Des van Jaarsveldt

Des van Jaarsveldt
MBE
Birth nameDesmond Charles van Jaarsveldt
Date of birth (1929-03-31) 31 March 1929 (age 95)
Place of birthBulawayo, Southern Rhodesia
SchoolPlumtree School, Rhodesia
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Flank
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1947–1962 Rhodesia 62 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1960 South Africa 1 (3)

Desmond Charles van Jaarsveldt MBE[1] (born 31 March 1929) is a Rhodesian-born South African retired rugby union player[2] and former captain of the Springboks.[3] He was nicknamed the "Bald Eagle" due to his pace on the wing and bald head.[4] He became the first Rhodesian to captain South Africa.[5] Upon retiring from playing, he acted as a coach and administrator for Rhodesian rugby during the transition of the country into Zimbabwe.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference g was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Desmond Charles van Jaarsveldt". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Scotland tour 1960". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference az was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference espn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).