Des Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Dr. Desmond John "Des" Sinclair (14 July 1927 – 29 April 1996) was a South Africa
n rugby union
centre. Sinclair played club rugby for Wanderers and provincial rugby for Transvaal
. He was capped for South Africa
four times in 1955, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international game on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
in 1927. He was educated at Jeppe High School for Boys
, where the master, Steve Geldenhuys, was a keen rugby player who represented Border. Sinclair was a keen sportsman, as was his father before him, having played soccer for Transvaal. Sinclair was a competitive swimmer, finishing runner up in the Transvaal diving championships. He was an all-round track athlete and a senior hockey player.
Sinclair was also a qualified air pilot and a former holder of a ballroom-dancing championship, a pastime he took up to strengthen an ankle he broke at athletics. He was a salesman by profession at the time of the 1951 tour, but after returning to South Africa he spent some time in America studying to become a chiropractor. As a chiropractor he treated many of South Africa's top sports people, and sometimes traveled in that capacity with the Transvaal rugby team. In 1969 he married Jill Abraham with whom he had two children. He died in Johannesburg in 1996.
. The tour took in five Test matches against international opposition, but Sinclair was not chosen for any of them, having to wait until 1955 to gain his first full cap. The South Africa management initially selected the four centres on a rotation basism with Sinclair playing three of the first six games. He played in the first game of the tour, against South-Estern Counties, scoring a try in a comfortable 31-6 victory. He then missed a game before scoring another try in the win over a joint Pontypool
/Newbridge
team. On the 23 October he played for the Springboks against Llanelli
, before being rested for two games. He was back in the team for two consecutive matches beginning on 3 November, against North-Eastern Counties and then five days later facing Cambridge University
. According to South African journalist R.K. Stent, in the Cambridge game, Sinclair and centre partner Dennis Fry, for the first time in the tour created a centre pairing that 'provided a consistent striking force'. Sinclair scored a try in the match, but picked up an injury that kept him out of the next four games.
When Sinclair recovered he was immediately brought into the squad against the North of Scotland, but was rested for the next three games as the managers switched to the trusted Test pairing of Ryk van Schoor
and Tjol Lategan
. He was back in the team on 15 December against Swansea
and again on 26 December against a Combined Services team. Sinclair was left out for the next three games, but then played three consecutive matches facing a Western Counties, Midland Counties and a South of Scotland team; scoring a try against Midlands. His final matches of the tour were both played in France, against a South-Eastern and South-Western France team.
, facing the Lions at Johannesburg on 6 August 1955. South Africa lost narrowly, 22-23. Despite the loss, Sinclair was reselected for the second Test, in Cape Town. Van Vollenhoven was moved from centre, out to the wing, and a new centre partnership was formed between Sinclair and Wilf Rosenberg
. The Cape Town Test ended in a 25-9 victory for the Springboks with Sinclair being the only member of the threequarter positions not to score a try. The South Africa selectors kept faith in the threequarter positions for the third Test, keeping together the unit that had been successful at Cape Town. The game, played at Pretoria, saw the Lions retake the series with a 6-9 scoreline, requiring the South Africa to win the final test to draw the series. Sinclair played his final international in the fourth Test, a 22-8 victory for the Springboks.
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...
centre. Sinclair played club rugby for Wanderers and provincial rugby for 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...
. He was capped for South Africa
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...
four times in 1955, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international game on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
Personal history
Sinclair was born in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in 1927. He was educated at Jeppe High School for Boys
Jeppe High School for Boys
Jeppe High School for Boys is a public secondary school is located in Kensington, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, one of the 23 Milner Schools....
, where the master, Steve Geldenhuys, was a keen rugby player who represented Border. Sinclair was a keen sportsman, as was his father before him, having played soccer for Transvaal. Sinclair was a competitive swimmer, finishing runner up in the Transvaal diving championships. He was an all-round track athlete and a senior hockey player.
Sinclair was also a qualified air pilot and a former holder of a ballroom-dancing championship, a pastime he took up to strengthen an ankle he broke at athletics. He was a salesman by profession at the time of the 1951 tour, but after returning to South Africa he spent some time in America studying to become a chiropractor. As a chiropractor he treated many of South Africa's top sports people, and sometimes traveled in that capacity with the Transvaal rugby team. In 1969 he married Jill Abraham with whom he had two children. He died in Johannesburg in 1996.
