New S.A. diplomat

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 14

New S.A. diplomat

From

KEN COATES

in London The appointment of th? former South African

rugby captain, Dawie de Villiers, as Ambassador to London is causing speculation on the future of rugby between Britain and South Africa.

The new Ambassador has been widely described as a personable young man, handsome, with trendily longish blond hair and a pugnacious jaw. At a news conference be skirted around difficult questions with elan and style. He has a master of arts

degree in philosophy and doctorate of philosophy from the University of Stellenbosch.

A Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, he is probably best known in Britain as the captain of the Springbok rugby team from 1965 to 1970.

Barry John has described him as probably one of the best scrum wives in the world since World War 11. John remembers him as a tretrendous player who was very quick off the mark. “I remember him as a earing man who kept himself to himself and was

not one of the boozy boys,” he said. "He always played fair and clean.”

He is also remembered as someone prepared to listen: he once sat down and with great patience absorbed a tirade from Bernadette Devlin.

One commentator suggests that Mr de Villiers will now be doing what he can to repair the ravaged sporting bridges between Britain and South Africa. “South Africans care more about sport than even their public image and would dearly love to entertain a Lions team there.”