Bert Kipling
Full names: Herbert George
Date of birth: 24 Dec 1903
Place of birth: Kimberley
School: Beaconsfield, Kimberley
Springbok no: 226
Debut test province: Griqualand West
Physical: 1.83m, 91.63kg
Date of death: 13 Sep 1981 (Age 77)

Test summary: Tests: 9 Tries: 0
First Test: 5 Dec 1931 Age:27 Hooker against Wales at St. Helens, Swansea
Last Test: 2 Sep 1933 Age:29 Hooker against Australia at Springbokpark, Bloemfontein
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
05 Dec 193127HookerWalesWin: 8-3 St. Helens, SwanseaGriquas
19 Dec 193127HookerIrelandWin: 8-3 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinGriquas
02 Jan 193228HookerEnglandWin: 7-0 Twickenham, LondonGriquas
16 Jan 193228HookerScotlandWin: 6-3 Murrayfield, EdinburghGriquas
08 Jul 193329HookerAustraliaWin: 17-3 Newlands, Cape TownTvl
22 Jul 193329HookerAustraliaLose: 6-21 Kingsmead, DurbanTvl
12 Aug 193329HookerAustraliaWin: 12-3 Ellispark, JohannesburgTvl
26 Aug 193329HookerAustraliaWin: 11-0 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port ElizabethTvl
02 Sep 193329HookerAustraliaLose: 4-15 Springbokpark, BloemfonteinTvl

Bert Kipling : Doc Craven

Bert and his brother Jock were great Griqualand West players.

The story has it that the selectors intended selecting Jock but chose Bert instead for the 1931/132 tour. Jock was a very good forward as well as a hooker, and Bert was a hooker, pure, and a wonderful one at that.

I haven't come across his type again. He would say to me: "You put the ball in whenever you like - I'll be ready, anytime.

It's not for you to tell me when to strike. If you do, you'll be telling the opponents as well."

What a pleasure it was to put a ball into the scrum for a hooker who was always prepared and who always hooked it.