Attie van Heerden
Encyclopedia
Adriaan "Attie" Jacobus van Heerden (born in Boshof
, Free State
, South Africa
, 10 March 1898 - died in Pretoria
, Gauteng
, South Africa, 14 October 1965) was a South Africa
n Olympian
400 metre hurdler, rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer of the 1920s who at representative level played rugby union (RU) for South Africa (Springboks)
, at provincial level for Western Province
, and Transvaal
, and at university level for Stellenbosch University
, playing at Wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) for Other Nationalities
, and at club level for Wigan
, and Leigh
, playing at , i.e. number 3 or 4. Attie van Heerden played for Wigan in the same era as fellow South African Afrikaner David Booysen
.
in Antwerp, Belgium
. He was eliminated at Round One, Heat Two as he did not finish. Attie van Heerden's personal best for the 400 metre hurdles was 57.9 seconds set in 1920.
Attie van Heerden was crowned as the South African champion in the 120 yard hurdles (16.0 seconds), as well as in the 440 yard hurdles (58.2 seconds) at the South African Championships held in Johannesburg in 1920.
Attie van Heerden is the only rugby Springbok
to have participated at the Olympic Games.
(RU) while at Transvaal
in 1921 against New Zealand (2 matches), and won cap(s) for Other Nationalities
while at Wigan in 1923/6 against England.
Attie van Heerden did not participate in the Currie Cup
Tournament of 1920, held at Bloemfontein
and Kimberley
, due to his participation at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. However, he was still selected for the Springbok
rugby team for the 1921 tour to Australia and New Zealand.
Attie van Heerden scored the first ever try in a South Africa versus New Zealand international rugby union match. He scored five tries in the first official match of the 1921 tour, against New South Wales
, this was a Springbok
record until 1956, when it was improved by Roy Dryburgh, who scored six tries. He scored 42 points, from 14 tries, and was the top try scorer on the 1921 tour.
’s 22-10 defeat to Batley
in the 1923-24 Rugby Football League Championship final, and scored a try
in the 22-10 victory over Warrington
in the 1925-26 Rugby Football League Championship final at Knowsley Road
, St. Helens
during May 1926.
in Wigan
’s 21-4 victory over Oldham
in the 1923-24 Challenge Cup
final at Athletic Grounds, Rochdale
on the 12th April 1924.
Attie van Heerden's try was scored between the posts behind a police horse
that was on the field of play attempting to keep the 41,831 crowd at bay.
’s 1925-26 Lancashire League
victory.
school in Paarl
, Western Cape Province
, South Africa
.
of the 1920s Nicholas Van Heerden.
for Iscor.
Boshof
Boshof is the administrative town in the goldfields region of the Free State province, South Africa. The town was formed in 1855 on the Vanwyksvlei farm. It was named after Jacobus Boshoff who became the 2nd President of the Orange Free State on the 27 August 1855.The local commando was involved in...
, Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, 10 March 1898 - died in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
, South Africa, 14 October 1965) was a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Olympian
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
400 metre hurdler, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1920s who at representative level played rugby union (RU) for South Africa (Springboks)
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
, at provincial level for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
, and Transvaal
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
, and at university level for Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
, playing at Wing, i.e. number 11 or 14, and at representative level played rugby league (RL) for Other Nationalities
Other Nationalities rugby league team
The Other Nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league football teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
, and at club level for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, and Leigh
Leigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
, playing at , i.e. number 3 or 4. Attie van Heerden played for Wigan in the same era as fellow South African Afrikaner David Booysen
David Booysen
David Booysen is a South African Afrikaner former professional rugby league footballer of the 1920s who at representative level has played for Other Nationalities, and at club level for Wigan, playing at , or /, i.e. number 3 or 4, or 7...
.
Olympic Appearance
Attie van Heerden participated in the 400 metre hurdles in the 1920 Summer Olympics1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He was eliminated at Round One, Heat Two as he did not finish. Attie van Heerden's personal best for the 400 metre hurdles was 57.9 seconds set in 1920.
Attie van Heerden was crowned as the South African champion in the 120 yard hurdles (16.0 seconds), as well as in the 440 yard hurdles (58.2 seconds) at the South African Championships held in Johannesburg in 1920.
Attie van Heerden is the only rugby Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
to have participated at the Olympic Games.
International honours
Attie van Heerden won caps for South AfricaSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
(RU) while at Transvaal
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
in 1921 against New Zealand (2 matches), and won cap(s) for Other Nationalities
Other Nationalities rugby league team
The Other Nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league football teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
while at Wigan in 1923/6 against England.
Attie van Heerden did not participate in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
Tournament of 1920, held at Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
and Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, due to his participation at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. However, he was still selected for the Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
rugby team for the 1921 tour to Australia and New Zealand.
Attie van Heerden scored the first ever try in a South Africa versus New Zealand international rugby union match. He scored five tries in the first official match of the 1921 tour, against New South Wales
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
, this was a Springbok
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
record until 1956, when it was improved by Roy Dryburgh, who scored six tries. He scored 42 points, from 14 tries, and was the top try scorer on the 1921 tour.
Rugby Football League Championship final appearances
Attie van Heerden played in WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
’s 22-10 defeat to Batley
Batley Bulldogs
Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...
in the 1923-24 Rugby Football League Championship final, and scored a try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in the 22-10 victory over Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the 1925-26 Rugby Football League Championship final at Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
, St. Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
during May 1926.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Attie van Heerden played , and scored a tryTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
’s 21-4 victory over Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
in the 1923-24 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Athletic Grounds, Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
on the 12th April 1924.
Attie van Heerden's try was scored between the posts behind a police horse
Mounted police
Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. They continue to serve in remote areas and in metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may be picturesque or ceremonial, but they are also employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage and...
that was on the field of play attempting to keep the 41,831 crowd at bay.
County Rugby Football League Championships
Attie van Heerden played in WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
’s 1925-26 Lancashire League
Rugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
victory.
School days
Attie van Heerden was a pupil at Paarl GimnasiumPaarl Gimnasium
Paarl Gimnasium is a school in Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa. Rev. van Lingen founded the school in the centre of town in 1858. The school has had a number of significant sporting achievements and has produced some of South Africa's top Rugby players including Ashley Johnson Schalk Burger, Jean...
school in Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, Western Cape Province
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Genealogical Information
Attie van Heerden was the brother of WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
of the 1920s Nicholas Van Heerden.
After Rugby
Following his retirement from rugby, Attie van Heerden returned to South Africa, and worked as a security guardSecurity guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
for Iscor.