Henry “Skaap” Forrest was one of South African rugby’s most remarkable quick risers, going from a soccer player to a Springbok forward in just two seasons. Educated at King Edward VII School (KES) in Johannesburg, Forrest originally played only soccer before taking up rugby comparatively late.

After enrolling at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1929, he was persuaded to try his hand at rugby and was immediately placed in the forwards. His progress was astonishing - beginning in the university’s third team, he rose to the first XV before the end of his first season and was soon selected for Transvaal. His physical strength, scrummaging power, and relentless work ethic earned him the affectionate nickname “Skaap” (“Sheep”), and by 1931 - just two years after taking up the game - he was chosen for the Springboks.

Forrest toured with the 1931 - 32 Springboks to Britain and Ireland, where his robust play and endurance won admiration. Standing six feet tall and weighing 203 pounds (92 kg), he was an imposing presence in the scrum and loose play. His development was further shaped by the South African Universities tour to Kenya, which honed his tactical awareness and conditioning.

Skaap Forrest remains an enduring example of raw talent refined through determination - a player who switched codes, learned the game from scratch, and in record time became one of South Africa’s premier forwards of his generation.