Manie Geere
Full names: Vernon
Date of birth: 9 Sep 1905
Place of birth: Pretoria
School: Paarl Boys High
Springbok no: 227
Springbok debut province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.83m, 90.7kg
Date of death: 25 Oct 1989 (Age 84)
Test summary: Tests: 5 Tries: 0
First Test: 8 Jul 1933 Age 27 - Lock against Australia at Newlands, Cape Town
Last Test: 2 Sep 1933 Age 27 - Loose-head Prop against Australia at Springbokpark, Bloemfontein
Tours Wales, Ireland, England & Scotland 1931-32
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
08 Jul 1933 27Lock Australia Newlands, Cape Town Win: 17-3  Tvl
22 Jul 1933 27Lock Australia Kingsmead, Durban Lose: 6-21  Tvl
12 Aug 1933 27Flank Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 12-3  Tvl
26 Aug 1933 27Loose-head Prop Australia Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 11-0  Tvl
02 Sep 1933 27Loose-head Prop Australia Springbokpark, Bloemfontein Lose: 4-15  Tvl

Manie Geere is someone who did not get the credit he deserved. A quiet man, I think he felt he had been given a raw deal. He deserved more from life than he got.

Manie played rugby when specialisation of the forwards had not yet taken over totally. Like Phil Mostert and Boy Louw, he could play in virtually any position in the scrum but someone else was always preferred in the test matches on the 1931/32 tour.

That was a great pity because he could've played many more times for South Africa than he actually did. Fortunately, in 1933 against Australia, he played in all five tests.

He was aggressive, but never started the trouble and only retaliated when he had to. I for one, would never want to cross swords with a man like him. A tough man was Manie Geere.