Piet Malan
Encyclopedia
Pieter Malan more commonly known simply as Piet, played rugby union
for the then Transvaal
province as well as the Springbok
rugby teams. He played the position of flanker
.
Malan's sole cap came at the age of 30 on September 17, 1949 against the All Blacks at St George's Park
in Port Elizabeth, a game the Springboks went on to win 11-8 to take the series 4-0.
It is around this time that Malan made his famous suggestion to Danie Craven
to organise a tournament for schoolboys to coincide with the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the South African Rugby Board
, the implementation of which provided the groundwork for the Craven Week
schools tournament
.
As of 2005, Piet Malan is the oldest living Springbok at 86 years of age after Howard Watt
, the longest surviving member of the superb 1937 Springbok tour to Australasia
, died in August 2005.
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...
for the then Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
province as well as the Springbok
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...
rugby teams. He played the position of flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
.
Malan's sole cap came at the age of 30 on September 17, 1949 against the All Blacks at St George's Park
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
St George's Park is a multi-use park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The park is the oldest park in Port Elizabeth and most commonly associated with the St George's Oval cricket grounds located within the park.-Features:...
in Port Elizabeth, a game the Springboks went on to win 11-8 to take the series 4-0.
It is around this time that Malan made his famous suggestion to Danie Craven
Danie Craven
Daniël Hartman Craven , more famously known as Danie Craven or simply Doc Craven, is a former Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Springbok rugby union player as well as arguably South Africa's best and best-known rugby administrator...
to organise a tournament for schoolboys to coincide with the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the South African Rugby Board
South African Rugby Board
The South African Rugby Board was the rugby union governing body of white South Africans between 1889 and 1992. The governing of white and coloured rugby union was handled separately during South Africa under Apartheid....
, the implementation of which provided the groundwork for the Craven Week
Craven Week
The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven....
schools tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
.
As of 2005, Piet Malan is the oldest living Springbok at 86 years of age after Howard Watt
Howard Watt
Howard Hugh Watt , was the last surviving pre-war Springbok and part of the legendary South African rugby team nicknamed 'The Invincibles.'...
, the longest surviving member of the superb 1937 Springbok tour to Australasia
1937 Springbok tour to Australasia
The 1937 South Africa tour to Australasia was one of the most successful Springbok tours in history, so much so that the touring team was nicknamed the "Invincibles". The squad was captained by Philip Nel....
, died in August 2005.