Hannes Viljoen
Full names: Johannes Theodorus
Date of birth: 21 Apr 1943
Place of birth: Elliot
School: Tweespruit
Springbok no: 451
Springbok debut province: Natal
Physical: 1.86m, 81.7kg
Date of death: 13 Jan 2021 (Age 77)
Test summary: Tests: 3 Tries: 2
First Test: 17 Jul 1971 Age 28 - Left Wing against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Last Test: 7 Aug 1971 Age 28 - Left Wing against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tours Australia 1971
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
17 Jul 1971 28Left Wing Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 19-111 try Natal
31 Jul 1971 28Left Wing Australia Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Win: 14-61 try Natal
07 Aug 1971 28Left Wing Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 18-6  Natal

Johannes Theodorus Viljoen was born on 21 April 1943. Hannes played his first game for Natal in 1965and his last in 1972. He represented Natal on no fewer than 63 occasions. The highlight of Hannes’s career for Natal would have come in Keith Oxlee’s farewell match in 1967. Natal played against the SA Barbarians at Kings Park on 10 October 1967. The Barbarians had no less than ten Springboks in the team and Natal still managed to win 32-22.

Hannes was chosen for the fifth Springbok tour to Australia. This was the first time that South Africa went to Australia and not as part of a New Zealand tour. Hannes played in ten of the thirteen tour matches including all three tests. In total he scored sixteen tries in all the games and this includes two test tries and five tries against Western Australia. This was the first time in history that South Africa had not lost a single tour match. South Africa had a total of 396 points with only 102 scored against them.

Hannes Viljoen’s greatest triumph would have come when he was named sportsman of the year for his performance on the wing for Natal and South Africa in 1971.