Gerry Brand

Gerry Brand
Gerry Brand in 1937.
Birth nameGerhard Hamilton Brand
Date of birth8 October 1906
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Date of death4 February 1996 (1996-02-05) (aged 89)
Place of deathCape Town, South Africa
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight73.9 kg (163 lb)
SchoolSea Point Boys High School, Cape Town
Occupation(s)Estate agent, Businessman
Rugby union career
Position(s) Full-back and Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Hamiltons RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1927–45 Western Province 35[1] ()
Correct as of 13 December 2013
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1928–38 South Africa 16 (55)
Correct as of 13 December 2013

Gerhard Hamilton Brand (8 October 1906 – 4 February 1996) was a Springbok rugby union footballer who played in 16 tests between 1928 and 1938. Brand has been described as the best kicker of his era,[2] as well as a "magnificent defensive player" with a "wonderful tackle".[3][4] According to Guinness World Records he executed the longest drop goal in rugby union to date.[2][5] Brand's 55 test career points for the Springboks set a 27-year record (1938–65), which was eventually surpassed by Keith Oxlee.[6][7]

  1. ^ Van Wyk, Louis (11 March 1987). "Rugbykaartjies al gesogter in WP [Rugby tickets increasingly sought after in WP]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b Llewellyn, Dai. "Gerry Brand". World Rugby Museum Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Gerry Brand, South Africa". ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ^ Dobson, Paul (1995). 30 Super Springboks. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. ISBN 978-0798134118.
  5. ^ "Longest Drop Kick, Rugby Union". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference bestes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Before Brand, the previous record for most points in all test matches played had been held by Bennie Osler, who had amassed 46 points in 17 test caps by his retirement in 1933.([1])