Uncle Dobbin
Full names: Frederick James
Date of birth: 10 Oct 1879
Place of birth: Bethulie
School: Kimberley Boys' High
Springbok no: 67
Debut test province: Griqualand West
Physical: 1.68m, 71.2kg
Date of death: 5 Feb 1950 (Age 70)

Test summary: Tests: 9 Tries: 1
First Test: 29 Aug 1903 Age:23 Halfback against Britain at Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg
Last Test: 14 Dec 1912 Age:33 Halfback against Wales at Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
29 Aug 190323HalfbackBritainDraw: 10-101 tryWanderers (Old Wanderers), JohannesburgGriquas
05 Sep 190323HalfbackBritainDraw: 0-0 Kimberley Athletic Club Ground, KimberleyGriquas
17 Nov 190627HalfbackScotlandLose: 0-6 Hampden Park, GlasgowGriquas
01 Dec 190627HalfbackWalesWin: 11-0 St. Helens, SwanseaGriquas
08 Dec 190627HalfbackEnglandDraw: 3-3 Crystal Palace, LondonGriquas
06 Aug 191030HalfbackBritainWin: 14-10 Wanderers (Old Wanderers), JohannesburgGriquas
23 Nov 191233Halfback (C)ScotlandWin: 16-0 Inverleith, EdinburghGriquas
30 Nov 191233HalfbackIrelandWin: 38-0 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinGriquas
14 Dec 191233HalfbackWalesWin: 3-0 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffGriquas

Uncle Dobbin : Doc Craven

Dobbin's home in Kimberley was called "Rugby" and the lights in front of his house were made of leather, shaped like rugby balls-laces hanging down.

It is obvious therefore, that this giant of the past loved his game with a great passion.

Never having seen Dobbin play I am again obliged to fall back on Billy Millar's words and some verse written about Dobbin on the 1906/07 tour:

With pace and dash
Like lightning flash,
See him through tacklers weaving
His way - it lies
To brilliant tries,
The luckless loons deceiving.

And in defence
He is immense
A veritable "bobby,"
Who takes in charge
Both small and large:
Defending is his hobby.

Oh, five-feet six
Of guile and tricks!
Eleven-stone-three most gritty.
We've few like you to work the pack,
Or start a movement of attack,
In Britain - more's the pity!

As hard as nails,
He seldom fails
To cause opponents trouble;
He can't resist
To turn and twist,
And "jump Jim Crow" and double.