Avril Malan
South Africa
player portrait
Full name Avril Stefan Malan
Born April 9, 1937, Pretoria
Current age 86 years 345 days
Major teams South Africa
Position Lock

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop GfM Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 1960-1965 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5 3 59.37

Career statistics
Test debut South Africa v New Zealand at Johannesburg, Jun 25, 1960 match details
Last Test Scotland v South Africa at Murrayfield, Apr 17, 1965 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list
Profile

South African lock Avril Malan made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1960, thrown in at the deep end in one of world rugby's fiercest rivalries. The Springboks won the home series 2-1 following an 8-3 victory in Port Elizabeth, with Malan having succeeded Roy Dryburgh as skipper after two Tests.

Having dispatched the All Blacks, Malan's Springboks headed to Europe where they wound an unbeaten path through the home nations to collect a coveted Grand Slam tour, the fourth Springbok side to do so.

Malan's second trip to Europe, in 1965, was less successful and motivated in part by the political wrangling that dogged South African rugby. Doug Hopwood, the brilliant Western Province No.8, had been vetoed as captain by the South African Rugby Board.

Malan, an Afrikaaner, was suggested and he led an unsuccessful short tour. The Boks lost 9-6 to Ireland at Lansdowne Road thanks to the boot of Tom Kiernan and the lock played his final Test a week later at Murrayfield, where Scotland were 8-5 victors.

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Latest Photos
Oct 14, 1960
South Africa's Avril Malan poses en route to Southampton
South Africa's Avril Malan poses en route to Southampton
©  Getty Images

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