Marthinus "Oupa" Versfeld

Marthinus "Oupa" Versfeld and his three brothers all faced Bill MacLagan's 1891 British tourists. Charles "Hasie" and "Oupa" played alongside John/Jan in a Cape Town XV. Hasie became the first South African to score a try against an international touring side in Cape Town's 1-15 loss at Newlands on 9 July 1891. Tries then had a value of only 1 point, and Hasie's try was the only point scored against the Brits on their entire 1891 tour. Marthinus "Oupa"(3 caps) and Charles (1 cap) went on to represent South Africa's national team.

Marthinus Versfeld - Sterfkennis

Oupa Versfeld
Full names: Marthinus
Date of birth: 15 May 1860
Place of birth: Cape Town
Schools: Green Point Grammar School SACS
Springbok no: 7
Debut test province: Western Province
Date of death: 1 Sep 1931 (Age 71)

Test summary: Tests: 3 Tries: 0
First Test: 30 Jul 1891 Age:31 Halfback against Britain at Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth
Last Test: 5 Sep 1891 Age:31 Halfback against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
30 Jul 1891 31 Halfback Britain Lose: 0-4 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth WP
29 Aug 1891 31 Halfback Britain Lose: 0-3 Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley WP
05 Sep 1891 31 Halfback Britain Lose: 0-4 Newlands, Cape Town WP

The Versfeld brothers
The Versfeld brothers
In the 1891 tour, South African teams only scored 1 try (1point) against the visiting British Team in the opening match of the tour when "Hasie" Versfeld succeeded in crossing their line. Hasie, therefore, occupies a unique place in our history.

His brother Marthinus ("Oupa"), is one of four players who represented us in all three matches in 1891, the others being Ben Duff, Alf Richards and Chubb Vigne. Marthinus played against the visitors no less than seven times. Two of his other brothers also played against them, J. and R.L.O Versveld.

Hasie and Oupa Versfeld, therefore, became the first of many pairs of brothers to represent South Africa.

Forwards in those days were selected in order of merit, and Marthinus was the last in the team which played for the Cape Clubs against the visitors. He was promoted to third for Western Province, but was always first in all three tests.

R.L.O Versfeld represented the Transvaal Country Districts as a wing. He is, of course, better known as Loftus Versfeld, whose name has been given to the field at the headquarters of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union in recognition of the many services he rendered to rugby in the administrative capital.

Versfeld straat : G.J. van Eck.
VERSFELD. Vroeg in die tagtigerjare was vier Versfelds, nl. Marthinus, Loftus, John en Charlie lid van die bekende Hamiltonrugbyklub in Kaapstad.

Die eerste paar rugbybroers wat vir S.A. gespeel het was Marthinus en Charlie ("Hasie") en wel teen die Britse toerspan in 1901. Hulle het ook saam in die laaste van die drie internasionale wedstryde op 5 September op Nuweland gespeel - Marthinus (asook Ben Duff) het in aldrie die 1891-toetswedstryde gespeel.

In die heel eerste wedstryd van hierdie toer, nl. teen die Kaapse Klubs op 9 Julie te Nuweland, het "Hasie" die eerste "drie" (toe slegs 1 punt) aangeteken wat ooit teen 'n toerspan in ons land behaal is - die Britte het nl. al hul 19 Wedstryde gewen en op die hele 1891-toer is net die een punt teen hulle aangeteken deur "Hasie" wat dus 'n unieke rol in ons rugbygeskiedenis beklee.

Marthinus en "Hasie" is albei te Constantia gebore en het die Greenpoint Grammar School besoek.

Behalwe Marthinus en Charlie het nog twee van die Versfeld-broers, nl. J. en R. L. O. teen die besoekers gespeel, hoewel nie as springbokke nie.

Robert Loftus Versfeld (beter bekend as Loftus Versfeld) het, alhoewel hy nie 'n rugbyspringbok was nie, vir die Transvaalse Platteland op die vleuel teen die besoekers gespeel. Hy het so baie vir rugby in Pretoria gedoen (waar hy in 1888 ander weiveld kom soek het, nadat hy 5 of 6 van sy eerste rugbyjare sy bydrae in die Hamiltontrui gelewer het; in Murraysburg as prokureur werksaam was; daarna in Uitenhage die Union-rugbyklub gestig het en kaptein daarvan was) dat sy naam aan die hoofkwartier van die Noord-Transvaalse Rugbyveld (Loftus Versfeldterrein, Pretoria) gegee is.

Loftus wat ook te Constantia, Kaap, gebore is (op 7 Desember 1862), "died of heart failure whilst watching the Transvaal vs. O.F.S. Currie Cup match at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on 4.5.1932".

L.W.: Onder 'n foto van R. L. O. (Loftus) Versfeld, op. bl. 237, Pretoria 1855-1955. word sy sterfdatum aangegee as 5th May, 1932 wat m.i. 4th May moes gewees het, soos hierbo vermeld, aangesien dit op 'n Woensdag was - 'n gebruiklike rugbydag in die middel van die week. G.v.E.

BRONNE:
(1) DIFFORD, Ivor D.: History of SA. Rugby Football (1875-1932).
(2) CRAVEN, Danie: Springboks Down the Years.
(3) Rugby in Suid- Afrika.
(4) Die Huisgenoot, 8 Mei 1964, bl. 43
Verder oor R. L. O. Versfeld:
(i) Yskor Nuus: Aug. 1954, bl. 23: "Sportmanne - Ook hulle het S.A. help bou."
(ii) Pretoria (1855-1955). Geskiedenis van die Stad Pretoria -. Uitgegee deur die Stadsraad van Pretoria, 1955.

- Uit Pretoriana: Rugby Springbokke na wie straatname in Danville, Pretoria, vernoem is