Jan Willem Lotz

Jan Lotz
Full names: Jan Willem
Date of birth: 26 Aug 1910
Place of birth: Krugersdorp
School: Krugersdorp High
Springbok no: 255
Debut test province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.83m, 92.08kg
Date of death: 13 Aug 1986 (Age 75)

Test summary: Tests: 8 Tries: 1
First Test: 26 Jun 1937 Age:26 Hooker against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Last Test: 10 Sep 1938 Age:28 Hooker against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
26 Jun 1937 26 Hooker Australia Win: 9-5 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Tvl
17 Jul 1937 26 Hooker Australia Win: 26-17 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Tvl
14 Aug 1937 26 Hooker New Zealand Lose: 7-13 Athletic Park, Wellington Tvl
04 Sep 1937 27 Hooker New Zealand Win: 13-6 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Tvl
25 Sep 1937 27 Hooker New Zealand Win: 17-6 Eden Park, Auckland Tvl
06 Aug 1938 27 Hooker Britain Win: 26-12 Ellispark, Johannesburg Tvl
03 Sep 1938 28 Hooker Britain Win: 19-3 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Tvl
10 Sep 1938 28 Hooker Britain Lose: 16-21 1 try Newlands, Cape Town Tvl

Jan Lotz : Doc Craven
Jan Lotz : Doc Craven
Jan Lotz' brother came from Transvaal to my hostel at Stellenbosch where he proceeded to play centre, sometimes second team, sometimes first. About 1930 and after the initiation - I was then in my second year - he said: "My brother is going to play rugby for South Africa. His name is Jan and he is a hooker."

"How can you possibly make such a prediction at this stage?" I asked, and forgot all about this particular conversation until we played in the trials in 1937. There I saw Jan Lotz in action. What a wonderful striker and player he was.

However, there were a few things about which he was rather particular. For instance, when it came to the scrumhalf's duties concerning the hooker.

Firstly, he would not allow the scrumhalf to put the ball into the scrum until he felt that the entire pack was ready. And he would often say: "Wag, Danie, wag wag wag." ("Wait, Danie, wait wait wait"). Before that he would say: "Kom Ferdie, Ferdie, jy druk nie. Phillip, ek wil meer van jou hê. Fanie, kom nader na my toe," ("Come on Ferdie, you aren't shoving enough. Phillip, I want more from you. Fanie, get in a bit closer"), and then he would say: "Nou's ons reg." ("OK, now we're ready.")

Secondly, in the days when the wings threw the ball in, and he as hooker stood in the front of the line-out, they would sometimes throw the ball directly to his feet. He would then kick the ball out yards and yards, gaining further ground for his team.

It was a tactical move which had been worked out with his Transvaal teammates, like Tallie Broodryk, and subsequently with Freddie Turner and his other wings. It was a totally unexpected move and he could kick the ball out with both feet, depending which side of the field was being played.

What a wonderful man, a clever player and one of the game's greatest characters.

Jan Lotz : Chris Schoeman
In the days when hookers still hooked, Jan Lotz was one of the greatest strikers of the ball on the international scene. A powerful, hard and uncompromising forward, he was a clever player and one of the game's greatest characters. He played his first Test for South Africa in 1937 against Australia in Sydney, and his last in 1938 against the British Lions at Newlands and, had the Second World War not intervened - when he was only 27 - he would have gone on to even greater heights at international level.

In i947, nevertheless, he was still playing hooker for Transvaal in the Currie Cup final against Western Province. He was a dedicated and durable player who played 18 out of the first 20 matches on the 1937 New Zealand tour, during which he made a lasting impression on the local fans. Where the New Zealanders at the time believed in a smaller man for the hooker's position, Lotz was a big hooker at six foot and just over 200 pounds. He believed in solid, tight binding in the scrum and would not allow his scrumhalf to put the ball into the scrum until he felt that the entire pack was ready.