Oldest living Springbok dies at 96
In his only Test, Van Jaarsveldt captained the Springboks to an 18-10 victory over Scotland at the Boet Erasmus Stadium in 1960.
Van Jaarsveldt was born in Bulawayo and represented Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1947-1962.
At the time, Rhodesia had competed in South Africa's Currie Cup and their players were eligible to be picked for the Springboks.
5 talking points | Springboks v Georgia: Scoreline flattered the hosts in Mbombela scrap
Van Jaarsveldt could play either wing or flank, but played loose forward on the day he captained the Springboks. He was the only Rhodesian to ever captain the Boks.
The SA Rugby Legends paid tribute to Van Jaarsveldt following his passing.
'Though he wore the green and gold in just one Test match, as captain, no less, his impact on the game was profound.
'Born in Rhodesia in 1929, Des proudly represented Rhodesia from 1947 to 1962, racking up 62 appearances and a lifetime of rugby memories. He remained involved in the game through coaching and administration and was a cherished friend and supporter of SARLA throughout the years.
'Thank you for the legacy, the leadership, and the love for rugby. Rest peacefully, Des,' the statement read.
This morning, we bid farewell to a legend. 💚 Des van Jaarsveldt, the oldest living Springbok and Springbok captain,...
Posted by SA Rugby Legends Association on Monday, July 21, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
England captain Stokes 'good to go', says Pope
England captain Ben Stokes will be "good to go" on day four of the fourth Test against India having suffered with cramp during the third day, says vice-captain Ollie Pope. Stokes, 34, retired hurt on 66 in the evening session, but did return after the fall of three wickets to end 77 not out as his side reached a dominant position of 544-7, a first-innings lead of 186. The all-rounder had surgery on his hamstring in January after tearing it for the second time in five months in December but has bowled more overs in this series than any other in his career. "He is just cramping down his left leg and it spread to his whole leg from what I understand," Pope said. "He has pushed himself to some serious limits so far and that was a build-up of it. "He will be good to go tomorrow I am sure." Catchin' Sachin - Joe's root to 15,921 Root passes Ponting as England dominate India 'Speed, stamina and skill - Stokes is now England's best seamer' Much of the talk around Stokes' bowling at the start of the summer was about how he would have to limit himself to protect his body. Despite that, Stokes is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 16 and has bowled 129 overs across three and a half Tests. He only returned to bowling in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in late May. On day one of the third Test at Lord's Pope said he had to make sure Stokes "doesn't push himself to a ridiculous place" after an injury scare. But, with the game on the line, Stokes bowled marathon spells of 9.2 and 10 overs as England secured victory on the final day. At Old Trafford he took 5-72 in the first innings - his first five-wicket haul since 2017. "I'm there to give him a nudge but he also gets this crazy look in his eye sometimes when you go over," Pope said. "Rooty [batter Joe Root] plays a similar role but there's times when you can't take the ball off him. "He gets his vision and that's what makes him such a great cricketer." Get cricket news sent straight to your phone
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Catalans to face Wigan in Paris during 2026 season
Catalans Dragons will meet Wigan Warriors in Paris in 2026 to mark the 20th anniversary of the French club's debut in Super League. The two teams will play at the Stade Jean-Bouin, home of rugby union outfit Stade Francais, on 6 June next year. The match will also mark the 30th anniversary of Super League, which kicked off on March 29, 1996, when Paris St Germain met Sheffield Eagles at the Charlety Stadium. Catalans Dragons president Bernard Guasch said: "It is a great honour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Super League in Paris, where it all began in 1996. "It will mark the return of professional rugby league to our capital and I have no doubt it will be an emotional occasion, both for French and English fans." Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski added: "It's a great honour to take our wonderful sport back to Paris. "This June will mark 30 years since I had the privilege of playing in the Wigan side that narrowly defeated Paris Saint-Germain in what was a historic occasion. Now, to return with our club to this iconic city to face Catalans Dragons is another landmark moment." The match will also be Catalans' first match relocation since they faced Wigan at Barcelona's Camp Nou in 2019, a game which broke the Super League attendance record with a gate of 31,555.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
England captain Ben Stokes retires early on 66 not out against India
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — England captain Ben Stokes retired hurt with apparent cramp as his team dominated day 3 of the fourth cricket test against India on Friday. Stokes was 66 not out in the evening session at Old Trafford with England leading by 133 runs. The all-rounder had looked uncomfortable for some time as he tried to stretch out in between balls and was left hobbling during one run before eventually going off. He left England in a commanding position, largely thanks to a century from Joe Root, who moved up to second on the all-time list of test run scorers behind first-placed Sachin Tendulkar. Stokes, whose half-century followed his five wickets, was replaced by Jamie Smith with England on 491-4. His retirement comes after India's Rishabh Pant retired hurt on day one with a foot injury and returned on day 2. England leads the five-match series 2-1. ___ James Robson is at James Robson, The Associated Press
