Alex Frew
Full names: Alexander
Date of birth: 24 Oct 1877
Place of birth: Newmilns, Ayrshire, Scotland
School: Spiers School, UK
Springbok no: 68
Debut test province: Transvaal
Date of death: 29 Apr 1947 (Age 69)

Test summary: Tests: 1 Tries: 1
First Test: 29 Aug 1903 Age:25 Forward against Britain at Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg
Last Test: 29 Aug 1903 Age:25 Forward against Britain at Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
29 Aug 190325Forward (C)BritainDraw: 10-101 tryWanderers (Old Wanderers), JohannesburgTvl

Alex Frew : Doc Craven

When the British side toured South Africa in 1903 the first test match was played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on a Wednesday, the 26th of August.

By sheer coincidence the British captain on that occasion was a Scot, Mark Morrison, and the South African captain, Alex Frew was also a Scot, having represented Scotland three times in 1901.

Amazingly enough, the referee, W. P. Donaldson was also Scottish having played for Scotland from 1893 to 1899. Perhaps it just worked out that way or maybe Bill Donaldson was being diplomatic, but the result of the match was a draw, 10-10.

Frew had come to South Africa in 1902 to take up an appointment at the Orange River Station Refugee Camp, situated between Bloemfontein and Prieska. The name refugee camp was in fact a euphemism for its proper name concentration camp.

The camp on the Orange River was not wholesome-devoid of qualified nurses with foreign doctors unable to speak English or Afrikaans. While there Frew played for Collegians in Bloemfontein but by 1903 he was in Johannesburg.

He passed away in Hout Bay on the 29th of April, 1947 aged 71.