Piet du Toit
Du Toit in New Zealand in 1956
Birth namePieter Stephanus du Toit
Date of birth(1935-10-09)9 October 1935
Place of birthPetrusville, Union of South Africa
Date of death26 February 1996(1996-02-26) (aged 60)
Place of deathHermanus, Western Cape, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb)
SchoolPaarl Boys' High School
UniversityUniversity of Stellenbosch
Notable relative(s)Pieter-Steph du Toit (grandson),
Johan du Toit (grandson)
SpouseBarbara
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1953–1958 Maties ()
1958–1963 Malmesbury RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1956–1958 Western Province ()
1958–1963 Boland ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1958–1961 South Africa 14 (0)

Pieter Stephanus "Piet" du Toit, (9 October 1935 – 26 February 1996) was a South African rugby international. He played as a prop.[1] Due to his relative small stature and light weight for a prop, but still being a strong scrummager, he was known as Piet "Spiere" du Toit.[2] Spiere is the Afrikaans word for "muscles".

Career

As a student at the University of Stellenbosch, du Toit made his senior provincial debut for Western Province in 1956 and toured with the Springboks in New Zealand and Australia in 1956. In 1958 he started farming and joined the Malmesbury RFC and continued his provincial career at Boland. He then also made his Test debut for the Springboks as a Boland player.[3][4]

He played his first test match on 26 July 1958 against France in a historic series for les Bleus.[5] He was later chosen for a series of four matches against the All Blacks, and helped the Springboks to two wins, one draw, and one defeat.

In 1960–61 he was selected for five games with the Springboks, who embarked on a tour of Europe. He helped beat Wales 3–0. He also participated in victories against Ireland 8–3 as well as over England 5-0 and Scotland 12–5. On 18 February 1961 the South Africans drew in Paris 0–0.

Piet du Toit also took part in three victories over the Irish and Australia in 1961 to end his international career.[6]

Test history

No.OpponentsResults
(SA 1st)		PositionTriesDatesVenue
1. France3–3Tighthead prop26 Jul 1958Newlands, Cape Town
2. France5–9Tighthead prop16 Aug 1958Ellis Park, Johannesburg
3. New Zealand13–0Tighthead prop25 Jun 1960Ellis Park, Johannesburg
4. New Zealand3–11Tighthead prop23 Jul 1960Newlands, Cape Town
5. New Zealand11–11Tighthead prop13 Aug 1960Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
6. New Zealand8–3Tighthead prop27 Aug 1960Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
7. Wales3–0Tighthead prop3 Dec 1960Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
8. Ireland8–3Tighthead prop17 Dec 1960Lansdowne Road, Dublin
9. England5–0Tighthead prop07 Jan 1961Twickenham, London
10. Scotland12–5Tighthead prop21 Jan 1961Murrayfield, Edinburgh
11. France0–0Tighthead prop18 Feb 1961Colombes Stadium, Paris
12. Ireland24–8Tighthead prop13 May 1961Newlands, Cape Town
13. Australia28–3Tighthead prop5 Aug 1961Ellis Park, Johannesburg
14. Australia23–11Tighthead prop12 Aug 1961Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Personal life

Piet completed his schooling at Paarl Boys' High School.[7] Du Toit graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a B. Comm degree. In 1957, Piet du Toit and his wife Barbara, a teacher, started farming on the Kloovenburg Wine Estate near Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape which his father and father in law bought in 1956. Piet retired in 1989 and his son, Pieter du Toit, still farms on this estate.[8] Two of his grandsons, Johan du Toit and Pieter-Steph du Toit, also plays professional rugby. Pieter-Steph has already followed in his grandfather's footsteps by becoming a Springbok.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pieter Stephanus du Toit". ESPN scrum.
  2. 1 2 "Du Toit inspired by Piet 'Spiere'". Sport. 7 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Prodigal son returns - SA Rugbymag". www.sarugbymag.co.za. 15 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Craven, Daniel Hartman (1980). Die groot rugbygesin van die Maties. Kaapstad: G. & S. pp. 183–184. ISBN 0620048794. OCLC 86067195.
  5. ↑ "Error Page 404 | SA Rugby". www.sarugby.co.za.
  6. ↑ Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 27–38. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.
  7. ↑ "Paarl Boys' High v Paul Roos Historic Overview | 15.co.za | | Rugby News, Live Scores, Results, Fixtures". www.rugby15.co.za. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "The Family". www.kloovenburg.com.


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