Theuns Stofberg


Marthinus Theunis Steyn 'Theuns' Stofberg was the captain of the South Africa national rugby union team for four tests between 1980 and 1984. He is remembered for his speed and his size, both remarkable for a flank at that time.

Youth and early career

He was born Marthinus Theunis Steyn Stofberg, in Villiers, Free State on 6 June 1955. He attended school at Grey College in Bloemfontein, one of the strongholds in South African rugby. He started his provincial career playing for Free State while he was still studying at the University of the Free State. When he was called up for his conscription he was moved to Pretoria where he started playing for Northern Transvaal, currently called the Blue Bulls. It was during this time that he went from strength to strength cementing his place in the national side as flanker.

Career

He played his first test on the 14 August 1976 against New Zealand at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at the age of 21. The Springboks lost the test 9-15.
He played in 21 tests and scored 6 tries during this time. His first test as captain was against the South American Jaguars on the 18 October 1980 in Montevideo where the Springboks won 22-13. His biggest test as a captain was leading the Springbok side, after the regular captain Wynand Claassen was injured, in the first test of the infamous 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand. The tour was disrupted by protesters during the matches and is now seen as one of the most important tours in rugby history. Stofberg did not play in the last of the three test series, which was stopped momentarily due to a light airplane throwing flour bombs, due to a knee injury that would ultimately end his career.
Stofberg left Northern Transvaal in 1982 and moved to their arch-rivals Western Province Rugby Union where he settled and opened a physiotherapy practice. Stofberg captained his last two international tests against England in 1984, winning both and scoring a try in the second test. After yet another series setback due a knee injury he retired from rugby in 1984 at the age of 29. He is the only player in history to have won the Currie Cup with three different teams. He won titles with Free State, Northern Transvaal and Western Province. In total he played 7 finals, winning 4 and drawing one.

Test history

No.OppositionResult PositionTriesDateVenue
1.9–15Flank14 August 1976Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2. New Zealand15–10Flank4 September 1976Newlands, Cape Town
3.World XV45–24Flank227 August 1977Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4. South American Jaguars24–9Flank26 April 1980Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
5. South American Jaguars18–9Flank3 May 1980Kings Park Stadium, Durban
6.26–22Flank31 May 1980Newlands, Cape Town
7. British Lions26–19Flank114 June 1980Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
8. British Lions12–10Flank28 June 1980Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
9. British Lions13–17Flank112 July 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10. South American Jaguars22–13Flank 118 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
11. South American Jaguars30–16Flank25 October 1980Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago
12.37–15Flank18 November 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
13.23–15Flank30 May 1981Newlands, Cape Town
14. Ireland12–10Flank6 June 1981Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15. New Zealand9–14Flank 15 August 1981Lancaster Park, Christchurch
16. New Zealand24–12Flank29 August 1981Athletic Park, Wellington
17.38–7Flank20 September 1981Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York
18. South American Jaguars50–18Lock27 March 1982Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
19. South American Jaguars12–21Lock3 April 1982Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
20.33–15Flank 2 June 1984Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
21. England35–9Flank 9 June 1984Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg

Personal

He lives in Stellenbosch today where he has a physiotherapy practice.