Divan Serfontein

David Jacobus 'Divan' Serfontein (born 3 Augustus 1954 in Krugersdorp, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player.[1]

Divan Serfontein
Birth nameDavid Jacobus Serfontein
Date of birth (1954-08-03) 3 August 1954
Place of birthKrugersdorp, South Africa
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight70 kg (150 lb)
SchoolVanderbijlpark High School
UniversityStellenbosch University
Occupation(s)orthopedic surgeon
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrumhalf
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1976–1984 Western Province 100 (86)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1984 South Africa 19 (12)

Playing career

Provincial career

Serfontein started his rugby career in 1974 at Maties where he was selected for the club's under-20 age group team. He was soon afterwards selected for the Western Province under-20 team and in his first match he played alongside the future South African cricketer, Peter Kirsten. In 1976 Serfontein made his provincial first team debut for Western Province against the touring All Blacks side of Andy Leslie. Western Province won this match 12 - 11.

At the start of the 1981 rugby season, Serfontein was appointed as Western Province captain. He went on to captain his province 51 times and also led his team to three consecutive Currie Cup titles, in 1982, 1983 and 1984.[2]

International career

Serfontein made his test debut for the Springboks on 31 May 1980 at his home ground, Newlands in Cape Town against the touring British and Irish Lions team, captained by Bill Beaumont. He also scored his first test try in this match. The test series against the Lions, was followed with tests against the South American Jaguars, France, Ireland, New Zealand ( the so-called Rebel Tour) and England.[3]

Serfontein was selected as captain for the two test matches against the touring South American Jaguars in October 1984 and in so doing becomes the 39th Springbok test captain. Serfontein retired from rugby at the end of the 1984 season, having played 100 matches for Western Province and 19 consecutive test matches for the Springboks. He also scored 3 test tries.[2]

Test history
No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1. British Lions26–22Scrumhalf131 May 1980Newlands, Cape Town
2. British Lions26–19Scrumhalf14 June 1980Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
3. British Lions12–10Scrumhalf28 June 1980Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
4. British Lions13–17Scrumhalf12 July 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
5. South American Jaguars22–13Scrumhalf18 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
6. South American Jaguars30–16Scrumhalf25 October 1980Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago
7. France37–15Scrumhalf18 November 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
8. Ireland23–15Scrumhalf30 May 1981Newlands, Cape Town
9. Ireland12–10Scrumhalf6 June 1981Kings Park Stadium, Durban
10. New Zealand9–14Scrumhalf15 August 1981Lancaster Park, Christchurch
11. New Zealand24–12Scrumhalf29 August 1981Athletic Park, Wellington
12. New Zealand22–25Scrumhalf12 September 1981Eden Park, Auckland
13. United States38–7Scrumhalf20 September 1981Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York
14. South American Jaguars50–18Scrumhalf27 March 1982Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
15. South American Jaguars12–21Scrumhalf3 April 1982Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
16. England33–15Scrumhalf2 June 1984Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
17. England35–9Scrumhalf9 June 1984Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
18. South American Jaguars32–15Scrumhalf (c)120 October 1984Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
19. South American Jaguars22–13Scrumhalf (c)27 October 1984Newlands, Cape Town

Accolades

Serfontein was named the SA Rugby player of the Year for 1982.[4]

See also

References
  1. "David Jacobus Serfontein". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  2. Van der Merwe, F. J. G. (Floris J. G.), 1951- (2007). Matieland is rugbyland, 1980-2006. Stellenbosch: SUN Press. pp. 108–111. ISBN 9781920109790. OCLC 190836768.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 100–118. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.
  4. SA Rugby Year Book-Jaarboek 1983. South African Rugby Board. 1982.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Wynand Claassen		 Springbok Captain
1984		 Succeeded by
Naas Botha


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