Cowboy Saunders
Encyclopedia
Martin "Cowboy" Saunders (26 November 1928 - 17 May 2006) was a South Africa
n rugby union
wing. Saunders played club rugby for Paarl, Hamiltons, Villagers and Pirates and provincial rugby for Border
. Although he was never capped for South Africa
Saunders is considered a 'Springbok' as he represented his country on the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France. The touring team is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
, South Africa
in 1928. He was educated at Elliot School and later Paarl Training College, and was a detective in the South African Police force rising to the rank of colonel. South African journalist R.K. Stent said that he was nicknamed Cowboy, due to his 'high. bucking running style. Saunders was married, to Estelle, they had three children.
Saunders was then selected for the fourth South African tour of Britain, which also took in matches in Ireland and France. The South African team was composed of four wing players and the tour managers rotated the wings each game. Saunders played in 14 of the tour games, scoring 33 points with 11 tries
, he was the fifth highest scoring player of the tour. Despite being utilisied for nearly half of the games of the tour, he only faced club and combined teams, he failed to play against any of the five international teams.
Saunders was selected for the very first game of the tour, facing a combined South-Eastern Counties team on 10 October 1951. The South Africans won the opener and the two games that followed, for which Saunders was rested, before facing two Welsh teams in succession, Cardiff
and Llanelli
. Both were victories, and Saunders scored his first points of the tour, a late try against Llanelli. There were seven games after the Llanelli match until the first international encounter with Scotland
, Saunders played in four of them; wins over a joint Glasgow/Edinburgh, North Eastern Counties and Oxford University
, and the only loss of the tour to London Counties. Saunders scored in two of the matches, a try against London Counties and two tries against Oxford. Although not chosen for any of the internationals, Saunders played in a further seven tour matches, scoring tries against the North of Scotland, a Combined Services team, Western Counties (2), South of Scotland and South West France (2).
After Saunders returned from the British tour he continued to play for Border. An international cap eluded him, but with Border he faced two more international teams. In 1953 he was part of the Border team to face and lose to the touring Australia team, but two years later he was on the wing when Border beat the 1955 British Lions
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
wing. Saunders played club rugby for Paarl, Hamiltons, Villagers and Pirates and provincial rugby for Border
Border Bulldogs
The Border Bulldogs are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Border Rugby Union and are based in East London....
. Although he was never capped for South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
Saunders is considered a 'Springbok' as he represented his country on the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France. The touring team is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
Personal history
Saunders was born in HobhouseHobhouse, Free State
Hobhouse is a small farming town in the Free State province of South Africa, named after welfare campaigner Emily Hobhouse. Maize, wheat, cheese and livestock are produced here.-External links:*...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1928. He was educated at Elliot School and later Paarl Training College, and was a detective in the South African Police force rising to the rank of colonel. South African journalist R.K. Stent said that he was nicknamed Cowboy, due to his 'high. bucking running style. Saunders was married, to Estelle, they had three children.
Rugby career
Saunders played for a number of club teams playing for Hamiltons in East London, Villagers in Queenstown and Pirates in Uitenhage. At provincial level he was selected for Border. In 1949 the New Zealand rugby team toured South Africa. Four Test matches were arranged between New Zealand and South Africa and Saunders was rumoured to have been selected for the final Test, though he never played. Despite not playing for South Africa, Saunders did face New Zealand, twice, as part of the Border team. Both under the captaincy of Basil Kenyon, Border won the first game 9-0, and drew the second 6-6.Saunders was then selected for the fourth South African tour of Britain, which also took in matches in Ireland and France. The South African team was composed of four wing players and the tour managers rotated the wings each game. Saunders played in 14 of the tour games, scoring 33 points with 11 tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, he was the fifth highest scoring player of the tour. Despite being utilisied for nearly half of the games of the tour, he only faced club and combined teams, he failed to play against any of the five international teams.
Saunders was selected for the very first game of the tour, facing a combined South-Eastern Counties team on 10 October 1951. The South Africans won the opener and the two games that followed, for which Saunders was rested, before facing two Welsh teams in succession, Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
. Both were victories, and Saunders scored his first points of the tour, a late try against Llanelli. There were seven games after the Llanelli match until the first international encounter with Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, Saunders played in four of them; wins over a joint Glasgow/Edinburgh, North Eastern Counties and Oxford University
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
, and the only loss of the tour to London Counties. Saunders scored in two of the matches, a try against London Counties and two tries against Oxford. Although not chosen for any of the internationals, Saunders played in a further seven tour matches, scoring tries against the North of Scotland, a Combined Services team, Western Counties (2), South of Scotland and South West France (2).
After Saunders returned from the British tour he continued to play for Border. An international cap eluded him, but with Border he faced two more international teams. In 1953 he was part of the Border team to face and lose to the touring Australia team, but two years later he was on the wing when Border beat the 1955 British Lions
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
.