Dick Putter
Full names: Diederick Johannes
Date of birth: 13 Feb 1932
Place of birth: Nylstroom
School: Nylstroom
Springbok no: 386
Springbok debut province: Western Transvaal
Physical: 1.83m, 93.0kg
Date of death: 31 Oct 2002 (Age 70)
Test summary: Tests: 3 Tries: 0
First Test: 13 Jul 1963 Age 31 - Tight-head Prop against Australia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Last Test: 7 Sep 1963 Age 31 - Tight-head Prop against Australia at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
Tours
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
13 Jul 1963 31Tight-head Prop Australia Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 14-3  W-Tvl
10 Aug 1963 31Tight-head Prop Australia Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 5-9  W-Tvl
07 Sep 1963 31Tight-head Prop Australia Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 22-6  W-Tvl

Diederick Johannes Putter who died on October 31, 2002, aged 70 was a powerful prop in an era of powerful props in South Africa, eventually making the Springbok side at the age of 31 against the Wallabies in 1963, playing in the first, third and fourth tests. The Wallabies led the series 2-1 going into the deciding Port Elizabeth test, a day of rioting at the Crusaders Ground when black supporters expressed their displeasure at the Wallaby defeat. Putter was cut in the mouth by a missile hurled onto the field.

In 1955 he was in the Western Transvaal team that shocked the great 1955 Lions, beating them 9-6 in the opening match of their tour.

He was regarded as a certainty to play New Zealand in 1956 but he combined his honeymoon with the trials in Cape Town and did not make the side. He captained South West Africa in 1967 after moving to Windhoek and in the following year he joined the newly founded Far North union after moving to teach near Pietersburg. His last season was in 1969 when he played against the Wallabies who beat Far North 26-0.