Benjamin Duff

Benjamin Robert Duff (16 October 1867 – 25 June 1943) was a South African rugby union international.[2] He also played a first-class cricket match with Western Province.

Ben Duff
Birth nameBenjamin Robert Duff
Date of birth(1867-10-16)16 October 1867
Place of birthSwellendam, South Africa
Date of death25 June 1943(1943-06-25) (aged 75)
Place of deathPretoria, South Africa
SchoolSACS [1]
Notable relative(s)Colin Duff (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
– Hamilton RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1888–1892 Western Province (0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1891 South Africa 3 (0)
Correct as of 19 July 2010

Personal

Duff, born in Swellendam, had a brother Colin who represented Rhodesia at cricket and rugby. He married Isabel Watkinson.

Cricket career

Duff's cricket match was against Natal during the 1889/90 South African cricket season. Although he batted with the tail, at number 10 in both innings, Duff wasn't called on to bowl once in the match. He scored one and eight not out, dismissed by Test player Gus Kempis in the first dig. Western Province's wicket-keeper for this game, Alfred Richards, was also a rugby union international and the duo appeared together in a Test with the South African national rugby union team.[3]

Rugby union career

In 1891, Duff played three rugby union Test matches in a home series against the British Isles. These were the first ever official Tests that South Africa played and due to the order in which players' names were listed on team sheets for a match at the time, Duff has the distinction of being the first Springbok.[4] He played his games as a full-back and represented Western Province at provincial rugby.[5]

Test history
No.OpponentsResults(SA 1st)PositionTriesDateVenue
1. British Isles0–4Fullback30 Jul 1891 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
2. British Isles0–3Fullback29 Aug 1891Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley
3. British Isles0–4Fullback5 Sep 1891Newlands, Cape Town

See also

References
  1. "List of SACS Springboks". NextGenRugga. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. "Benjamin Robert Duff". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. "Western Province v Natal 1889/90". CricketArchive.
  4. "Profile: Benjamin Robert Duff". SA Rugby.
  5. Parker, A. C. (1983). W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983. Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa) (1st ed.). Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa: WPRFU. p. 303. ISBN 0-620-06555-9. OCLC 54188953.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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