Ferdie Bergh
Birth nameWillem Ferdinand van Rheede van Oudtschoorn Bergh
Date of birth(1906-11-02)2 November 1906
Place of birthStellenbosch, Cape Colony
Date of death28 May 1973(1973-05-28) (aged 66)
Place of deathBelville, South Africa
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight97 kg (214 lb)
UniversityStellenbosch University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Number eight
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1928–29 Western Transvaal ()
1929–32 South Western Districts ()
1933–35 Griqualand West ()
1936–37 Transvaal ()
1938 Northern Transvaal ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1931–38 South Africa 17 (21)

Willem Ferdinand van Rheede van Oudtschoorn Bergh (2 November 1906 – 28 May 1973), better known as "Ferdie" Bergh, was a South African rugby union player.[1][2]

Biography

He was originally from Stellenbosch, well known as a Springbok rugby breeding ground.[2] He studied at Stellenbosch University, after which he went to Potchefstroom. He played his first provincial rugby for the Western Transvaal and after that he played for four more provinces.[3]

Ferdie Bergh gained 17 caps for South Africa between 1931 and 1938, scoring seven tries in that period.[1][2]

Willem Ferdinand van Rheede van Oudtschoorn Bergh may hold the record for having the longest name in international rugby,[1] comprising 43 letters in total, including seven words and five names ("Van Rheede" and "Van Oudtschoorn" counting as single names.

He is most famous for scoring the winning try in the only test rugby series ever won by South Africa in New Zealand.

Test history

No.OpponentsResults
(SA 1st)		PositionTriesDatesVenue
1. Wales8–3Lock15 Dec 1931St. Helen's, Swansea
2. Ireland8–3Lock19 Dec 1931Lansdowne Road, Dublin
3. England7–0Lock12 Jan 1932Twickenham, London
4. Scotland6–3Lock16 Jan 1932Murrayfield, Edinburgh
5. Australia17–3Number 828 Jul 1933Newlands, Cape Town
6. Australia6–21Number 822 Jul 1933Kingsmead, Durban
7. Australia12–3Lock12 Aug 1933Ellis Park, Johannesburg
8. Australia11–0Lock26 Aug 1933Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
9. Australia4–15Lock2 Sep 1933Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
10. Australia9–5Lock126 Jun 1937Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
11. Australia26–17Lock117 Jul 1937Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
12. New Zealand7–13Lock14 Aug 1937Athletic Park, Wellington
13. New Zealand13–6Number 84 Sep 1937Lancaster Park, Christchurch
14. New Zealand17–6Number 8125 Sep 1937Eden Park, Auckland
15.United Kingdom British Isles26–12Lock6 Aug 1938Ellis Park, Johannesburg
16.United Kingdom British Isles19–3Lock3 Sep 1938Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
17.United Kingdom British Isles16–21Lock10 Sep 1938Newlands, Cape Town

See also

Bibliography

  • Cotton, Fran (Ed.) (1984) The Book of Rugby Disasters & Bizarre Records. (Compiled by Chris Rhys. London. Century Publishing. ISBN 0-7126-0911-3)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cotton, p74
  2. 1 2 3 Scrum.com player profile, retrieved 20 February 2010
  3. ↑ Craven, Daniel Hartman (1980). Die groot rugbygesin van die Maties. Kaapstad: G. & S. pp. 152–153. ISBN 0620048794. OCLC 86067195.
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