Charlie van Renen
Full names: Charles Gerhard
Date of birth: 23 Aug 1868
Place of birth: Cape Town
School: Diocesan College (Bishops)
Springbok no: 26
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Date of death: 20 Jul 1942 (Age 73)
Test summary: Tests: 3 Tries: 0
First Test: 5 Sep 1891 Age 23 - Forward against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town
Last Test: 5 Sep 1896 Age 28 - Forward against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
05 Sep 1891 23Forward Britain Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 0-4  WP
30 Jul 1896 27Forward Britain Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Lose: 0-8  WP
05 Sep 1896 28Forward Britain Newlands, Cape Town Win: 5-0  WP

I met Charlie on the old members' stand at Newlands. He came from a very famous rugby family - one brother also played cricket for South Africa. I am so pleased that Western Province is reviving the memory of the old members' stand. In that corner you could hear a lot of wisdom spoken - although I admit you could hear a lot of nonsense as well.

I was introduced to Charlie and what attracted me most was the humility of the man, his reserved manner - as if to say: "Who am I for people to talk about?"

This is one of the things I have found and admired about men like Charlie van Renen and his contemporaries, those wonderful players who laid the foundation of Springbok rugby.