Danie Gerber
Encyclopedia
Danie Gerber is a former South African rugby union
player, who played for South Africa
between 1980 and 1992. Playing mainly at centre, he won only 24 caps for South Africa despite playing internationally for 12 years because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid. He did however play 115 games for Eastern Province
, 40 for Western Province
and 24 for Free State
in South African domestic rugby. In 2007 he was induced into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
.
His first international was against the South American Jaguars
in 1980, where Gerber scored a try. He played another two matches that year, and in 1981 played Ireland
twice before touring to New Zealand. He played all three Tests against the All Blacks
on the 1981 Springbok Tour
, and a Test in the United States following the tour. As well as played the Jaguars four times over the next two years, he also starred in the 1984 England
tour to South Africa. Gerber played outside South Africa's first ever Black player, Errol Tobias, in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test.
Gerber has been named in both International Rugby Hall of Fame member's Martin Johnson and Bill McLaren
's all time XV.
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...
player, who played 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...
between 1980 and 1992. Playing mainly at centre, he won only 24 caps for South Africa despite playing internationally for 12 years because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid. He did however play 115 games for Eastern Province
Mighty Elephants
The Eastern Province Kings are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments and are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union...
, 40 for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
and 24 for Free State
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
in South African domestic rugby. In 2007 he was induced into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
International Rugby Hall of Fame
The International Rugby Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for rugby union. It was created in 1997 in New Zealand and is run as a charitable trust with an address at Chiswick in London. Most of the trustees are also inductees. IRHOF accepts new inductees every two years...
.
His first international was against the South American Jaguars
South American Jaguars
The South American Jaguars was an international rugby union team consisting of South American players that played during the early 1980s against the South African Springboks. South Africa invited South America to tour there as a way of counteracting its sporting isolation which was due to the...
in 1980, where Gerber scored a try. He played another two matches that year, and in 1981 played Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
twice before touring to New Zealand. He played all three Tests against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
on the 1981 Springbok Tour
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
, and a Test in the United States following the tour. As well as played the Jaguars four times over the next two years, he also starred in the 1984 England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
tour to South Africa. Gerber played outside South Africa's first ever Black player, Errol Tobias, in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test.
Gerber has been named in both International Rugby Hall of Fame member's Martin Johnson and Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
's all time XV.