Springbok no. 323 · Hooker
Bertus van der Merwe
Albertus Johannes van der Merwe · Boland
12Tests
0Tries
1Tours
26Age at debut
Test career
195519571960
First test
20 Aug 1955, age 26 · Hooker v Britain, Newlands, Cape Town
Last test
23 Jul 1960, age 31 · Hooker v New Zealand, Newlands, Cape Town
Biography
Bertus van der Merwe was a Boland hooker who played 12 Tests between 1955 and 1960. Born in Rawsonville on 14 July 1929 and educated at Worcester Gimnasium, he travelled long distances to train and play. He toured Australia and New Zealand in 1956 and stayed with the team despite losing his son early in the tour. He died on 23 November 1971, aged 42.
Test history
12 tests · 0 points| Date | Opponent | Venue | Position | Result | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1955 |  Britain | Newlands, Cape Town | Hooker | W 25–9 | Boland |
| 03 Sep 1955 | Britain | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | Hooker | L 6–9 | Boland |
| 24 Sep 1955 | Britain | Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth | Hooker | W 22–8 | Boland |
| 26 May 1956 |  Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | Hooker | W 9–0 | Boland |
| 02 Jun 1956 | Australia | Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | Hooker | W 9–0 | Boland |
| 14 Jul 1956 |  New Zealand | Carisbrook, Dunedin | Hooker | L 6–10 | Boland |
| 04 Aug 1956 | New Zealand | Athletic Park, Wellington | Hooker | W 8–3 | Boland |
| 18 Aug 1956 | New Zealand | Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch | Hooker | L 10–17 | Boland |
| 01 Sep 1956 | New Zealand | Eden Park, Auckland | Hooker | L 5–11 | Boland |
| 26 Jul 1958 |  France | Newlands, Cape Town | Hooker | D 3–3 | Boland |
| 30 Apr 1960 |  Scotland | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth | Hooker | W 18–10 | Boland |
| 23 Jul 1960 | New Zealand | Newlands, Cape Town | Hooker | L 3–11 | Boland |