Tommie Laubscher
Full names: Thomas Gersbach
Date of birth: 8 Oct 1963
Place of birth: Vredenburg
School: Vredenburg
Springbok no: 620
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Physical: 1.80m, 101.6kg
Date of death: 26 May 2007 (Age 43)
Test summary: Tests: 6 Tries: 0
First Test: 8 Oct 1994 Age 31 - Tight-head Prop against Argentina at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
Last Test: 18 Nov 1995 Age 32 - Tight-head Prop against England at Twickenham, London
Tours Scotland & Wales 1994 Italy & England 1995
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
08 Oct 1994 31Tight-head Prop Argentina Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 42-22  WP
15 Oct 1994 31Tight-head Prop Argentina Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 46-26  WP
19 Nov 1994 31Tight-head Prop Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 34-10  WP
26 Nov 1994 31Tight-head Prop Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 20-12  WP
12 Nov 1995 32Tight-head Prop Italy Olympic Stadium, Rome Win: 40-21  WP
18 Nov 1995 32Tight-head Prop England Twickenham, London Win: 24-14  WP

Thomas Gerbach “Tommie” Laubscher was born on 8 October 1963 in Vredenburg, a coastal town on South Africa’s West Coast. He attended Vredenburg High School, where his natural strength and tenacity soon set him apart on the rugby field. A late bloomer by professional standards, Laubscher worked his way through the ranks of club and provincial rugby, first representing Boland before earning a move to Western Province in the early 1990s. His formidable scrummaging and physical presence quickly made him a cornerstone of the Province pack and a fan favourite at Newlands.

Laubscher made his Springbok debut in 1994 against Argentina in Port Elizabeth, stepping into the international arena at a time when South African rugby was re-establishing itself on the world stage. Over the next two seasons, he earned six test caps and toured extensively with the Springboks, including trips to Europe and Britain. Renowned for his raw strength and honest work in the tight exchanges, he became respected among teammates and opponents alike for his unwavering determination and good-natured character. Though not part of the match-day squad during the 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, Laubscher was very much part of the wider Springbok setup that helped shape that era of renewal and national pride.

Back at provincial level, he remained a mainstay of the Western Province front row through the mid-1990s and was part of the squad that captured the Currie Cup in 1997. A gentle giant off the field, Laubscher was admired for his warmth, humility, and sense of humour - qualities that made him a beloved teammate and a true representative of the spirit of South African rugby. His teammates often spoke of his ability to lift the mood in the changing room as quickly as he could lift a scrum on the field.

Tragically, Laubscher’s life was cut short on 26 May 2007 in a road accident near his hometown of Vredenburg. He had stopped to assist a motorist who had struck a cow in heavy mist when another vehicle collided with the scene. In an act of instinctive bravery, he pushed his son out of harm’s way moments before the impact that claimed his own life. The rugby community mourned the loss deeply, remembering not only his strength and courage but also his kindness and selflessness - traits that defined him both on and off the field.