Former Springbok, legendary WP coach Dawie Snyman dies
News24 understands that Snyman was diagnosed with leukemia about a month ago.
Snyman, who could operate at flyhalf and fullback, played 10 Tests for the Springboks between 1972 and 1977.
Snyman was schooled at Grey College in Bloemfontein, but moved down to the Cape after school to study at Stellenbosch University, where he played for Maties.
He had the rare distinction of being called up to the Springboks without playing provincial rugby, touring with the 1971 Boks to Australia. He did not play a Test, though, and made his Western Province debut later in 1971. His Test debut came the following year against England at Ellis Park.
Arguably the highlight of Snyman's career was featuring in the 1976 home series against the All Blacks which the Boks won 3-1.
After his playing career ended, Snyman became a renowned coach of Western Province and was at the helm of the team whey they won the Currie Cup a record five times in a row from 1982-1986.
Snyman's brother, Jackie, was also a Springbok utility back in the 1970s.
Jackie's son, also Dawie, is currently the Stormers' assistant coach.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
2 hours ago
- News24
‘Miracle of Brighton' reunion: Springboks to take on Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms at Wembley
The Springboks will open their end-of-year tour up north with a match against Japan at Wembley Stadium in November. The fixture will reunite the Boks with old foe Eddie Jones, who was the mastermind behind the 'Miracle of Brighton' defeat the Boks suffered against Japan in the 2015 World Cup in England. Under Jones, in his second stint as Japan coach, the Brave Blossoms will provide an apt warm-up for the world champions before they take on France in Paris a week later. For more Rugby Championship news, go to News24 Sport's TRC Zone. Ten years after the Brighton disaster of 2015, the Springboks are set for a reunion with Eddie Jones, the mastermind behind that infamous defeat by Japan. The world champions will take on the Brave Blossoms at London's iconic Wembley Stadium on 1 November. The famous north London venue last hosted a rugby match in 2016, when the Springboks played to a 31-31 against the Barbarians. London has been a happy hunting ground for the Springboks in recent times, with victories over Wales in 2024 and the All Blacks in 2023 at Twickenham. READ | Boks go 'old school' for crunch Cape Town clash, but 'Tony-ball' is just getting started The Boks will also face Argentina in the final round of the Rugby Championship on 4 October at Twickers, which has become a home away from home thanks to the large South African expat community of England's capital city. 'We are delighted to be starting off our tour of the Northern Hemisphere with a match against Japan at the iconic Wembley Stadium, especially ahead of a challenging Outgoing Tour, which kicks off a week later with the first official Test of the November window against France in Paris,' said Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus in an SA Rugby press release on Wednesday. 'The last time the Boks played at Wembley was in 2016 against the Barbarians, in a tense affair which went down to the wire in a 31-31 drawn match. 'The Brave Blossoms are renowned for playing fast, attacking, high-tempo rugby - which has been prevalent in our last two encounters, before and during the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019. 'We have had fantastic support from our fans in the UK for our fixtures in London over the past few years and I am sure this match will be no different, especially being at one of the most famous sporting venues in the world.' London, are you ready? The #Springboks are playing Japan at @wembleystadium in November - more here: 🇬🇧 #ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 20, 2025 This will be the fourth meeting between South Africa and Japan. The Springboks won their last two encounters (both in 2019), following the 'Miracle of Brighton' that saw the Boks humbled in their opening World Cup pool match under then coach Heyneke Meyer in 2015, when Jones' Brave Blossoms claimed a 34-32 upset victory for the ages. FIRST TAKE | None of last week's BS as Rassie calls on Bomb Squad, Pollard and Willie In his second stint as Japan's coach, Jones, who won the World Cup in 2007 as a technical advisor to the Springboks, reached two more World Cup finals with Australia (2003) and England (2019), relished the prospect of another clash with the Boks. 'The game in Brighton 10 years ago changed rugby in Japan from being a minor sport to a boom sport,' said Jones. 'Playing against the Boks is the dream of every young Japanese player.' Tickets will go on general sale on Friday, 22 August via Ticketmaster and Wembley Stadium.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Most people I knew would stop rugby after a baby'
A global community of rugby players, who are also mothers, have come together to support each other through parenthood. Mums who Play Rugby was co-founded by Bath Ladies player Trish Brown after she struggled with maintaining such a physical hobby while having a young son. "I think when I found out I was pregnant I cried," she said. "It was quite overwhelming." More than 600 people from across the UK, and as far away as the Philippines and New Zealand, have now joined her online community and they are putting a team into their first tournament later this month. "We're really excited. There's just been a real galvanisation of really good energy of lots of people wanting to see mums succeed in playing a brilliant, physical sport as well as juggling being a parent," said Ms Brown. "I'd never really thought in too much detail what would happen after I got pregnant, after I had a baby," said the front row forward. "Most of the people that I knew, if they had a baby they would then just stop playing." Ms Brown continued training up until she gave birth to her son and returned to the pitch six months after he was born. But it was a big change. "Logistics are really hard," she said, remembering sometimes having to breastfeed her son during games. "The sleep deprivation's really hard," she added. "That's the same for any parent. It's tricky then balancing that with quite a physical hobby. "But I wouldn't change anything because it's such a release for me to be able to go and do something with my body that's really empowering after I've had a baby." Ms Brown was inspired to set up the group on Facebook after hearing about professional players Abbie Ward and Vickii Cornborough having children and getting back on the pitch. It quickly grew its members, with people sharing experiences and challenges of being a rugby-playing mum, including childcare, affording membership and the lack of clear information around postpartum recovery and return to play. Though Ms Brown said a recent toolkit by the Rugby Football Union