Chum Ochse
Encyclopedia
Johannes Karl "Chum" Ochse (9 February 1925 - 13 July 1996) was a South Africa
n rugby union
wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby for Western Province
. Ochse was capped seven time for the South African
national team and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France. He finished the tour as his country's highest try scorer.
in 1996.
, Boland
, Border
and Western Province
. During the 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa, Ochse was part of the Western Province team that faced the 'All Blacks', playing at centre. He again faced the same touring 'All Blacks' in the final match before the fourth and final Test, this time playing at wing for a Western Province Town side.
Ochse's next two matches were against two Welsh teams, Cardiff
and Llanelli
. The tourists won both matches, with Ochse on the score-sheet in both, with a pair of tries
in both. In the build up to the first international encounter, Ochse found himself playing with greater regularity. He played in the wins over a joint Glasgow/Edinburgh team, Cambridge University
and Neath
/Aberavon
and the only loss of the tour, to London Counties. He also improved his try tally with one each in the Cambridge University and Neath/Aberavon games. Despite his continued success on the field, when South Africa played their first Test, against Scotland
, Ochse was omitted. South African sports journalist, R.K. Stent, in his 1952 book The Fourth Springboks, reveals that this was a great surprise as it was thought Ochse was the first choice as a wing. Stent later heard that his omission was due to a perceived weakness in his defensive play, though Stent himself believed that such a flaw was only apparent in his first match against the South West Counties.
Ochse was back in the squad after the Scotland victory, scoring a try in the win over North of Scotland. He was then awarded his first cap, replacing Marais in the second international, in the encounter against Ireland
. South Africa won 17-5 with Ochse scoring his first international points, a try in the first half. Ochse was then rested for the next game to Munster, before being reselected to face Swansea. Ochse continued his scoring streak with another try in the win over Swansea; the third consecutive match he had scored in. Ochse won his third cap when he was selected for the game against Wales
. The South African management kept faith with Ochse, though they changed the back strategy to bring Schoor around to cover incase of an Ochse 'slip-up'. Ochse had an excellent game, though his first prominent move was not in attack but in defence when he tackled Ken Jones in mid stride. His second important move of the match came at the end of the first half. A lobbed pass from Lategan at the 25 yard line was collected by Ochse who crossed the line for a try and the first score of the game. The game ended 6-3 to South Africa.
After the Wales game Ochse was again rested, before facing a Mid Counties team. The game was extremely low scoring, South Africa winning by a single penalty goal from Viviers. The next game against England Ochse was reselected, his third cap, though a win for the Springboks Ochse did not score. Ochse played in three more games before the tour moved to France, against the Western Counties, South of Scotland and the Barbarians
. In all three games the South Africans were victorious, and Ochse scored tries in each of them.
In France, Ochse played in three of the four games, including the international against France
. He scored just once more, a try against the France B team. He ended the tour as South Africa's highest try scorer with 15 tries.
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 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...
wing. Ochse played club rugby for Paarl and provincial rugby 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...
. Ochse was capped seven time for the South African
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...
national team and was a member of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France. He finished the tour as his country's highest try scorer.
Personal history
Ochse was born in Graaf-Reinet South Africa in 1925, he was universally known as "Chum" as his father was before him. After leaving school he studied at Paarl Training College where he qualified to be a school teacher. As well as rugby, he had a great interest in athletics and cricket. He died in PaarlPaarl
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...
in 1996.
Early career
Ochse played rugby from an early age, and at club level represented Paarl, also playing for Paarl Training College where he changed his position form scrum-half to centre on advice of the college coach. He is unusual in representing four provinces: Eastern ProvinceEastern Province Kings
The Eastern Province Kings are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments and are governed by the Eastern Province Rugby Union...
, Boland
Boland Cavaliers
The Boland Cavaliers , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
, Border
Border Bulldogs
The Border Bulldogs are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Border Rugby Union and are based in East London....
and 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...
. During the 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa, Ochse was part of the Western Province team that faced the 'All Blacks', playing at centre. He again faced the same touring 'All Blacks' in the final match before the fourth and final Test, this time playing at wing for a Western Province Town side.
1951 tour of Britain
In 1951 Ochse was selected for the fourth South Africa rugby tour of Britain, Ireland and France. Ochse was one of the more regular players of the tour, playing 19 of the 31 arranged games. He was also a regular in the international matches, playing in four of the five. Four wings were chosen for the tour, with the tour management rotating the two wing positions each match. Oche missed the first game of the tour, but was selected with Marais on the opposite wing for the second match against a combined South West Counties team. South Africa won 17-8.Ochse's next two matches were against two Welsh teams, Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
and Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
. The tourists won both matches, with Ochse on the score-sheet in both, with a pair of tries
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 both. In the build up to the first international encounter, Ochse found himself playing with greater regularity. He played in the wins over a joint Glasgow/Edinburgh team, Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
and Neath
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
/Aberavon
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
and the only loss of the tour, to London Counties. He also improved his try tally with one each in the Cambridge University and Neath/Aberavon games. Despite his continued success on the field, when South Africa played their first Test, against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, Ochse was omitted. South African sports journalist, R.K. Stent, in his 1952 book The Fourth Springboks, reveals that this was a great surprise as it was thought Ochse was the first choice as a wing. Stent later heard that his omission was due to a perceived weakness in his defensive play, though Stent himself believed that such a flaw was only apparent in his first match against the South West Counties.
Ochse was back in the squad after the Scotland victory, scoring a try in the win over North of Scotland. He was then awarded his first cap, replacing Marais in the second international, in the encounter against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. South Africa won 17-5 with Ochse scoring his first international points, a try in the first half. Ochse was then rested for the next game to Munster, before being reselected to face Swansea. Ochse continued his scoring streak with another try in the win over Swansea; the third consecutive match he had scored in. Ochse won his third cap when he was selected for the game against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. The South African management kept faith with Ochse, though they changed the back strategy to bring Schoor around to cover incase of an Ochse 'slip-up'. Ochse had an excellent game, though his first prominent move was not in attack but in defence when he tackled Ken Jones in mid stride. His second important move of the match came at the end of the first half. A lobbed pass from Lategan at the 25 yard line was collected by Ochse who crossed the line for a try and the first score of the game. The game ended 6-3 to South Africa.
After the Wales game Ochse was again rested, before facing a Mid Counties team. The game was extremely low scoring, South Africa winning by a single penalty goal from Viviers. The next game against England Ochse was reselected, his third cap, though a win for the Springboks Ochse did not score. Ochse played in three more games before the tour moved to France, against the Western Counties, South of Scotland and the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. In all three games the South Africans were victorious, and Ochse scored tries in each of them.
In France, Ochse played in three of the four games, including the international against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
. He scored just once more, a try against the France B team. He ended the tour as South Africa's highest try scorer with 15 tries.