieved. The one organisation adopted the name "Rugby League South Africa". It was hoped that the nine teams located in the Johannesburg area would launch the 1963 season in a blaze of new found enthusiasm.

The Australian Board of Control accordingly sponsored the suggested South African tour and allowed the visitors 65% of the gross gates, with a guaranteed $45,000. This was generally regarded as an extremely generous action on the part of the Australian Board and exemplified Australia's keen desire to see Rugby League become firmly established in South Africa.

The Springboks ran into trouble on their opening match of the tour at Canberra, with injuries to leading players. Oupa Coetzer, a magnificent winger in any company, was one of the casualties and took no further part of the tour. John Gaydon also withdrew from later matches. Even allowing for these early setbacks the South Africans were hopelessly outclassed throughout the series.

The forwards lacked the Rugby League technique and could not make a game of it. They had obviously not improved on their South African form. The complete failure of the team was virtually Rugby League's death warrant in South Africa.

As one might well have expected the Rugby League officials in South Africa had to contend with acts of antagonism from the Rugby Union diehards. The failure of the touring team delighted these isolationists and the death of professional Rugby caused not sorrow but rejoicing.

The extent to which Rugby Union officials deliberately placed obstacles in the way of the Rugby League promoters is well illustrated in the following newspaper comment by Francois Roux in the Sunday Times (1.7.62): 'Prominent Rugby Union officials in Bloemfontein have advised Nelie Smith, the Free State captain, NOT to take on any advance booking at his sports shop for next Saturday's match between Wakefield Trinity and Bloemfontein Aquilas at Springbok Park, Bloemfontein."

"The advance booking offer was made to Smith by Mr. Andre Bezuidenout, the Chairman of the Bloemfontein Aquilas. They are old friends. This is just another instance of the refusal of some of the Rugby Union men to accept the arrival of the 13-a-side code."

"'I can't believe it,' Wilf Rosenberg, one of the five Springboks in the touring side, said yesterday, when told that many of the Transvaal players who had switched to the professional code were being shunned in the club houses of their old Rugby Union Clubs."

"'I wonder what these Rugby Union officials would say if they were told Ken Thornett, who plays for Leeds in the English Rugby League, has just been made an honorary life member of the Randwick Rugby Union club in Sydney. They have a more mature attitude in England towards professionalism. I am welcome in most of the Rugby Union clubs in the north of England. We even go to their dances.' "

The collapse of Rugby League in South Africa meant personal tragedy to such fine players and persons as Dawie Ackermann, Martin Peisler, Gerry Van Zyl and others, who had transferred from Rugby Union.

They can no longer play football and are almost ostracised from South African Rugby Union. This is a sad conclusion to the careers of men who had not so long before been regarded as national heroes.

The manner in which the official cold-shoulder is given to Rugby League players in South Africa, even if they had previously represented their country in International Rugby Union, is something beyond the comprehension of the Australian mind.

This prejudice, blind and rather savage in its application, seems so well ingrained in the mind of South African Rugby Union officials, that it is now obvious that the two codes would never co-exist with any degree of peace and co-operation. I can only wonder where sport begins and ends in South Africa. Does one regard South African Rugby (Union) more in sorrow than in anger?

Yet, South Africa is not the only Country which exhibits the extremes of isolationism and snobbery in respect of the amateur code. Wales, and to a certain extent New Zealand, are good allies.

Australia, praise be, has long emerged from the darkness of bias, apart from the odd aristocrat. We have friendly rivalry between the two codes but there is not the same great chasm which divides the players into distinct social groups. Many Rugby League followers turn up to watch our International Rugby Union matches and vice versa.

A study by Ken Thornett (Australian dual rugby international)
First Published 1966 in his book "Tackling Rugby"

RIP Vince.


