Freddy Turner
Birth nameFrederick George Turner
Date of birth(1914-03-18)18 March 1914
Place of birthPort Elizabeth, Cape Province
Date of death12 September 2003(2003-09-12) (aged 89)
Place of deathBryanston, Johannesburg
SchoolGrey High School, Port Elizabeth
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Centre, Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Crusader RFC ()
Pirates Club ()
Hamiltons ()
Military College ()
Union ()
Wanderers Club ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1932–34 Eastern Province ()
1935–38 Transvaal ()
1939–41 Western Province ()
Northern Transvaal ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1933–38 South Africa 11 (29)

Frederick George Turner (18 March 1914 – 12 September 2003) was a South African rugby union international who represented his country in 11 Tests. Sometimes his name is given as "Freddie" Turner.[1]

Cricket career

Turner, a graduate of Grey High School, played three first-class cricket matches for Eastern Province in the 1931/32 Currie Cup season. After exactly ten years out of cricket, while he concentrated on rugby, he returned to the field in January 1942 and made his fourth and last first-class appearance, this time with Transvaal.[2] His only wicket in these matches was Rhodesian Victor Robinson while he failed to impress with the bat.

Rugby union career

He played his early rugby at the Crusader RFC and represented four provinces, Eastern Province, Western Province, Transvaal and Northern Transvaal at provincial rugby. On 8 July 1933, Turner became the 232nd Springbok when he made his international debut, against Australia in Cape Town. Aged just 19 at the time, he was also the first South African rugby player to fly to a Test Match after being called up late. He later told friends and family that the biggest challenge that day was finding the airport in Port Elizabeth.[3]

He went on to be capped a further ten times at Test level, including a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1937. He made his last appearance against the British Isles in 1938 where he scored his fourth and final try. Used mainly on the wing but also at centre and fullback, Turner was handy at kicking goals and managed four conversions and three penalties in his career.[4]

Test history

No.OpponentsResults
(SA 1st)		PositionPointsDatesVenue
1. Australia17–3Wing8 Jul 1933Newlands, Cape Town
2. Australia6–21Centre22 Jul 1933Kingsmead, Durban
3. Australia12–3Wing3 (1 try)12 Aug 1933Ellis Park, Johannesburg
4. Australia9–5Wing26 Jun 1937Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
5. Australia26–17Wing17 Jul 1937Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
6. New Zealand7–13Fullback14 Aug 1937Athletic Park, Wellington
7. New Zealand13–6Wing3 (1 try)4 Sep 1937Lancaster Park, Christchurch
8. New Zealand17–6Wing3 (1 try)25 Sep 1937Eden Park, Auckland
9.United Kingdom British Isles26–12Wing6 Aug 1938Ellis Park, Johannesburg
10.United Kingdom British Isles19–3Fullback10 (2 conv, 2 pen)3 Sep 1938Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
11.United Kingdom British Isles16–21Centre10 (1 try, 2 conv, 1 pen)10 Sep 1938Newlands, Cape Town

Legend: try (3 pts); pen = penalty (3 pts.); conv = conversion (2 pts.), drop = drop kick (4 pts.).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Frederick George Turner". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "First-Class Matches played by Frederick Turner". CricketArchive.
  3. ↑ Colquhoun, Andy (2004). The South African Rugby Annual 2004. Cape Town: SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd & MWP Media Sport. p. 448. ISBN 0958440484.
  4. ↑ "Profile: Frederick George Turner". SA Rugby.
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