Springbok no. 375 · Lock

Frik du Preez

Frederick Christoffel Hendrik du Preez · Blue Bulls

38Tests

1Tries

6Tours

25Age at debut

Test career

196119661971

First test

7 Jan 1961, age 25 · Flank v England, Twickenham, London

Last test

7 Aug 1971, age 35 · Lock v Australia, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Biography

Frik du Preez was voted South Africa’s rugby player of the 20th century. Born near Rustenburg on 28 November 1935 and educated at Parys, he played for Northern Transvaal and won 38 caps between 1961 and 1971, first on the flank and then at lock.

A big, athletic forward with the skills of a back, he kicked a conversion on debut against England at Twickenham in 1961 and scored a famous solo try against the British Isles in 1968. He toured Britain, Ireland, France, Australia and New Zealand, and played his last Test in Sydney in 1971. He was loved by rugby fans across the country.

Test history

38 tests · 11 points

Date	Opponent	Venue	Position	Result	Province
07 Jan 1961	England	Twickenham, London	Flank	W 5–0	Blue Bulls
21 Jan 1961	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 12–5	Blue Bulls
05 Aug 1961	Australia	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 28–3	Blue Bulls
12 Aug 1961	Australia	Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth	Lock	W 23–11	Blue Bulls
23 Jun 1962	Britain	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	D 3–3	Blue Bulls
21 Jul 1962	Britain	Kings Park, Durban	Lock	W 3–0	Blue Bulls
04 Aug 1962	Britain	Newlands, Cape Town	Lock	W 8–3	Blue Bulls
25 Aug 1962	Britain	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	Lock	W 34–14	Blue Bulls
13 Jul 1963	Australia	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Lock	W 14–3	Blue Bulls
23 May 1964	Wales	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	W 24–3	Blue Bulls
25 Jul 1964	France	P.A.M. Brink Stadium, Springs	Flank	L 6–8	Blue Bulls
19 Jun 1965	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Flank	L 11–18	Blue Bulls
26 Jun 1965	Australia	Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane	Flank	L 8–12	Blue Bulls
31 Jul 1965	New Zealand	Athletic Park, Wellington	Lock	L 3–6	Blue Bulls
21 Aug 1965	New Zealand	Carisbrook, Dunedin	Lock	L 0–13	Blue Bulls
04 Sep 1965	New Zealand	Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch	Lock	W 19–16	Blue Bulls
18 Sep 1965	New Zealand	Eden Park, Auckland	Lock	L 3–20	Blue Bulls
12 Aug 1967	France	Newlands, Cape Town	Lock	D 6–6	Blue Bulls
08 Jun 1968	Britain	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Lock	W 25–20	Blue Bulls
22 Jun 1968	Britain	Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth	Lock	D 6–6	Blue Bulls
13 Jul 1968	Britain	Newlands, Cape Town	Lock	W 11–6	Blue Bulls
27 Jul 1968	Britain	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 19–6	Blue Bulls
09 Nov 1968	France	Parc Lescure, Bordeaux	Lock	W 12–9	Blue Bulls
16 Nov 1968	France	Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris	Lock	W 16–11	Blue Bulls
02 Aug 1969	Australia	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 30–11	Blue Bulls
16 Aug 1969	Australia	Kings Park, Durban	Lock	W 16–9	Blue Bulls
06 Dec 1969	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Lock	L 3–6	Blue Bulls
10 Jan 1970	Ireland	Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin	Lock	D 8–8	Blue Bulls
24 Jan 1970	Wales	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Lock	D 6–6	Blue Bulls
25 Jul 1970	New Zealand	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Lock	W 17–6	Blue Bulls
08 Aug 1970	New Zealand	Newlands, Cape Town	Lock	L 8–9	Blue Bulls
29 Aug 1970	New Zealand	Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth	Lock	W 14–3	Blue Bulls
12 Sep 1970	New Zealand	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Lock	W 20–17	Blue Bulls
12 Jun 1971	France	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	Lock	W 22–9	Blue Bulls
19 Jun 1971	France	Kings Park, Durban	Lock	D 8–8	Blue Bulls
17 Jul 1971	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Lock	W 19–11	Blue Bulls
31 Jul 1971	Australia	Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane	Lock	W 14–6	Blue Bulls
07 Aug 1971	Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Lock	W 18–6	Blue Bulls