Coenraad Frederik Strydom
 Strydom in New Zealand in 1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Coenraad Frederik Strydom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 January 1932 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kareedouw, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 31 March 2001 (aged 69) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Randburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Grey College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coenraad Frederik "Popeye" Strydom (25 January 1932 – 31 March 2001) was a South Africa national rugby union team player. In all, Strydom made six appearances for the Springboks between 1955 and 1958.[1]
His rugby nickname, Popeye, was often cited together with other colourful nicknames such as those of Piston van Wyk, Klippies Kritzinger, and Hempies du Toit.[2]
Early life
Strydom was born in Kareedouw, South Africa and educated at Grey College.[3]
Career
He started playing provincial rugby with Orange Free State in 1952, and would later play for Eastern Province. Strydom also played baseball for these provinces.[4]
Strydom made his international debut as a scrum-half for the Springboks against the British and Irish Lions in their 1955 tour. Strydom's sole appearance in the four-match series came in the third test match in Pretoria — a match that South Africa lost 9–6.[5] His next appearance for the Springboks came on the 1956 tour of Australia and New Zealand. Strydom took part in the first two Tests of the tour, a pair of victories over Australia in Sydney and Brisbane.[6]
After winning the two test series against Australia, the Springboks travelled to New Zealand to compete in four tests. Strydom was selected to play in the first test, which was won by the All Blacks at Carisbrook, Dunedin. He was not selected again until the fourth test in Auckland, at which point the All Blacks held a 2–1 series lead. New Zealand, in front of 61,240 at Eden Park, won the game 11–5 to take the series.[7]
Strydom played his final match for South Africa in the first test of France's 1958 tour at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town. The game ended in a 3–3 draw.[8]
Personal
Outside of rugby, Strydom worked as a building society clerk.[3]
Strydom had a stroke in March 2001, after which he slipped into a coma. A few days later he died, at the age of 69, in Randburg. He was survived by his wife, June, and son, Anton.[4]
References
- ^ "South Africa / Players & Officials / Popeye Strydom". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "Call me... Mof?". sport24.co.za. 17 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ a b "1956 SPRINGBOK TOUR of AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND". WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ a b "'Popeye' Strydom dies". iol.co.za. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "British and Irish Lions tour - Pretoria, 3 September 1955". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Popeye Strydom / Test matches". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "South Africa tour - Auckland, 1 September 1956". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- ^ "France tour - Cape Town, 26 July 1958". Scrum. Retrieved 16 July 2010.