Willem Hendrik “Champion” Myburgh was born on 10 October 1897 in Paarl, where he grew up steeped in the traditions of South African rugby. He attended Paarl Boys’ High and later Piketberg, developing in his youth into a skilled and agile scrumhalf. Despite not being among the biggest players on the pitch, he combined speed, vision, and tenacity to rise through provincial ranks. His provincial rugby base was Western Transvaal, where his performances caught the eye of national selectors.

Myburgh’s moment on the international stage came in 1924, when he earned his Springbok cap in a test match against the visiting British side at Kingsmead in Durban. On 16 August of that year, he lined up at scrumhalf for his sole test appearance - a proud achievement in an era when opportunities to play for the Springboks were rare and fiercely contested. Although his time in the national jersey was brief, it placed him among the early pioneers who laid the groundwork for South Africa’s rugby tradition.

After his brief international outing, Myburgh continued contributing to provincial rugby, remaining respected by teammates and opponents for his determination and skill. His legacy endures as part of the early lineage of Springbok players - men who carried the sport’s values forward in challenging times, and whose efforts helped establish the identity and standards of South African rugby in its formative decades.