The RFL have paid tribute to former Great Britain Rugby League international Vince Karalius following the sad news of his death.
RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood said: "Everybody at the RFL is tremendously saddened to hear of the death of Vince Karalius.
"Vince enjoyed a highly successful career at international level and domestically with the St Helens and Widnes clubs. He was widely respected by both team mates and opponents in both hemispheres and was well known as a player who approached the game with fierce determination and total commitment".

Great info on South African RL XRH. It makes interesting reading. On a sadder note, I did not know that "Vinty" as he was known in the dressing room,had passed away until, you posted it on here. When I was a young colt at Wigan coached by the late great gentleman Geoff Lyon (rip)(although I never made a pro) he would come into the dressing room after training, and offer advice and install confidence as sometimes we trained the same night as the first team and his presence was awesome. Very down to earth and approachable gentleman. RIP Vinty.

Thanks Granada it is indeed good reading, i hope our SA friend Hendrick is finding it useful and interesting without him going through a lot of web pages for a small amount of info, which is pretty limited on the web.

Thanks guys. I found the information and the debates pretty useful. It also provide me with a whole new insight into the struggles of South African rugby league players after they took the decision to venture into league. Based on your information and from other sources I have been able to identify nearly 60 such players for recognition. We however know that there were more. Fortunately, Wigan has kept fairly good stats. Your more personal info around the players personal life while in Wigan is quite revealing. So more is welcome, from any other players from any other club as well.

Two I remember who played for Leigh in the 60s...I am fairly sure they were South Africans: Piet Botha, a fullback; and Ken Boonzaier (sp?) a winger...
I hope someone can confirm this.
(I am a Wigan fan btw!)

Jackdog your right about Ken Boonzaier he is mentioned here..............

South Africans run Lions close
In 1962 sixteen members of the Great Britain touring team called in South Africa en route for home and played three missionary matches against the South Africans in an effort to get Rugby League established there.
The second of those matches took place on Saturday 25 August in Durban before a crowd of 3,000. Those 1962 Lions were a great side, but by the time they reached South Africa they were a jaded team, having been travelling and playing since mid-May, and that after a demanding domestic season. Nevertheless, they carried too much skill, power and experience for their opponents, although the match was played in a somewhat Ôfriendly’ atmosphere, if there is such a thing in Rugby League, with less than normal attention paid to defence.
Great Britain won 39-33, with four of their tries being scored by Eric Fraser. Mick Sullivan touched down twice, and the other three tries were scored by Peter Small, Dick Huddart and Neil Fox, who also landed six goals. The Lions coach on that tour was Colin Hutton, still involved with Hull Kingston Rovers, and a great character who I know always reads this column. Colin came out of retirement for this match to replace the injured Ike Southward.
The Great Britain team that day, 41 years ago, was: Eric Fraser (Warrington); Ike Southward (Workington Town), Peter Small (Castleford), Neil Fox (Wakefield Trinity), Mick Sullivan (St Helens); Dave Bolton (Wigan), Harold Poynton (Wakefield Trinity); Jack Wilkinson (Wakefield Trinity), John Shaw (Halifax), Ken Noble (Huddersfield), Laurie Gilfedder (Warrington), Dick Huddart (St Helens), Derek Turner (Wakefield Trinity); Substitute: Colin Hutton (Hull Kingston Rovers).
One of the South African try scorers was winger Ken Boonzaier, who had spent the previous season with Leigh. At stand-off was Charlie Nimb, who flew over to England later in the year and spent a couple of seasons with Hull.

Iv'e not seen Ted Brophy mensioned, he played for Liegh in the sixties not sure if he went to Widnes or not, Ted came from Durban & was a bit of a madman, he dove off the Runcorn bridge into the mersey,

Bentlegs Ted was a Rhodesian i have a copy of that story or one like it knocking about.

Whey hey!!! it was on the web anyway.....

