Herbert Hayton Castens
Encyclopedia
Herbert Hayton Castens was a South African rugby union
footballer, and cricket
er. He was South Africa's first ever rugby and cricket captain. Castens played an important role in the development of rugby and cricket in South Africa, both on and off the pitch. He was usually known as H.H. Castens, as adopting initials was a somewhat popular trend at the time.
Born in Pearston, Eastern Province
, South Africa
, Castens was educated at the Rugby School
in England
, where the sport of rugby football
is thought to have been created. He played both cricket and rugby, and was an outstanding athlete during his youth. After completing his education at the Rugby School, Castens studied law at Oxford University. In 1887, he obtained full rugby colours at Oxford. He was elected President of Vincent's Club
. As a student, Castens played for representative sides for both Middlesex
and the South of England. Upon completing his studies at Oxford, he returned to South Africa, where he practised law in Cape Town
.
Castens joined the Villagers Rugby Football Club, the second oldest rugby club in South Africa, located in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. In 1890 he also represented the Western Province cricket team at the fifth Champions Tournament in Cape Town, Castens being the opening batsman and wicket keeper. On Christmas Day he scored 165 runs in a match against the Eastern Province.
In 1891, the British Isles
rugby team came to South Africa. Castens refereed the first ever tour match, which was a combined Cape Town rugby side against the British Isles. Two days later he was appointed manager of the Western Province
rugby side.
On 30 July, he captained South Africa in their first ever rugby international, against the touring British Isles team, which was played at the Crusader's Ground in Port Elizabeth. The British side scored two tries and a conversion to win the contest four to nil. He played in the front row in his one and only test. Castens thus became the first (and likely only) man to ever referee and play in matches in the same test series of rugby. He did however have further involvement in the rest of the tour, refereeing a number of matches; Port Elizabeth Clubs, Cap Colony, and, the third and final test at Newlands
, which was played on September 5, and won four to nil by Britain. Managing Western Province, he also played for them in their match against the tourists. He also refereed the unofficial final match of the tour against Stellenbosch. Castens is thought to be one of South Africa's first active rugby coaches, in that, it was his belief that rugby was somewhat of a science.
In 1894, the year that the South African Cricket Association was established, Castens played for the Western Province cricket side in what was the fourth Currie Cup Cricket Tournament, at Newlands in Cape Town; scoring 61 runs against Natal. Soon after, a South African cricket tour to England was organised, with Castens appointed as the first ever South African cricket captain. South Africa played matches against first-class countries, but no test were played. Castens scored 58 runs against Surrey on tour. 24 games were played in total on tour, with 12 victories, five losses and seven drawn matches.
Castens would move to Southern Rhodesia
, where he worked as an advocate, and would later be elected to the National Legislative, and, later becoming secretary to the Government for a number of years. Castens died on 18 October 1929 in Fulham
, London
as the age of sixty-four. After his death, a tribute was paid to him in a letter that a friend wrote that was published in the Cape Times.
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...
footballer, and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He was South Africa's first ever rugby and cricket captain. Castens played an important role in the development of rugby and cricket in South Africa, both on and off the pitch. He was usually known as H.H. Castens, as adopting initials was a somewhat popular trend at the time.
Born in Pearston, Eastern Province
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the 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...
, Castens was educated at the Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
in England
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...
, where the sport of rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
is thought to have been created. He played both cricket and rugby, and was an outstanding athlete during his youth. After completing his education at the Rugby School, Castens studied law at Oxford University. In 1887, he obtained full rugby colours at Oxford. He was elected President of Vincent's Club
Vincent's Club
Vincent's Club is a sports club predominantly but not exclusively for Oxford Blues at Oxford University.The club was founded in 1863 by the oarsman Walter Bradford Woodgate of Brasenose College, Oxford, and he was the first president of the club...
. As a student, Castens played for representative sides for both Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and the South of England. Upon completing his studies at Oxford, he returned to South Africa, where he practised law 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...
.
Castens joined the Villagers Rugby Football Club, the second oldest rugby club in South Africa, located in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. In 1890 he also represented the Western Province cricket team at the fifth Champions Tournament in Cape Town, Castens being the opening batsman and wicket keeper. On Christmas Day he scored 165 runs in a match against the Eastern Province.
In 1891, 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...
rugby team came to South Africa. Castens refereed the first ever tour match, which was a combined Cape Town rugby side against the British Isles. Two days later he was appointed manager of the 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...
rugby side.
On 30 July, he captained South Africa in their first ever rugby international, against the touring British Isles team, which was played at the Crusader's Ground in Port Elizabeth. The British side scored two tries and a conversion to win the contest four to nil. He played in the front row in his one and only test. Castens thus became the first (and likely only) man to ever referee and play in matches in the same test series of rugby. He did however have further involvement in the rest of the tour, refereeing a number of matches; Port Elizabeth Clubs, Cap Colony, and, the third and final test 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....
, which was played on September 5, and won four to nil by Britain. Managing Western Province, he also played for them in their match against the tourists. He also refereed the unofficial final match of the tour against Stellenbosch. Castens is thought to be one of South Africa's first active rugby coaches, in that, it was his belief that rugby was somewhat of a science.
In 1894, the year that the South African Cricket Association was established, Castens played for the Western Province cricket side in what was the fourth Currie Cup Cricket Tournament, at Newlands in Cape Town; scoring 61 runs against Natal. Soon after, a South African cricket tour to England was organised, with Castens appointed as the first ever South African cricket captain. South Africa played matches against first-class countries, but no test were played. Castens scored 58 runs against Surrey on tour. 24 games were played in total on tour, with 12 victories, five losses and seven drawn matches.
Castens would move to Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, where he worked as an advocate, and would later be elected to the National Legislative, and, later becoming secretary to the Government for a number of years. Castens died on 18 October 1929 in Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as the age of sixty-four. After his death, a tribute was paid to him in a letter that a friend wrote that was published in the Cape Times.
External links
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:...