Springbok no. 228 · Lock

Ferdie Bergh

Willem Ferdinand Van Rheede Van Oudshoorn Bergh · SWD, Griquas, Lions, Blue Bulls

17Tests

7Tries

2Tours

25Age at debut

Test career

193119341938

First test

5 Dec 1931, age 25 · Lock v Wales, St. Helens, Swansea

Last test

10 Sep 1938, age 31 · Lock v Britain, Newlands, Cape Town

Biography

Ferdie Bergh was a tall, athletic lock and a reliable line-out jumper who scored seven Test tries, a high tally for a forward of his era. Born in Stellenbosch on 2 November 1906 and educated at Paul Roos Gymnasium, he played for South Western Districts, Griqualand West, Transvaal and Northern Transvaal.

He won 17 caps between 1931 and 1938, scoring tries against Wales and England on the 1931–32 tour, two against Australia in 1933, and one in the 17–6 win at Eden Park in 1937 that clinched the series in New Zealand. He died on 28 May 1973.

Test history

17 tests · 21 points

Date	Opponent	Venue	Position	Result	Province
05 Dec 1931	Wales	St. Helens, Swansea	Lock	W 8–3	SWD
19 Dec 1931	Ireland	Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin	Lock	W 8–3	SWD
02 Jan 1932	England	Twickenham, London	Lock	W 7–0	SWD
16 Jan 1932	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Lock	W 6–3	SWD
08 Jul 1933	Australia	Newlands, Cape Town	Eighthman	W 17–3	Griquas
22 Jul 1933	Australia	Kingsmead, Durban	Eighthman	L 6–21	Griquas
12 Aug 1933	Australia	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 12–3	Griquas
26 Aug 1933	Australia	Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth	Lock	W 11–0	Griquas
02 Sep 1933	Australia	Springbokpark, Bloemfontein	Lock	L 4–15	Griquas
26 Jun 1937	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Lock	W 9–5	Lions
17 Jul 1937	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Lock	W 26–17	Lions
14 Aug 1937	New Zealand	Athletic Park, Wellington	Lock	L 7–13	Lions
04 Sep 1937	New Zealand	Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch	Eighthman	W 13–6	Lions
25 Sep 1937	New Zealand	Eden Park, Auckland	Eighthman	W 17–6	Lions
06 Aug 1938	Britain	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 26–12	Blue Bulls
03 Sep 1938	Britain	Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth	Lock	W 19–3	Blue Bulls
10 Sep 1938	Britain	Newlands, Cape Town	Lock	L 16–21	Blue Bulls