Ferdie Aston
Encyclopedia
Fitzmaurice "Ferdie" Thomas Drake Aston (18 September 1871 - 15 October 1926) was an English
-born South African rugby union
player. He was capped four times for South Africa
, captaining them in three Tests.
Aston made his debut appearance for South Africa on 30 July 1896
, when a British Isles
team came to South Africa
. The game was played in Port Elizabeth, and won by the British, eight points to nil. Aston was also captain on that day. He was capped again on 22 August, again as captain in Johannesburg
at Wanderers, South Africa going down 17 to eight.
Aston captained South Africa again on August 29 against the British Isles
in Kimberley
, which South Africa
also lost, three points to nine. He did not skipper the final game on 5 September in Cape Town
at Newlands
, though South Africa won this game, five to nil. He did not play for South Africa again after the tour.
Aston died in 1926.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born South African 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...
player. He was capped four times 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...
, captaining them in three Tests.
Aston made his debut appearance for South Africa on 30 July 1896
1896 British Lions tour to South Africa
1896 British Isles tour to South Africa was a rugby union tour undertaken by the British Isles, one of the first British and Irish Lions tours. The team toured South Africa for the second time in 1896. Between July 11 and September 5, they played 21 games, including four tests against South Africa...
, when a British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team came to 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...
. The game was played in Port Elizabeth, and won by the British, eight points to nil. Aston was also captain on that day. He was capped again on 22 August, again as captain in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
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...
at Wanderers, South Africa going down 17 to eight.
Aston captained South Africa again on August 29 against the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in 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...
, which 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...
also lost, three points to nine. He did not skipper the final game on 5 September in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
at Newlands
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....
, though South Africa won this game, five to nil. He did not play for South Africa again after the tour.
Aston died in 1926.
External links
- Ferdie Aston on the Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame
See also
- South African rugby union captainsSouth African rugby union captainsEvery player to captain the South Africa national rugby union team in a test match are listed here. Captains are listed in chronological order of their first match as captain.-Male:...