Springbok no. 314 · Left Wing

Tom van Vollenhoven

Karel Thomas van Vollenhoven · Blue Bulls

7Tests

4Tries

1Tours

20Age at debut

Test career

19551956

First test

6 Aug 1955, age 20 · Outside Centre v Britain, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Last test

18 Aug 1956, age 21 · Left Wing v New Zealand, Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch

Biography

Tom van Vollenhoven was a fast, elusive wing who scored a hat-trick in the 25–9 win over the British Isles at Newlands in 1955. Born in Bethlehem on 29 April 1935, he played for Northern Transvaal and won seven caps, also dropping a goal against Australia in 1956.

In 1957 he moved to England to play rugby league for St Helens, where he became one of the greatest wingers in that code’s history. He died on 21 October 2017.

Test history

7 tests · 15 points

Date	Opponent	Venue	Position	Result	Province
06 Aug 1955	Britain	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Outside Centre	L 22–23	Blue Bulls
20 Aug 1955	Britain	Newlands, Cape Town	Left Wing	W 25–9	Blue Bulls
03 Sep 1955	Britain	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Left Wing	L 6–9	Blue Bulls
24 Sep 1955	Britain	Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth	Left Wing	W 22–8	Blue Bulls
26 May 1956	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Left Wing	W 9–0	Blue Bulls
02 Jun 1956	Australia	Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane	Left Wing	W 9–0	Blue Bulls
18 Aug 1956	New Zealand	Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch	Left Wing	L 10–17	Blue Bulls