H.H. Castens

Biography

H.H. Castens was South Africa’s first rugby captain. He led the side in the first Test against the British Isles at Port Elizabeth on 30 July 1891, a 4–0 defeat. Remarkably, he also refereed other matches on that same tour.

Born in Pearston on 23 November 1864, he was educated at Rugby School in England and won a rugby Blue at Oxford. He returned to practise law, coached Villagers and Bishops, and later served as secretary to the Rhodesian government. In 1894 he captained the first South African cricket team to tour Britain, making him a double Springbok captain. He died in London on 18 October 1929.