Piet Malan

Pieter Malan (born 13 February 1919 in Parys, South Africa), more commonly known simply as Piet, played rugby union for the then Transvaal province as well as the Springbok rugby teams. He played the position of flanker.

Malan's sole cap came at the age of 30 on September 17th 1949 against the All Blacks at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, a game the Springboks went on to win 11-8 to take the series 4-0.

It is around this time that Malan made his famous suggestion to Danie Craven to organise a tournament for schoolboys to coincide with the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the South African Rugby Board, the implementation of which provided the groundwork for the Craven Week schools tournament.

As of 2005, Piet Malan is the oldest living Springbok at 86 years of age after Howard Watt, the longest surviving member of the superb 1937 Springbok tour to Australasia, died in August 2005.

External links

* [http://www.genslin.us/bokke/PlayerData.aspx?PlayerID=428 Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame profile]
* [http://www.epherald.co.za/herald/2005/08/22/sport/sp14_22082005.htm The Herald article: Last surviving member of 1937 Springbok squad dies]