|
Danie Craven (Daniël Hartman Craven) (11 October 1910 - 4 January 1994) is a former Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Springbok Rugby Union player as well as arguably South Africa's best and most well-known rugby administrator ever.
He was born in Lindley, Orange Free State province, South Africa and attended the Lindley High School there. The initial province he played for was Western Province.
He played his first test match on 5 December 1931 (in the scrum-half position) at the age of 21 against Wales at St Helens, Swansea. His last test match was on 10 September 1938 as captain (in the scrumhalf position) at the age of 27 against the British Lions at Newlands, Cape Town.
After his rugby-playing career ended, he became a national selector. He also managed and coached the Springbok rugby team. He became the president of the South African Rugby Board (SARB) in 1956 and was the executive president of its successor - the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) - when he died in 1993, in an unbroken presidency. He was a also member of the International Rugby Board during the same period and was its chairman on several occasions.
The South African Craven Week schools rugby competition is also named after him.
|