Rugby career
Sinclair played rugby as a youth, and was inspired by ex-Springboks Feed Smollan who coached him. On leaving school he played for Wits University before switching to Wanderers. In 1950 he was selected for Transvaal, but in 1951 in the opening game of the season he was injured, requiring a cartilage operation. This nearly kept him out of the 1951 Trial for the Fourth South Africa trial of Britain, but he recovered in time and secured his place in the squad.1951 tour of Britain
Sinclair played in 13 games of the 31 match tour scoring five triesTry
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...
. The tour took in five Test matches against international opposition, but Sinclair was not chosen for any of them, having to wait until 1955 to gain his first full cap. The South Africa management initially selected the four centres on a rotation basism with Sinclair playing three of the first six games. He played in the first game of the tour, against South-Estern Counties, scoring a try in a comfortable 31-6 victory. He then missed a game before scoring another try in the win over a joint Pontypool
Pontypool RFC
Pontypool Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in the town of Pontypool. Pontypool RFC has a long history within Welsh rugby and is one of the most notable clubs, being present at the formation of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1881, but disbanding before the turn of the 19th century...
/Newbridge
Newbridge RFC
Newbridge RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and gained admission to the WRU in 1911...
team. On the 23 October he played for the Springboks against 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...
, before being rested for two games. He was back in the team for two consecutive matches beginning on 3 November, against North-Eastern Counties and then five days later facing 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...
. According to South African journalist R.K. Stent, in the Cambridge game, Sinclair and centre partner Dennis Fry, for the first time in the tour created a centre pairing that 'provided a consistent striking force'. Sinclair scored a try in the match, but picked up an injury that kept him out of the next four games.
When Sinclair recovered he was immediately brought into the squad against the North of Scotland, but was rested for the next three games as the managers switched to the trusted Test pairing of Ryk van Schoor
Ryk van Schoor
-1951 tour of Britain:In 1951 South Africa undertook their fourth tour of Great Britain, also taking in games in Ireland and France. Van Schoor was one of four centres selected for the tour which took in 31 matches, including five internationals. Van Schoor played in 16 matches scoring seven tries...
and Tjol Lategan
Tjol Lategan
Marthinus Theunis "Tjol" Lategan was a South African rugby union centre. Along with Ryk van Schoor he formed one of the great post-war centre partnerships in rugby. Lategan played club rugby for University of Stellenbosch and provincial rugby for Western Province...
. He was back in the team on 15 December against Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
and again on 26 December against a Combined Services team. Sinclair was left out for the next three games, but then played three consecutive matches facing a Western Counties, Midland Counties and a South of Scotland team; scoring a try against Midlands. His final matches of the tour were both played in France, against a South-Eastern and South-Western France team.
1955 British Lions tour
Sinclair won his first international cap four years after putting on the South Africa jersey, when he was selected for the first game of the 1955 British Lions tour. Sinclair was brought in at his favoured position at centre, partnered with Tom van VollenhovenTom van Vollenhoven
Tom van Vollenhoven is a South African former rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s....
, facing the Lions at Johannesburg on 6 August 1955. South Africa lost narrowly, 22-23. Despite the loss, Sinclair was reselected for the second Test, in Cape Town. Van Vollenhoven was moved from centre, out to the wing, and a new centre partnership was formed between Sinclair and Wilf Rosenberg
Wilf Rosenberg
Wilfred "Wilf" Rosenberg was a South African rugby union and rugby league player.He was nicknamed the Flying Dentist.He was the son of a rabbi....
. The Cape Town Test ended in a 25-9 victory for the Springboks with Sinclair being the only member of the threequarter positions not to score a try. The South Africa selectors kept faith in the threequarter positions for the third Test, keeping together the unit that had been successful at Cape Town. The game, played at Pretoria, saw the Lions retake the series with a 6-9 scoreline, requiring the South Africa to win the final test to draw the series. Sinclair played his final international in the fourth Test, a 22-8 victory for the Springboks.