Diederick Johannes Putter who died on October 31, 2002, aged 70 was a powerful prop in an era of powerful props in South Africa, eventually making the Springbok side at the age of 31 against the Wallabies in 1963, playing in the first, third and fourth tests. The Wallabies led the series 2-1 going into the deciding Port Elizabeth test, a day of rioting at the Crusaders Ground when black supporters expressed their displeasure at the Wallaby defeat. Putter was cut in the mouth by a missile hurled onto the field.

In 1955 he was in the Western Transvaal team that shocked the great 1955 Lions, beating them 9-6 in the opening match of their tour.

He was regarded as a certainty to play New Zealand in 1956 but he combined his honeymoon with the trials in Cape Town and did not make the side. He captained South West Africa in 1967 after moving to Windhoek and in the following year he joined the newly founded Far North union after moving to teach near Pietersburg. His last season was in 1969 when he played against the Wallabies who beat Far North 26-0.