CORRIE CANAL PLUNGE WASN'T THE FIRST

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Saturday 26th Apr 2003
.
THE Clitheroe Kid has written to me to put me right on the recent tale of Leigh's Rhodesian RL player Ted Brophy doing a 'Tricky Dicky' plunge into the canal.
Ex-pat and eye witness Les Skeat, whose friends save the Journal for him, says Ted and his mate Dick Huddart were drinking in Stan Owen's pub on Leigh Bridge on a freezing winter night. When it was time to leave, they found the car engine would not start, so as it was parked on a slope by the canal, Dick told Ted to get in the car and he would give him a push.
"When I shout "Now", let the clutch out and it should fire, said Dick. Sadly, at the moment of shouting the Austin was just about to enter the water. Dick pulled Ted out of the icy water, and got a commendation for rescuing him after pushing him in in the first place. I know - I was there!"
Les says this was only one of many mad-cap scrapes they duo got into, jumping into the Mersey off the Transporter Bridge at low tide was another!

xrh59
I@ve not been on for a couple of days,but I knew you wouldn't dissapiont,cheers mate
PS
I can remember that '66 final, it was my first visit to the twin towers,alas better times were to follow
Thanx again

Your welcome Kenny! Come on you lot lets have some more if you know the players name just Google it or whatever and see what turns up.

Hi 1934 granada, sorry to hijack this link but until I read your post I didn't know that Geoff Lyon had passed away. He used to coach us as well after his career had come to an end at Wigan, he was a real gentleman on and off the field. Will be having a drink (or two) with Terry Hollingsworth when I come over this weekend and will ask him about Geoff and the cause of his death! Paul

Tommy Gentles had a short spell with Wigan. He featured in one of Cliff Morgan's 'five best tries'
TOM VAN VOLLENHOVEN (South Africa v British Lions, Cape Town, 1955): It was the second Test, we got thrashed 25-9 and Tom, later to become a rugby league great with St Helens, scored a wonderful hat-trick. The best came when he received a pass on the blind side of a scrum from Tommy Gentles with almost no room to move. His only option was to swerve infield, which he did marvellously. He then shaped to go outside Angus Cameron, who he beat completely as he moved to go inside. Finally, with another swerve, he was in under the posts. Clinical and brilliant.

Xrh59 Maybe you can tell me whether It Is true or not,an English side who where returning from a tour of Australia stopped over In South Africa for a Game wasn't allowed to play Billy Boston because of Apartheid rules.

Hi Keno. Your question with regards to Billy Boston and the 1957 Tour refers. My information indicates that he was allow to fly home whilst his team went on to South Africa to spread the rugby league gospel. Whether it was as a result of an injury downunder or whether it was side-stepping apartheid is still a point of debate and a topic of further research. Seeing that you are located in Australia, quite a number of South African played down under from the 1950's. I have been trying to get detail on the career of one Louis Neumann formerly of the Sydney Roosters and Orange. His Roosters stats is fine the rest is missing. Can you assist? Xrh59 and others, I am also trying to track down the detail of one Salie or Ismail Schroeder, formerly of Doncaster RLFC in 1967 or thereabouts. Some feedback would be most welcome.

info here

Fred (Punchy ) Griffiths lodged at 29 Leyland green rd next door to me, the family also named Griffith all went to austrailia,

Sorry Hendrik found nothing of the players Neumann and Schroeder as yet(a mystery), will keep digging though.

As for Boston on the 57 tour, i am sure it is as Hendrick says a side step from the apartheid question. I can see no other reason for him not playing, and can't seem to dig up any serious injury he may have acquired at that time. So yes i would go down the apartheid route, most definitely although i can't be 100% certain without asking the man himself, which i think he may have been asked more times than he would care to remember.

I emailed Doncaster rlfc regarding the two players mentioned above. That was just before Christmas. I am still awaiting a reply

Hi Guys Thanks for the efforts with regard to Salie Schroeder. Some information I have obtained in the recent past paint a very sad picture about unfullfilled love, a murder and a suicide. It therefore made it a very tragic story, even something that most people would rather like to forget. So maybe some newspaper research or official enquiry would be the best route. I however continue to follow the progress of every contribution and also enjoy the variety on Wigan World. Greetings from the southern tip.

