Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939), Thursday 8 July 1937, page 15


I SPRINGBOK NAMES IN THE

NEWS

Policeman And Dctective To Solve All Crimes

(By a 'Cape. Times' Writer)

SOUTH AFRICAN selectors have picked a thick-set, speed}' policeman in J. A. Broodrijk, and a detectivesergeant in 29-year-old L. C. ('Snowball') Strachan, to do the investigation of all crimes on the tour. . Then Capetown's Mauritz Van den Berg, who owns an ice-cream factory, will be able to provide ice-creams at halftime; while curly-haired, freckled Louis Babrow will be able to cure the team's ills one day. He is studying medicine at the U.C.T.

Boy Louw

THE BANKER OURLY- 'Boy' Louiv, South Africa's No. 1 forward, will be able to look after the team's pocket-money, for he works in the Standard Bank and knows ail about it. ' If any All Black -brings an action against a Springbok loi' 'pinching' his best girl, ; he will be able to be defended by A ttornay Dcndy . Lawton, who speaks - as .well rand' as fast as lie runs down the. touch -lino. . While r am sure -, that farmer Phil Nel, who , hails from .Greytown, Natal, will be a great asset to tho team. 'GOVERNMENT.. EXPERT' But. tlio smartest 'movei of the' selec-tors was :? to send a- Government expert in animal . husbandry .111: tall, solemnraced William Fordmand-Bcrgh. Springboks always need- such' exports; : As for ' sending' 26-year-old H. J. Martin, who' is:a' pilot in ;the S.A.. Air Force, it '.is quite: clears what ^tho- air-minded selectors' had Jin mind. : ' 'GERRY'S' DANCING ' , Our -Gerry' Hamilton Brand, who Is a sports outfitter, is :so well-known that I don't know if -there is anything left lb say : but' wait; ? did: you : know that .he was christened -Hamilton because he was .born: two days.after.-Hamiltons. won; the Grand : Challenge,. Cup in: 1006? . ? And do , you kno\v . that 'Gerry's' -ballroom dancing has niuch^improved?'AH. MON D1EU!'; . When 'Gerry' toured Britain with-.; tlie 1931 Springboks, a ; dunce '..was,, given for the. team in London. One of tlie. Springboks was partnered liy a sweet little French girl, to -whom lie was speaking about his tcnni-mates. 'And what flo you think ol Brand?' he asked. 'VVI10 is it you call Brand?' was tlie reply. ?'Wlw, Gerry, of coursc,' said the Springbok. 'All, oui, Gcrrie,' came the answer, ... 'on the playing Held he is, as you . say, siiperlie,' hut 011 the dancing| lloor, ah, 111011 Dicu!' PIERRE AT THE PALACE The . idol ..of ', tho crowas. will be; of coursc, .diminutive,- -will-o'-the-wisp Pierre do .Villiers; he was so oil the 1031-32- four. : .. : .' ? And do you remember the good story the Springboks brought back about liini?- ? ? . . . . ? ?The -team paid a visit to Buckingham

'Gerry1' Brand

Palace.- where they met tho late King George V. .When it came to Pierre's turn lo meet the: King, His Majesty looked at , the. tiny scrum-half and . said :?'... ? 'Surely you are too small :to bo one of. the players?'.. . 'Oh, 110, Mr. King,' was- the. reply, 'I . am the scrum-lialf;' - . - - : 'TIIL BABY' There is romanco in -the- selection- of 10-year-old John: Bester, 'llie: baby', ofthe team.vfor. only last season: he was playing.1:!!! the Gardens: Under. Ill, al- . though ho made his mark: quickly and roso to the first team;- . : ? ; llo is employed by a wool firm at Paarden Island; is a quiet., modest sor.t of .fellow«.v-'.w.- ? , But here are, a few other curiosities: ? Man rite . Van : der Berg played no Rugby from 1023. to 1030 owing --to business reasons; when. he restarted lie played in the sixth . team (Gardens), and by the end of the season rose to the first team. ' . : ? Bergh grew so fast that from 1021 to 1027 lie had to stop playing Rugby because it was too dangerous for liim.