“BOK" OF ALL TRADES

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 24 (Supplement)

“BOK" OF ALL TRADES

FOOTBALLERS’ CAREERS. VERSATILE 60UTH AFRICAIMB. POLICE, LAWYER AND DANCER. (Speolal to Times —from Capetown.) At the moment they are on a football tour of the Dominion leaving thoughts of business and profession away back in South Africa, but these businesses and professions of the 1937 Springbok Rugby team forms a varied list—in fact a compact* selfsupporting community on travel. The South African selectors have picked a thick-set, speedy policeman in J. A. Bropdrijk, and a detective-sergeant in 29-year-old L. C. (“Snowball”) Strachan, to do the investigation of all crimes on the tour. Then Capetown’s Mauritz Van den Berg, who owns an ice-cream factory, will be able to provide ioe-creams at half-time; while curly-haired, freckled Louis Babrow will be able to cure the team's ills one day. He is studying medicine at the U.G.T. Pocket Money Problem.

'Burly “ Boy " Louw, South Africa's No. 1 forward, will be able to look after the team’s pocket-money, for he works in the Standard Bank and knows all about it. If any All Black brings an action against a Springbok for ‘‘pinohing” his best girl, he will be able to be defended by Attorney Dendy Lawton, who speaks as well and as fast as he runs down the touoh line. While 1 am sure that farmer Phil Nel, who halls from Greytown, Natal, will bo a great asset to the team. His ability in sooial olroles is as fine as his prowess in the pack leading his fifteen —and already New Zealand knows what a quallfTcation that would be. To 11 Pilot ” Team Home. But the smartest move .of the selectors was to send a Government expert in animal husbandry In tall, sol-emn-faced William Ferdinand Bergh, Springboks always need such experts. As for sending 2’6-year-old H. J. Bartin, who is a pilot In the S.A. Air Force, it is quite clear what the airminded selectors had in mind. “Gerry” Hamilton Brand, who is a sports outfitter, is so well-known that I don’t know If there is anything left to say; but wait, did you know that he was christened Hamilton because he was horn two days after Hamilton won the Grand Challenge Cup in 1906? And do you know that “ Gerry’s ” ballroom dancing has much improved? “ah mon dleu!” When “■Gerry” toured Britain with the 1931 Springboks, a dance was given for the team in London.

Play and Dance Buperb. One of the Springboks was partnered by a sweet little French girl, to whom he was speaking about his teammates. “ And what do you think of Brand?” he asked. “ Who is it you call Brand?” w&i the reply. “ Why, Gerry, of course,” said the Springbok. “ Ah, oul Gerrie,” came the answer, “on the playing field he is, as you

say, superbe, but on the dancing floor, ah, mon dieu I” Pierre at the Palaoe. The Idol of the orowds will be, of course, diminutive, will-o’-the-wisp Pierre de Villiers. And do you remember the good story the Springboks brought back about him ? The team paid a visit to Buckingham Palace, where they met the late King George V. When it came to Pierre’s turn to meet the King, His Majesty looked at the tiny scrum-half and said: " Surely you are too small to be one of the players?” “ Oh, no, Mr. King,” was the re- , ply, “ I am the scrum-half.” “ The Baby ” of the Team. There is romanoe in the selection of 19-year-old John Beater, “the baby” of the team, for only last season he was playing in the Gardens Under 19, although he made his mark quickly and rose to the first team. He is employed by a wool firm at Paarden Island; Is a quiet, modest sort of fellow. But here are a few other curiosities: Mauritz Van der Berg played no Rugby from 1923 to 1930 owing to business reasons; when he restarted he played in the .sixth team (Gardens), and by the end of the season rose to the ‘first team. Berg grew so fast that from 1924 to 1927 he had to stop playing Rugby because It was too dangerous for him.