Bill Zeller
Full names: William Charles
Date of birth: 18 Jul 1894
Place of birth: Umtata
School: Umtata
Springbok no: 153
Springbok debut province: Natal
Physical: 1.83m, 76.2kg
Date of death: 27 Jul 1969 (Age 75)
Test summary: Tests: 2 Tries: 0
First Test: 27 Aug 1921 Age 27 - Left Wing against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland
Last Test: 17 Sep 1921 Age 27 - Left Wing against New Zealand at Athletic Park, Wellington
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
27 Aug 1921 27Left Wing New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Win: 9-5  Natal
17 Sep 1921 27Left Wing New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Draw: 0-0  Natal

It's common knowledge that no All Black has ever scored a hat-trick of Test tries against the Springboks, but on this day, in 1921, a South African achieved a remarkable feat in New Zealand.

The first Springbok Tour to New Zealand, in 1921, holds a special significance in the on-going rivalry between the two nations. During this tour new records were set for the generations to come.

One of the most remarkable was the record set by Natal winger W.C (Bill Zeller), Springbok #153, who was the first South African to score first a hat-trick of tries against a New Zealand team when he grabbed three against West Coast Buller on 27 July in the Springboks' victory of 33-3.

On 10 August 1921, he equalled this feat against Otago in the next victory of 11-3 to become the first South African to score a double hat-trick on New Zealand soil.

Yet this was not enough as Zeller scored a further four tries in the match against Auckland North a week-and-a-half later on 20 August, when the Springboks defeated the home side by 24-8.

This gave him the further accolade of being the first-ever Springbok to score four tries on New Zealand soil.