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Jaap Bekker

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Jaap Bekker
Full nameHendrik Petrus Jordaan Bekker
Date of birth(1925-02-11)11 February 1925
Place of birthDordrecht, South Africa
Date of death6 August 1999(1999-08-06) (aged 74)
Place of deathPretoria, South Africa
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1952–56 South Africa 15 (3)

Hendrik Petrus Jordaan Bekker (11 February 1925 — 6 August 1999) was a South African rugby union international.

Born in Dordrecht, Bekker was the eldest of three brothers to play for the Springboks. Another brother, Daniel Bekker, was a two-time Olympic medalist in boxing.[1] He also had a sister who was a national record holder for shot put.[2]

Bekker was capped in 15 Test matches for the Springboks, debuting against England at Twickenham in 1952. A prop, he appeared in all six Tests for the Springboks on the 1956 tour of Australia and New Zealand, including a match up against All Blacks enforcer Kevin Skinner which left him bloodied.[3] He announced his retirement in 1957.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Five of family star in sport". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 May 1956.
  2. ^ "Cassiem brothers show the talent is there, hockey needs a brave sponsor". TimesLIVE. 14 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Kevin Skinner: All Black celebrated for a hard-man display against South Africa in 1956 which entered sporting mythology". The Independent. 25 July 2014.
  4. ^ "A Famous Rugger Tourist". Leicester Mercury. 18 January 1957.
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