Tjol Lategan
Encyclopedia
Marthinus Theunis "Tjol" Lategan (born 29 September 1925) was a South Africa
n rugby union
centre. Along with Ryk van Schoor
he formed one of the great post-war centre partnerships in rugby. Lategan played club rugby for University of Stellenbosch and provincial rugby for Western Province
. He was capped for South Africa
eleven times between 1949 and 1953 first representing the team against the 1949 touring New Zealand side. He was later selected for 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.
before matriculating to Stellenbosch University
where he studied accountancy. He was universally known as "Tjol", a family nickname. He became a partner in a large firm of accountants in East London before retiring in 1991. He is twice married, his first wife died in 1970 after a short illness, and he is now married to Trudie, with whom he lives in a retirement home in Somerset West. He is the only surviving member of the 1949 Springboks who beat the New Zealand 'All Blacks' in all four Tests of their tour of South Africa.
expert, Ryk van Schoor to partner Lategan, beginning a record South African partnership of ten Tests. South Africa won 12-6, Lategan scoring his first international points in the game when he scored a try
. The final two games of the tour, in Durban and the Port Elizabeth, saw Lategan collect his third and fourth caps in two further Springbok victories. The 'All Blacks had lost all four Tests.
Although he did not play the tour opener to the South-Eastern Counties team, Lategan was called upon heavily in the first few weeks of the tour, playing in five of the first seven games. He faced South-Western Counties on the 13 October, then a joint Pontypool
/Newbridge
on the 18 October followed by Cardiff
just two days later. Although he was rested for the match against Llanelli
, he was back in the team on 27 October to face the north-Western Counties and again on 31 October against a combined Glasgow/Edinburgh team. Van Schoor was injured during the Glasgow/Edinburgh game, so Dennis Fry was drafted in at centre along with regular centres Viviers and Sinclair to give Lategan a rest leading up to the first Test. Lategan returned to action to face London Counties on 10 November, partnered with Fry. The game was won by London Counties, 11-9, the only loss the Springboks suffered throughout the entire tour. Five days later he played against Oxford University
, rejoined by a fit-again van Schoor. This was followed just two days later by another trip to Wales, this time playing against a joint Neath
/Aberavon
side.
On the 24 November Lategan and van Schoor were partnered for the fourth time at international level when South Africa faced Scotland
at Murrayfield. The decision to choose Lategan over Fry was made just hours before the kick-off. South African rugby journalist R.K. Stent, described Lategan as having a 'Big Moment' temperament, believing he hit his best form of the tour against Scotland. The Scotland game became a rout, with South Africa winning 44-0. Lategan scored his first points of the tour during the game with a try in the 59th minute when he gathered a dropped Scotland pass to run fifty yards, beating Burrell, and scoring under the posts.
Lategan's next match was against Ulster on 1 December, and followed this with the tour's second Test, against Ireland
at Lansdowne Road a week later. South Africa won 17-5, setting up a big encounter with Wales a fortnight later. Lategan played in the next match, a brusing encounter against Munster
, but was then rested against Swansea
, before being called back into the squad for the third Test, the match with Wales
. There were some concerns about a slight ankle injury Lategan was carrying after the Munster game, but he was selected anyway. The Wales game was a very tight encounter played mainly through forward play. Despite this, Lategan was key to the result when he managed to find a gap in the Welsh defence after a short pass from Brewis. As he crossed the 25 yard line, Lategan lobbed the ball over Ken Jones' head which was collected by Chum Ochse
who scored a try in the corner. This was South Africa's only try of the game, and the Springboks won by a narrow 6-3 margin.
Lategan was rested for the next two matches, but was again called in for the Test match against England
, the final international before South Africa travelled to France. England were beaten 8-3. Lategan played in three of the final matches held in Britain, Western Counties, South of Scotland, in which he scored his second try of the tour, and the encounter with the Barbarians
. He played in two of the matches in France, scoring in the 20-12 victory of south-Western France, and the Final Test and game of the tour against the French national team
. The 25-3 win gave Lategan his eighth straight international victory.
team of 1953. The first game, played at Johannesburg saw South Africa win 25-3, where Lategan was joined at centre by his old team mate van Schoor. The next Test, played on 5 September, saw Lategan part of a losing international side for the first, and only, time. South Africa were beaten at Cape Town by a narrow 14-18 scoreline. The loss was blamed on the Springboks desire to please the crowd by switching away from their normal kicking game, to one based on running with the ball. Whether Lategan would have been replaced, like several other members of the team is unknown as he badly injured his arm before the third Test, which kept him out of rugby for a year. Although Lategan continued to play rugby switching from Western Province to Boland during the 1953/54 season, he never represented South Africa at international level again.
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...
centre. Along with Ryk van Schoor
Ryk van Schoor
-1951 tour of Britain:In 1951 South Africa undertook their fourth tour of Great Britain, also taking in games in Ireland and France. Van Schoor was one of four centres selected for the tour which took in 31 matches, including five internationals. Van Schoor played in 16 matches scoring seven tries...
he formed one of the great post-war centre partnerships in rugby. Lategan played club rugby for University of Stellenbosch and provincial rugby 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...
. He was 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...
eleven times between 1949 and 1953 first representing the team against the 1949 touring New Zealand side. He was later selected for 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
Lategan was born in Stellenbosch in 1925 and educated at Stellenbosch Boys' High SchoolPaul Roos Gymnasium
Paul Roos Gymnasium is a government school for boys in the town of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, founded in 1866 as Stellenbosch Gymnasium....
before matriculating to Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
where he studied accountancy. He was universally known as "Tjol", a family nickname. He became a partner in a large firm of accountants in East London before retiring in 1991. He is twice married, his first wife died in 1970 after a short illness, and he is now married to Trudie, with whom he lives in a retirement home in Somerset West. He is the only surviving member of the 1949 Springboks who beat the New Zealand 'All Blacks' in all four Tests of their tour of South Africa.
