LIST: The 15 father-son combinations to have represented the Springboks

There have been 15 instances of fathers and their sons representing the Springboks.

Scrumhalf Robert du Preez holds the record of having three sons to have played for the reigning world champions, Robert jnr, Jean-Luc and Dan.

Meanwhile, Des van Jaarsveldt boasts the honour of being the oldest living Springbok according to the history books.

Van Jaarsveldt was born in Bulawayo in then Rhodesia and on Easter Sunday this year celebrated his 95th birthday having been born on 31 March 1929.

He was educated at Milton Junior and Plumtree Schools in Bulawayo.

Van Jaarsveldt captained the Springboks in his only Test – against Scotland at the Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 30 April 1960.

He scored a try that day (worth three points at the time) in a 18-10 victory for the Springboks.

Van Jaarsveldt played both on the wing and at flank.

He was affectionately nicknamed the “Bald Eagle” in his playing days due to his pace and bald head.

He became the first Rhodesian to captain South Africa.

Upon retiring from playing, he acted as a coach and administrator for Rhodesian rugby during the transition of the country into Zimbabwe.

In addition to his rugby career, he also represented Southern Rhodesia as a heavyweight boxer in the 1950 South African Championships.

He was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1963 New Year Honours for “services to sport in Southern Rhodesia”.

Van Jaarsveldt briefly entered politics in 1983, unsuccessfully standing for former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith’s Republican Front for a seat in the Senate of Zimbabwe where he lost the election after a drawing of lots on a 10-10 tied vote.

Des van Jaarsveldt is Springbok number 354.

WHO’S THE YOUNGEST SPRINGBOK?

Meanwhile, many will be forgiven for thinking that Frans Steyn is the youngest ever Springbok – or perhaps Canan Moodie for that matter.

While both do feature among the 15 youngest players to ever make their debuts in the famed green and gold jerseys, neither are the youngest to have done so.

As many as 14 teenagers feature in the Top 15 youngest Springboks of all time.

One has to go back 133 years to find the youngest.

That was Jack Hartley on 5 September 1891 on the tour of Britain.

Hartley was just 18 years and 18 days when he made his debut for South Africa.

TOP 15 YOUNGEST SPRINGBOKS OF ALL TIME