Hennie van Zyl
Full names: Hendrik Jacobus
Date of birth: 31 Jan 1936
Place of birth: Ventersdorp
School: Ventersdorp
Springbok no: 357
Springbok debut province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.88m, 88.5kg
Current age: 88
Test summary: Tests: 10 Tries: 6
First Test: 25 Jun 1960 Age 24 - Left Wing against New Zealand at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Last Test: 12 Aug 1961 Age 25 - Left Wing against Australia at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
25 Jun 1960 24Left Wing New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 13-02 tries Tvl
23 Jul 1960 24Left Wing New Zealand Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 3-11  Tvl
13 Aug 1960 24Left Wing New Zealand Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Draw: 11-11  Tvl
27 Aug 1960 24Left Wing New Zealand Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 8-3  Tvl
17 Dec 1960 24Left Wing Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 8-3  Tvl
07 Jan 1961 24Left Wing England Twickenham, London Win: 5-0  Tvl
21 Jan 1961 24Left Wing Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 12-5  Tvl
13 May 1961 25Left Wing Ireland Newlands, Cape Town Win: 24-8  Tvl
05 Aug 1961 25Left Wing Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 28-33 tries Tvl
12 Aug 1961 25Left Wing Australia Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 23-111 try Tvl

Hendrik Jacobus van Zyl. This tall, long-striding wing-threequarter had a very good tour, only for it to end in tragedy for him. When the party arrived in Scotland he received the message that his father had been killed by lightning in the Western Transvaal, and I cannot think of anything worse for a young man to hear when, playing for his country, 6,000 miles from home. Hennie had become a popular figure, particularly in Wales, where he scored many excellent tries. He was much faster than he looked and an extremely difficult man to tackle, as his total of twelve tries suggests. His craggy face, with its serious expression, revealed a certain intensity of purpose, and if he decides to continue playing rugby he will remain a leading wing in South Africa, where the hard grounds must make him an even more formidable opponent. He started his rugby as a wing-forward and burst into the headlines in the First Test against New Zealand by scoring two brilliant tries which decided the match. Naturally, this secured his place in the remaining Tests in that series, but he was not first choice as a Test wing in Britain until Roux was injured.