1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa
Lategan was originally not selected for the Springboks, when the New Zealand 'All Blacks' arrived in South Africa for their 1949 tour. Playing his club rugby for Stellenbosch University, he had been dropped to the University's second team when New Zealand faced Western Province, for which Lategan was also not required. But after the Western Province back line produced a disappointing display in that match he was called directly into the South Africa squad for the first Test at Cape Town. In his first Test he was partnered at centre with Floors Duvenage, the only time in his Test career he would not be partnered with Ryk van Schoor. The Springboks won 15-11, and from that point Lategan would appear in every South Africa international match until 19 September 1953. In the second Test the selectors chose Rhodesian crash ballCrash ball
The crash ball is an attacking tactic in rugby league and rugby union where a player receives a pass at pace and runs to the opposition's defensive line...
expert, Ryk van Schoor to partner Lategan, beginning a record South African partnership of ten Tests. South Africa won 12-6, Lategan scoring his first international points in the game when he scored a try
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...
. The final two games of the tour, in Durban and the Port Elizabeth, saw Lategan collect his third and fourth caps in two further Springbok victories. The 'All Blacks had lost all four Tests.
1951 tour of Britain
When South Africa undertook their Fourth Tour of Britain in 1951, Lategan was selected to travel. The tour took in 31 games, five of which were international matches. Due to injuries to van Schoor and Sinclair, Lategan played in 20 games of the tour, only Fonnie du Toit played more. Though Lategan later stated that he '...always felt like playing,' and was able to avoid injury.Although he did not play the tour opener to the South-Eastern Counties team, Lategan was called upon heavily in the first few weeks of the tour, playing in five of the first seven games. He faced South-Western Counties on the 13 October, then a joint Pontypool
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
/Newbridge
Newbridge RFC
Newbridge RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and gained admission to the WRU in 1911...
on the 18 October followed by 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...
just two days later. Although he was rested for the match against 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...
, he was back in the team on 27 October to face the north-Western Counties and again on 31 October against a combined Glasgow/Edinburgh team. Van Schoor was injured during the Glasgow/Edinburgh game, so Dennis Fry was drafted in at centre along with regular centres Viviers and Sinclair to give Lategan a rest leading up to the first Test. Lategan returned to action to face London Counties on 10 November, partnered with Fry. The game was won by London Counties, 11-9, the only loss the Springboks suffered throughout the entire tour. Five days later he played against 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:...
, rejoined by a fit-again van Schoor. This was followed just two days later by another trip to Wales, this time playing against a joint Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
/Aberavon
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
side.
On the 24 November Lategan and van Schoor were partnered for the fourth time at international level when South Africa faced 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...
at Murrayfield. The decision to choose Lategan over Fry was made just hours before the kick-off. South African rugby journalist R.K. Stent, described Lategan as having a 'Big Moment' temperament, believing he hit his best form of the tour against Scotland. The Scotland game became a rout, with South Africa winning 44-0. Lategan scored his first points of the tour during the game with a try in the 59th minute when he gathered a dropped Scotland pass to run fifty yards, beating Burrell, and scoring under the posts.
Lategan's next match was against Ulster on 1 December, and followed this with the tour's second Test, against 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...
at Lansdowne Road a week later. South Africa won 17-5, setting up a big encounter with Wales a fortnight later. Lategan played in the next match, a brusing encounter against Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
, but was then rested against Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
, before being called back into the squad for the third Test, the match with Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. There were some concerns about a slight ankle injury Lategan was carrying after the Munster game, but he was selected anyway. The Wales game was a very tight encounter played mainly through forward play. Despite this, Lategan was key to the result when he managed to find a gap in the Welsh defence after a short pass from Brewis. As he crossed the 25 yard line, Lategan lobbed the ball over Ken Jones' head which was collected by Chum Ochse
Chum Ochse
Johannes Karl "Chum" Ochse was a South African rugby union wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby for Western Province. Ochse was capped seven time for the South African national team and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France...
who scored a try in the corner. This was South Africa's only try of the game, and the Springboks won by a narrow 6-3 margin.
Lategan was rested for the next two matches, but was again called in for the Test match against 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...
, the final international before South Africa travelled to France. England were beaten 8-3. Lategan played in three of the final matches held in Britain, Western Counties, South of Scotland, in which he scored his second try of the tour, and the encounter with the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. He played in two of the matches in France, scoring in the 20-12 victory of south-Western France, and the Final Test and game of the tour against the French national team
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
. The 25-3 win gave Lategan his eighth straight international victory.
1953 Australia tour of South Africa
Latagen played in the first two Tests against the touring AustraliaAustralia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
team of 1953. The first game, played at Johannesburg saw South Africa win 25-3, where Lategan was joined at centre by his old team mate van Schoor. The next Test, played on 5 September, saw Lategan part of a losing international side for the first, and only, time. South Africa were beaten at Cape Town by a narrow 14-18 scoreline. The loss was blamed on the Springboks desire to please the crowd by switching away from their normal kicking game, to one based on running with the ball. Whether Lategan would have been replaced, like several other members of the team is unknown as he badly injured his arm before the third Test, which kept him out of rugby for a year. Although Lategan continued to play rugby switching from Western Province to Boland during the 1953/54 season, he never represented South Africa at international level again.