Jackie Powell
Full names: John Mercer
Date of birth: 12 Dec 1871
Place of birth: Cape Town
Schools: St Andrews, Grahamstown Kimberley Boys' High
Springbok no: 17
Debut test province: Griqualand West
Date of death: 19 Dec 1955 (Age 84)

Test summary: Tests: 4 Tries: 0
First Test: 29 Aug 1891 Age:19 Inside Centre against Britain at Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley
Last Test: 5 Sep 1903 Age:31 Halfback against Britain at Kimberley Athletic Club Ground, Kimberley
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
29 Aug 189119Inside CentreBritainLose: 0-3 Eclectic Cricket Ground, KimberleyGriquas
29 Aug 189624HalfbackBritainLose: 3-9 Kimberley Athletic Club Ground, KimberleyGriquas
29 Aug 190331HalfbackBritainDraw: 10-10 Wanderers (Old Wanderers), JohannesburgGriquas
05 Sep 190331Halfback (C)BritainDraw: 0-0 Kimberley Athletic Club Ground, KimberleyGriquas

Jackie Powell : Doc Craven

I went to see Jackie Powell in Kimberley mainly because he was one of the first, and one of our most outstanding scrumhalves. Since I was playing in the same position it was only natural that I would be interested in his views.

I would say that Jackie Powell laid the foundation for all the great scrumhalves produced by Griqualand West over the years. After him came Dobbin, then Marvel.

I put their excellence down to the solid foundation laid by Jackie Powell in that province.

He was quiet, reserved, and always waited for the other man to take the lead in conversation. He was nevertheless a good conversationalist in his own right.

Jackie Powell left us with an enduring example of how to play the game, on and off the field.