Bert Kipling
Full names: Herbert George
Date of birth: 24 Dec 1903
Place of birth: Kimberley
School: Beaconsfield, Kimberley
Springbok no: 226
Springbok debut province: Griqualand West
Physical: 1.83m, 91.6kg
Date of death: 13 Sep 1981 (Age 77)
Test summary: Tests: 9 Tries: 0
First Test: 5 Dec 1931 Age 27 - Hooker against Wales at St. Helens, Swansea
Last Test: 2 Sep 1933 Age 29 - Hooker against Australia at Springbokpark, Bloemfontein
Tours Wales, Ireland, England & Scotland 1931-32
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
05 Dec 1931 27Hooker Wales St. Helens, Swansea Win: 8-3  Griquas
19 Dec 1931 27Hooker Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 8-3  Griquas
02 Jan 1932 28Hooker England Twickenham, London Win: 7-0  Griquas
16 Jan 1932 28Hooker Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 6-3  Griquas
08 Jul 1933 29Hooker Australia Newlands, Cape Town Win: 17-3  Tvl
22 Jul 1933 29Hooker Australia Kingsmead, Durban Lose: 6-21  Tvl
12 Aug 1933 29Hooker Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 12-3  Tvl
26 Aug 1933 29Hooker Australia Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 11-0  Tvl
02 Sep 1933 29Hooker Australia Springbokpark, Bloemfontein Lose: 4-15  Tvl

Bert and his brother Jock were great Griqualand West players.

The story has it that the selectors intended selecting Jock but chose Bert instead for the 1931/132 tour. Jock was a very good forward as well as a hooker, and Bert was a hooker, pure, and a wonderful one at that.

I haven't come across his type again. He would say to me: "You put the ball in whenever you like - I'll be ready, anytime.

It's not for you to tell me when to strike. If you do, you'll be telling the opponents as well."

What a pleasure it was to put a ball into the scrum for a hooker who was always prepared and who always hooked it.