Piet du Toit

Pieter Stephanus "Piet" du Toit, (born October 1935 in Petrusville and died 26 February 1996 in Hermanus) was a former South African rugby international. He played as a prop.[1] Due to his relative small stature and light weight for a prop, but still being a strong scrummager, he was known as Piet "Spiere" du Toit.[2] Spiere is the Afrikaans word for "muscles".

Piet du Toit
Birth namePieter Stephanus du Toit
Date of birth(1935-10-09)9 October 1935
Place of birthPetrusville, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
UniversityUniversity of Stellenbosch
Notable relative(s)Pieter-Steph du Toit (grandson),
Johan du Toit (grandson)
SpouseBarbara
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Western Province ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1958–1961 South Africa 14 (0)

Career

Du Toit represented Western Province.[3]

He played his first test match on 26 July 1958 against France in a historic series for les Bleus.[4]

He was later chosen for a series of four matches against the All Blacks, and helped the Springboks to two wins, one draw, and one defeat.

In 1960–61 he was selected for five games with the Springboks, who embarked on a tour of Europe. He helped beat Wales 3-0. He also participated in victories against Ireland 8-3 as well as over England 5-0 and Scotland 12-5. On 18 the South Africans drew in Paris 0-0.

Piet du Toit also took part in three victories over the Irish and Australia in 1961 to end his international career.

Honours
  • 14 caps
  • Caps by season: 2 in 1958, 6 in 1960, 6 in 1961.

Personal life

Piet completed his schooling at Paarl Boys' High School.[5] Du Toit graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a B. Comm degree. In 1957, Piet du Toit and his wife Barbara, a teacher, started farming on the Kloofenburg Wine Estate near Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape which his father and father in law bought in 1956. Piet retired in 1989 and his son, Pieter du Toit, still farms on this estate.[6] Two of his grandsons, Johan du Toit and Pieter-Steph du Toit, also plays professional rugby. Pieter-Steph has already followed in his grandfather's footsteps by becoming a Springbok.[2]

References
  1. "Pieter Stephanus du Toit". ESPN scrum.
  2. "Du Toit inspired by Piet 'Spiere'". Sport. November 7, 2013.
  3. "Prodigal son returns - SA Rugbymag". www.sarugbymag.co.za.
  4. "Error Page 404 | SA Rugby". www.sarugby.co.za.
  5. http://www.rugby15.co.za/2017/05/paarl-boys-high-v-paul-roos-historic-overview/
  6. "The Family". www.kloovenburg.com.


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