Hi Guys. Our list have grown to 165 South Africans who have played internationally under very difficult circumstances. Thank you for every piece of information provided. You really made a tremendous difference. But it is not over yet.

Now that the new year has progressed into its second month, let the information roll. I have just discovered a new addition to the rugby league diaspora, one Llewellyn Maganda. I am not sure whether this man ever reached rugby league in the UK but as far as I know, he paid the price of being banned from union for his decision to join the thirteen man code. Is there anybody who have heard about this player ? If so, share it with us as we plan to have a special Rugby League Pioneers Day in April 2009 when we will honour Tom van Vollenhoven and others.

Profiles etc. of the players can be found in the following books,
Wiigan RLFC 1895-1986 by Ian Morrison.
100 Greats - Wigan Rugby League Football Club by Graham Morris.

Thanks for the information Gricer. It is much appreciated.

Time to make unsticky, thanks for all your replies and help.

Your Welcome.

Jl.This is the one that has been taken off, it was a sticky if you remember.
Fred

No she means another one Fred.

Thanks guys. You have been a great help. Our database has grown beyond believe. Tom van Vollenhoven will be honored on the 16th and 25th of April by means of a rugby league and gholf day.

Sad to see that Tommy Gentles passed away in Johannesburg recently.RIP

I noticed little Tommy had passed away. I remember the first time he trotted on to the field at Central Park and everybody said things like OMG int. he little...But he had a heart like a lion and was a superb entertainer... R.I.P Tommy!!!

I have found this on the player Louis Neumann on the South African Hall Of Fame Site. Not sure if it's relevant now on such an old thread but it is good info on the player.


Louis Neumann 1941 – 2003

Louis Neumann was signed by Leeds rugby league from the Thistles rugby club,Western Cape in 1960

He gained a wealth of rugby league experience with leeds ,playing as a lock or second row

Louis made an immediate impact as a clever ball playing forward and was with Leeds for 6 seasons

He was highly recommended to the Eastern Suburbs Roosters (Sydney) who signed him for the 1967 season

During his time at the Roosters ,he became known as a punishing defender and constructive ball player who was always in the thick of the heavy work.

His badge of office were two cauliflower ears and assorted facial scars where he had been stitched together.

After the departure of the great Roosters coach , Jack Gibson, Louis was made captain coach for the 1969 season and remains the only South African to have been captain and coach in first grade league in Australia

He left the Roosters at the end of the 1971 season after 5 seasons

After a distinguished career with Leeds and Eastern Suburbs , Louis moved to Orange in the NSW country competition where he captain/coached Orange Ex-services to two grand finals in the early 70s.

Louis Neumann was one of the toughest South African players to play the game in one of the toughest eras

Leeds rugby league 123 matches
Eastern suburbs 81 matches – 22 as captain/coach

Certainly is an old thread.

There is a facebook page called Rugby League 24 with some very good stuff on the South Africans. I think it's the same person, African Herbman who's page it is.

Recruitment and arrival of Springbok winger Jan Prinsloo in the United Kingdom to play for St. Helens, 1958.

Who remembers this fellow? Green Gregory Vigo, represented the Proteas, the national team of the former South African Rugby Football Federation (SARFF) during the short 1971 British tour but also against the visiting England side in a memorable match on the Goodwood Show Grounds in Cape Town in 1972. Following a notable career of representative rugby through the Swartland Union and Protea ranks, this player as a result of apartheid and lack of further opportunity switched from rugby union to rugby league in 1973 after being spotted by a rugby league scout from the famous Wigan Rugby League Club. In the years after 1973, he went on to make a name for himself as a member of the Wigan, Swinton and Oldham Rugby League Clubs in the U.K.

Just had a good read through these posts again. There really is some brilliant information for anyone interested in RL.