was useful for providing some of this information. "I think I was one of the first people to join [the group]," said Samantha Castley-MacDonald, who lives in Trowbridge. "Every time I go on it's like 'welcome to these 50 new mums in the group'," she added. While her wife gave up the sport after giving birth to their daughter, Ms Castley-MacDonald said she continued playing while juggling childcare, work and rugby. "Playing for the Championship One Division we travel really far for our matches," she said, explaining she could be out of the house for 12 hours on a Sunday. "But it's important for me I have that thing that makes me me. "It's just really great to see how many women are prioritising themselves and getting out and being social and being fit and just doing things that are great for them." Jade Hutton, from Yate, has also played rugby for most of her life, including in the Army. After taking a break while she had children, she is now back on the pitch. "Being pregnant and going through everything is such a daunting experience," she said, adding that groups like Mums who play rugby were "so important". "You can't beat rugby family. My team, the girls, have done immense [things] for my mental health, everything," she said. Natalia Reilly, from Bristol, who has an adult daughter, only got into rugby six months ago, but also loves the community. She said: "I think a lot of mums... they're not sure whether they're too old, too young, whether their bodies are right for rugby." Ms Reilly said the group was "amazing" to show women they will always be welcome, adding rugby was the most inclusive and supportive sport she had ever taken up. The group has now formed a team called the MaaMaas, as a nod to the better known BaaBaas [The Barbarians], and will enter their first invitational tournament at Yeovil on 30 August. A crowdfunding page has also been set up by the group to help support mums with the costs associated with rugby. Meanwhile, the group continues to attract rugby playing mums from around the world. "It's quite exciting because one day, when we go on a world tour, we'll have lots of places to choose from," added Ms Brown. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story The Guernsey woman championing mums in rugby We've wanted a child for so long - Joyce-Butchers Ward recalled to England squad after giving birth Related Internet Links Mums who play rugby
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Most people I knew would stop rugby after a baby'
A global community of rugby players, who are also mothers, have come together to support each other through parenthood. Mums who Play Rugby was co-founded by Bath Ladies player Trish Brown after she struggled with maintaining such a physical hobby while having a young son. "I think when I found out I was pregnant I cried," she said. "It was quite overwhelming." More than 600 people from across the UK, and as far away as the Philippines and New Zealand, have now joined her online community and they are putting a team into their first tournament later this month. "We're really excited. There's just been a real galvanisation of really good energy of lots of people wanting to see mums succeed in playing a brilliant, physical sport as well as juggling being a parent," said Ms Brown. "I'd never really thought in too much detail what would happen after I got pregnant, after I had a baby," said the front row forward. "Most of the people that I knew, if they had a baby they would then just stop playing." Ms Brown continued training up until she gave birth to her son and returned to the pitch six months after he was born. But it was a big change. "Logistics are really hard," she said, remembering sometimes having to breastfeed her son during games. "The sleep deprivation's really hard," she added. "That's the same for any parent. It's tricky then balancing that with quite a physical hobby. "But I wouldn't change anything because it's such a release for me to be able to go and do something with my body that's really empowering after I've had a baby." Ms Brown was inspired to set up the group on Facebook after hearing about professional players Abbie Ward and Vickii Cornborough having children and getting back on the pitch. It quickly grew its members, with people sharing experiences and challenges of being a rugby-playing mum, including childcare, affording membership and the lack of clear information around postpartum recovery and return to play. Though Ms Brown said a recent toolkit by the Rugby Football Union was useful for providing some of this information. "I think I was one of the first people to join [the group]," said Samantha Castley-MacDonald, who lives in Trowbridge. "Every time I go on it's like 'welcome to these 50 new mums in the group'," she added. While her wife gave up the sport after giving birth to their daughter, Ms Castley-MacDonald said she continued playing while juggling childcare, work and rugby. "Playing for the Championship One Division we travel really far for our matches," she said, explaining she could be out of the house for 12 hours on a Sunday. "But it's important for me I have that thing that makes me me. "It's just really great to see how many women are prioritising themselves and getting out and being social and being fit and just doing things that are great for them." Jade Hutton, from Yate, has also played rugby for most of her life, including in the Army. After taking a break while she had children, she is now back on the pitch. "Being pregnant and going through everything is such a daunting experience," she said, adding that groups like Mums who play rugby were "so important". "You can't beat rugby family. My team, the girls, have done immense [things] for my mental health, everything," she said. Natalia Reilly, from Bristol, who has an adult daughter, only got into rugby six months ago, but also loves the community. She said: "I think a lot of mums... they're not sure whether they're too old, too young, whether their bodies are right for rugby." Ms Reilly said the group was "amazing" to show women they will always be welcome, adding rugby was the most inclusive and supportive sport she had ever taken up. The group has now formed a team called the MaaMaas, as a nod to the better known BaaBaas [The Barbarians], and will enter their first invitational tournament at Yeovil on 30 August. A crowdfunding page has also been set up by the group to help support mums with the costs associated with rugby. Meanwhile, the group continues to attract rugby playing mums from around the world. "It's quite exciting because one day, when we go on a world tour, we'll have lots of places to choose from," added Ms Brown. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story The Guernsey woman championing mums in rugby We've wanted a child for so long - Joyce-Butchers Ward recalled to England squad after giving birth Related Internet Links Mums who play rugby
