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Johnny Bester

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Johnny Bester
Birth nameJohannes Lodewyk Augustinus Bester
Date of birth25 December 1917
Place of birthMoorreesburg, Western Cape, South Africa
Date of death14 May 1977(1977-05-14) (aged 59)
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Jan van Riebeeck, Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Gardens RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1938–1939 Western Province ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1938 South Africa 2 (6)
1937 South Africa (tour) 12 (24)

Johannes Lodewyk Augustinus 'Johnny' Bester (25 December 1917 – 14 May 1977) was a South African rugby union player.[1]

Playing career

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Bester matriculated at Jan van Riebeeck High School in Cape Town, after which he joined the Gardens Rugby Football Club, also situated within the Cape Town City Bowl. Shortly thereafter, the 19-year-old Bester became the youngest member of Phil Nel's famous 1937 touring team to Australia and New Zealand. Although he did not play in any test matches on tour, he did play in twelve tour matches, scoring eight tries.[2]

Bester, one of the few players to represent the Springboks before playing for his provincial team, (Danie Craven was another) made his debut for Western Province against Sam Walker's touring British Isles team at Newlands on the 25th of June 1938. Bester scored two tries in this match and Western Province won 21–11.[3] Bester made his test debut for the Springboks, in the second test match against the touring British Isles team on the 3rd of September 1938 at the Crusaders Ground in Port Elizabeth. He also played in the third test against the British Isles and scored a try in each of his test matches.[2]

Test history

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No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue
1. United Kingdom British Isles 19–3 Wing 1 3 September 1938 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
2. United Kingdom British Isles 16–21 Wing 1 10 September 1938 Newlands, Cape Town

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Johnny Bester". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b Greyvenstein, Chris. (1995). Springbok rugby : an illustrated history : the proud story of South African rugby from 1891 to the 1995 World Cup. Cape Town: Sable Media. pp. 93–95. ISBN 0958406227. OCLC 35978057.
  3. ^ 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. 44–45. ISBN 0620065559. OCLC 54188953.