Louis Brabow
Encyclopedia
Doctor Louis Babrow was a South African rugby union player and medical doctor. He was of Jewish origins.
and Cape Town University in South Africa, as well as Guy's Hospital
in England, where he finished his medical training, and also played for the team
. He later played for Western Province
and .
In 2004, Babrow voiced concern that rugby was becoming mainly an Afrikaner
's sport in South Africa.
, who was the first Jewish Springbok.
In 1937, Babrow faced the dilemma of whether or not to play a game against on Yom Kippur
, a Jewish holy day. In the end, Babrow player, with the rationale that he was playing in New Zealand
, not his homeland:
At 22, Babrow was the youngest member of the touring party. One of Babrow's cross kicks, set up a try for Ferdie Bergh
to score. He recalled that some members of the Springbok party were Greyshirt
sympathisers, but that he never experienced anti-Semitism on the tour.
Babrow was a lifelong opponent of apartheid, campaigning for the release of Bram Fischer
, the radical lawyer, and against the whitewashing of the Steve Biko
affair.
In more recent times, he has stated:
council for twenty five years.
Playing career
He attended, and played for Grey College, BloemfonteinGrey College, Bloemfontein
Grey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, historically significant and prestigious Milner Schools...
and Cape Town University in South Africa, as well as Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
in England, where he finished his medical training, and also played for the team
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club is the name given to the modern amalgam of three formerly distinct hospital rugby clubs each with a long history, having all been founded in the nineteenth century. The teams from Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital were the first to merge...
. He later played 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 .
In 2004, Babrow voiced concern that rugby was becoming mainly an Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
's sport in South Africa.
Judaism and rugby
Babrow was the cousin of Morris ZimermanMorris Zimerman
Morris Zimerman was a South African rugby union player.Zimerman was the first Jew to represent in rugby union, when he debuted in 5 December 1931...
, who was the first Jewish Springbok.
In 1937, Babrow faced the dilemma of whether or not to play a game against on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, a Jewish holy day. In the end, Babrow player, with the rationale that he was playing in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, not his homeland:
- "I'm a South African Jew, not a New Zealand Jew and New Zealand is eight hours before South Africa in time. When we are playing our holy day will not yet have dawned in South Africa".
At 22, Babrow was the youngest member of the touring party. One of Babrow's cross kicks, set up a try for Ferdie Bergh
Ferdie Bergh
Willem Ferdinand van Rheede van Oudtschoorn Bergh , better known as "Ferdie" Bergh, was a South African rugby union player.He was originally from Stellenbosch, well known as a rugby centre....
to score. He recalled that some members of the Springbok party were Greyshirt
Greyshirts
Greyshirts or Gryshemde is the common short-form name given to the South African Gentile National Socialist Movement, a South African Nazi movement that existed during the 1930s and 1940s...
sympathisers, but that he never experienced anti-Semitism on the tour.
Babrow was a lifelong opponent of apartheid, campaigning for the release of Bram Fischer
Bram Fischer
Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial.-Tributes:Fischer is widely acknowledged as a key figure in...
, the radical lawyer, and against the whitewashing of the Steve Biko
Steve Biko
Stephen Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the...
affair.
In more recent times, he has stated:
- "Rugby in South AfricaRugby union in South AfricaRugby union is a popular team sport played in South Africa. Along with cricket and football it is one of the most popular ball sports in South Africa...
has always had its prejudices and it could take another 20 years until those issues are sorted out in the game. But if you look at the game in the country now, for the first time ever there is not one Jewish player in the Currie CupCurrie CupThe 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...
[in 2004].
- "It used to be a good luck superstition for the Boks to have at least one Jewish player and a policeman in the side. Now there are neither."
Professional career
Babrow was an elected member of the Medical and Dental Council for 21 years, and was on the University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
council for twenty five years.
External links
- SA veteran concerned for rugby's future
- Book review: The Glory of the Game, about the Ten Jewish Springboks.