Born in Constantia and educated in Cape Town, where he attended SACS, Versfeld was the oldest of five brothers, four of whom played representative rugby. He and his second youngest brother, Hasie represented South Africa. His brother Loftus played for Transvaal and as an administrator was a founding member of the Eastern Province Rugby Union and of the Pretoria Rugby Subunion, which in 1938 became Northern Transvaal. The rugby stadium, Loftus Versfeld is named after him. The middle brother, Jan Hendrik Christoffel (John) represented Western Province from 1885 to 1889. All four brothers were members and played for the Hamiltons RFC, based in Sea Point, Cape Town.[2] Versfeld died in 1931, in Cape Town, at the age of 71.
Rugby careeredit
Versfeld played provincial rugby with Western Province and made his debut for the union in 1884.[3] In 1885 all four brothers were in the Hamilton side that won the inaugural WP Grand Challenge Cup. In the same year they were on the Combined Cape Town team that competed in the first interprovincial competition at Grahamstown. Oupa and Hasie played alongside John in a Cape Town XV against Bill MacLagan's 1891 British tourists. Hasie became the first South African to score a try against an international touring side in Cape Town's 1–15 loss at Newlands on 9 July 1891.[2]
Versfeld made his only Test appearances for South Africa against the touring 1891 British Isles. He played, as a forward, in all three Test matches of what was South Africa's first series as a Test nation. His brother, Hasie Versfeld, was also selected to play in the 3rd Test of the series, making the Versfelds the first brothers to represent South Africa.[3]
^"Marthinus Versfeld". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
^ abParker, A. C. (1983). W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983. Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa) (1st ed.). Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa: WPRFU. pp. 18–21. ISBN0-620-06555-9. OCLC 54188953.
^ ab"Oupa Versfeld". Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
December 15, 2023
oupa, versfeld, marthinus, oupa, versfeld, 1860, september, 1931, south, african, international, rugby, union, player, birth, namemarthinus, versfelddate, birth, 1860, 1860place, birthcape, town, south, africadate, death1, september, 1931, 1931, aged, place, d. Marthinus Oupa Versfeld 15 May 1860 1 September 1931 was a South African international rugby union player 1 Oupa VersfeldBirth nameMarthinus VersfeldDate of birth 1860 05 15 15 May 1860Place of birthCape Town South AfricaDate of death1 September 1931 1931 09 01 aged 71 Place of deathCape Town South AfricaSchoolSACSNotable relative s Hasie Versfeld brother Loftus Versfeld brother John Versfeld brother Rugby union careerPosition s ForwardAmateur team s YearsTeamApps Points Hamiltons Provincial State sidesYearsTeamApps Points 1884 1892Western Province International careerYearsTeamApps Points 1891South Africa3 0 Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Rugby career 2 1 Test history 3 See also 4 ReferencesEarly life and family editBorn in Constantia and educated in Cape Town where he attended SACS Versfeld was the oldest of five brothers four of whom played representative rugby He and his second youngest brother Hasie represented South Africa His brother Loftus played for Transvaal and as an administrator was a founding member of the Eastern Province Rugby Union and of the Pretoria Rugby Subunion which in 1938 became Northern Transvaal The rugby stadium Loftus Versfeld is named after him The middle brother Jan Hendrik Christoffel John represented Western Province from 1885 to 1889 All four brothers were members and played for the Hamiltons RFC based in Sea Point Cape Town 2 Versfeld died in 1931 in Cape Town at the age of 71 Rugby career editVersfeld played provincial rugby with Western Province and made his debut for the union in 1884 3 In 1885 all four brothers were in the Hamilton side that won the inaugural WP Grand Challenge Cup In the same year they were on the Combined Cape Town team that competed in the first interprovincial competition at Grahamstown Oupa and Hasie played alongside John in a Cape Town XV against Bill MacLagan s 1891 British tourists Hasie became the first South African to score a try against an international touring side in Cape Town s 1 15 loss at Newlands on 9 July 1891 2 Versfeld made his only Test appearances for South Africa against the touring 1891 British Isles He played as a forward in all three Test matches of what was South Africa s first series as a Test nation His brother Hasie Versfeld was also selected to play in the 3rd Test of the series making the Versfelds the first brothers to represent South Africa 3 Test history edit No Opponents Results SA 1st Position Tries Date Venue1 nbsp British Isles 0 4 Forward 30 Jul 1891 Crusaders Ground Port Elizabeth2 nbsp British Isles 0 3 Forward 29 Aug 1891 Eclectic Cricket Ground Kimberley3 nbsp British Isles 0 4 Forward 5 Sep 1891 Newlands Cape TownSee also editList of South Africa national rugby union players Springbok no 7References edit Marthinus Versfeld ESPN scrum Retrieved 25 May 2020 a b Parker A C 1983 W P Rugby centenary 1883 1983 Western Province Rugby Football Union South Africa 1st ed Newlands Cape Town South Africa WPRFU pp 18 21 ISBN 0 620 06555 9 OCLC 54188953 a b Oupa Versfeld Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame Retrieved 16 July 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oupa Versfeld amp oldid 1163843367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
