HO de Villiers
Full names: Henry Oswald
Date of birth: 10 Mar 1945
Place of birth: Johannesburg
School: Dale College
Springbok no: 418
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.83m, 84.2kg
Date of death: 20 Feb 2022 (Age 76)

Test summary: Tests: 14 Tries: 0
First Test: 15 Jul 1967 Age:22 Full Back against France at Kingspark, Durban
Last Test: 24 Jan 1970 Age:24 Full Back against Wales at Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
15 Jul 196722Full BackFranceWin: 26-34 conversions, 1 penaltyKingspark, DurbanWP
22 Jul 196722Full BackFranceWin: 16-32 conversionsFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
29 Jul 196722Full BackFranceLose: 14-19 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
12 Aug 196722Full BackFranceDraw: 6-61 penaltyNewlands, Cape TownWP
09 Nov 196823Full BackFranceWin: 12-9 Stade Municipal, BordeauxWP
16 Nov 196823Full BackFranceWin: 16-11 Stade Olympique, Colombes, ParisWP
02 Aug 196924Full BackAustraliaWin: 30-11 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
16 Aug 196924Full BackAustraliaWin: 16-9 Kingspark, DurbanWP
06 Sep 196924Full BackAustraliaWin: 11-3 Newlands, Cape TownWP
20 Sep 196924Full BackAustraliaWin: 19-8 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
06 Dec 196924Full BackScotlandLose: 3-6 Murrayfield, EdinburghWP
20 Dec 196924Full BackEnglandLose: 8-11 Twickenham, LondonWP
10 Jan 197024Full BackIrelandDraw: 8-81 conversion, 1 penaltyAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinWP
24 Jan 197024Full BackWalesDraw: 6-61 penaltyMillenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffWP

H.O. de Villiers : Doc Craven

I went to Dale College one year and the headmaster, a Mr Searle, told me he had a future Springbok who was then playing for the school.

"H.O." was a good looking, clean-cut youngster who was headboy of the school. I addressed the pupils and it was his duty to thank me. I understood he was due to come to Stellenbosch and was looking forward to having him. But when next I heard he was at UCT, and while being disappointed I nevertheless knew he was in good hands.

"H.O." eventually became a Springbok due as much to his adventurous spirit as his natural talent, physical ability and courage.

He revolutionised fullback play in his short career with his willingness to attack at all times, and has gone down in our annals as one of the greatest fullbacks of all time.