De Wet Ras
Full names: Wouter Johannes De Wet
Date of birth: 28 Jan 1954
Place of birth: Harrismith
School: Harrismith
Springbok no: 488
Springbok debut province: Orange Free State
Current age: 70
Test summary: Tests: 2 Tries: 0
First Test: 24 Jul 1976 Age 22 - Reserve against New Zealand at Kingspark, Durban
Last Test: 3 May 1980 Age 26 - Reserve against South America at Kingspark, Durban
Tours South America 1980
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
24 Jul 1976 22Reserve New Zealand Kingspark, Durban Win: 16-7  OFS
03 May 1980 26Reserve South America Kingspark, Durban Win: 18-9  OFS

No one who played against De Wet Ras, will ever forget his place-kicking abilities. Kicks of up to 65 metres were well within his range. This Kovsies old boy played just two Tests for the Springboks, but formidable players like Gerald Bosch and Naas Botha kept him out of the national team.

However, Bosch and Botha could not prevent Ras from establishing a number of records:

  • The most points for Free State in a career: 1,704 in 141 games.
  • The SA record for the highest number of conversions in a first-class game: 20 against Eastern Free State in 1977.
  • 1,210 Currie Cup career points.

    De Wet played 96 Currie Cup games for the Free State and was probably the first Free State player to move to Natal where he played 10 Currie Cup games. His relocation to Natal started a whole outflow of players moving to the coast; Henry Honiball, Ollie le Roux, Ruan Pienaar – to name just a few.

    Wouter Johannes de Wet Ras played his first Test against the All Blacks in Durban in 1976 and his last – ironically, also in Durban – against the South Americans in 1980.

    He is the half-brother of the well-known rugby promoter Willem Strauss.

    Although De Wet Ras has moved to the United Arab Emirates, he is still a keen Shimla supporter and follows the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International with keen interest.

    De Wet’s teenage son is a student at Grey College and is a promising rugby player.