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Danie Craven
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniël Hartman Craven (11 October 1910 - 4 January 1993), more famously known as Danie Craven or simply Doc Craven, is a former Western Province, Eastern Province, Northern Transvaal and Springbok rugby union player as well as arguably South Africa's best as well as best-known rugby administrator. He also coached the Springboks between 1949 and 1956, becoming one of the most successful Springbok coaches of all time.
He was born in Lindley, Orange Free State province, South Africa and attended the Lindley High School there. Later he studied at Stellenbosch University in the Western Province where he received his Doctorate and eventually also lectured, and played for the Western Province rugby union team.
He played his first test match on 5 December 1931 (as scrum half) at the age of 21 against Wales at St Helens, Swansea. His last test match was on 10 September 1938 as captain (also as scrum half) at the age of 27 against the British Lions at Newlands, Cape Town. During the 1930's he was one of the world's leading scrumhalves, but the start of the Second World War in 1939 probably ended his career prematurely.
After his rugby-playing career ended, he became a national selector until he was appointed coach in 1949. He started his coaching career with a bang, winning 10 matches in a row, including a 4-0 whitewash of New Zealand in their 1949 tour to South Africa, and leaving the Springboks undefeated from 1949 to 1952. Under his guidance the Springboks played 23 tests, winning 17 (73%), an achievement that makes him one of South Africa's greatest coaches in history.
Craven became the president of the South African Rugby Board (SARB) in 1956 and was the executive president of its successor — the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) — until he died in 1993, in an unbroken presidency. He was also a member of the International Rugby Board during the same period and was its chairman on several occasions.
The South African Craven Week schools rugby competition is named after him, as well as the Danie Craven Stadium and Danie Craven Rugby Museum in Stellenbosch.