Hugo van Zyl
Full names: Gideon Hugo
Date of birth: 20 Aug 1932
Place of birth: Porterville
School: Paarl Gimnasium
Springbok no: 340
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.85m, 88.5kg
Date of death: 9 May 2007 (Age 74)

Test summary: Tests: 17 Tries: 4
First Test: 26 Jul 1958 Age:25 Flank against France at Newlands, Cape Town
Last Test: 25 Aug 1962 Age:30 Flank against Britain at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
26 Jul 195825FlankFranceDraw: 3-3 Newlands, Cape TownWP
30 Apr 196027FlankScotlandWin: 18-102 triesBoet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
25 Jun 196027FlankNew ZealandWin: 13-0 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
23 Jul 196027FlankNew ZealandLose: 3-11 Newlands, Cape TownWP
13 Aug 196027FlankNew ZealandDraw: 11-11 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
27 Aug 196028FlankNew ZealandWin: 8-3 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
03 Dec 196028FlankWalesWin: 3-0 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffWP
17 Dec 196028FlankIrelandWin: 8-31 tryAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinWP
07 Jan 196128FlankEnglandWin: 5-0 Twickenham, LondonWP
21 Jan 196128FlankScotlandWin: 12-5 Murrayfield, EdinburghWP
18 Feb 196128FlankFranceDraw: 0-0 Stade Olympique, Colombes, ParisWP
13 May 196128FlankIrelandWin: 24-8 Newlands, Cape TownWP
05 Aug 196128FlankAustraliaWin: 28-3 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
12 Aug 196128FlankAustraliaWin: 23-11 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
23 Jun 196229FlankBritainDraw: 3-3 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
04 Aug 196229FlankBritainWin: 8-3 Newlands, Cape TownWP
25 Aug 196230FlankBritainWin: 34-141 tryFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP

Hugo van Zyl : Doc Craven

When I think of Hugo I automatically think of Martin Pelser and Doug Hopwood.

Loose forwards, to my mind, always form a trio - they augment and complement each other. They're like a halfback or centre pair.

Hugo Van Zyl was an indomitable trier, always doing his best and he followed the ball with total dedication. Unobtrusive; but very effective.

He was an outstanding flank forward and never one to be concerned with what was going on around him; he just played the game and got on with the job.

A Springbok who never shirked his duty.