Balie Swart
Full names: Izak Stephanus de Villiers
Date of birth: 18 May 1964
Place of birth: Malmesbury
School: Paarl Gimnasium
Springbok no: 595
Debut test province: Lions
Physical: 1.85m, 109.8kg
Current age: 59

Test summary: Tests: 16 Tries: 0
First Test: 31 Jul 1993 Age:29 Tight-head Prop against Australia at Sydney Football Stadium (Aussie stadium), Sydney
Last Test: 3 Aug 1996 Age:32 Tight-head Prop against Australia at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
31 Jul 199329Tight-head PropAustraliaWin: 19-12 Sydney Football Stadium (Aussie stadium), SydneyLions
14 Aug 199329Loose-head PropAustraliaLose: 20-28 Ballymore, BrisbaneLions
21 Aug 199329Loose-head PropAustraliaLose: 12-19 Sydney Football Stadium (Aussie stadium), SydneyLions
06 Nov 199329Tight-head PropArgentinaWin: 29-26 Ferrocarril-Oeste Stadium, Buenos AiresLions
04 Jun 199430Loose-head PropEnglandLose: 15-32 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaLions
11 Jun 199430Loose-head PropEnglandWin: 27-9 Newlands, Cape TownLions
09 Jul 199430Loose-head PropNew ZealandLose: 14-22 Carisbrook, DunedinLions
06 Aug 199430Loose-head PropNew ZealandDraw: 18-18 Eden Park, AucklandLions
15 Oct 199430ReserveArgentinaWin: 46-26 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
13 Apr 199530Tight-head PropSamoaWin: 60-8 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
25 May 199531Tight-head PropAustraliaWin: 27-18 Newlands, Cape TownLions
10 Jun 199531Tight-head PropSamoaWin: 42-14 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
17 Jun 199531Tight-head PropFranceWin: 19-15 Kingspark, DurbanLions
24 Jun 199531Tight-head PropNew ZealandWin: 15-12 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
02 Sep 199531Loose-head PropWalesWin: 40-11 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
03 Aug 199632Tight-head PropAustraliaWin: 25-19 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinLions

Top 50 Boks: 27 – Balie Swart : SARugby.com

Swart is regarded as one of the best scrummaging props in South African rugby history. He was primary a tighthead but could also shift to loosehead with relative ease. His power coupled with his technical prowess made him a dominant force in the all-important set piece and made for solid, front foot ball for the backs.

Balie was the rock of the 1995 World Cup winning Springbok front row and played in all four of South Africa’s most gruelling games – the opening clash against the Wallabies, the quarter-final match against Samoa, the nail biting semi-final against France and the historic 15-12 win over the All Blacks in the final.

Swart’s international career spanned from 1993-1996 during which he played in 16 Tests. He made his Springbok debut against Australia in Sydney on July 31, 1993 and also played his final Test against the men from down under with South Africa winning both encounters. He continued playing provincial rugby for Transvaal (Lions) until 1999.

After his playing career, he went into coaching and returned to the Springbok fold as forwards coach. He was recently assigned as a referee selector for the 2010 season by SA Rugby to assist coaches and referees in the proper application of scrum law.

Records/Honours:

  • Member of the World Cup winning Springbok squad, 1995

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