Tom van Vollenhoven biography
Tom van Vollenhoven, byname of Karel Thomas van Vollenhoven, (born April 29, 1935, Bethlehem, South Africa—died October 21, 2017, South Africa), South African rugby soccer participant who reached the pinnacle of success in each rugby union and rugby league. He performed on the wing for the South African nationwide group, the Springboks, in 1955 in opposition to the British Lions (now the British and Irish Lions) and through its 1956 tour of New Zealand. Against the Lions at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, he grew to become the primary Springbok to carry out a hat trick (rating three tries) on residence soil.
After the 1956 tour van Vollenhoven left rugby union and South Africa to affix St. Helens within the English Rugby League. In 1957–58 he set a single-season membership report with 62 tries. He scored a record-equaling six tries in a single match in 1957 and once more in 1962. He performed as a winger for 11 years, scoring a report complete of 392 tries. His tempo and artistry had been legendary. In the 1959 championship remaining in opposition to Hunslet at Odsal Stadium in Bradford, England, van Vollenhoven scored his most well-known particular person attempt in a length-of-the-field run on which he weaved his method via all the opposition. In the 1961 Challenge Cup remaining win in opposition to Wigan at Wembley Stadium in London, he completed off one in all rugby league’s best tries in a length-of-the-field passing extravaganza with Ken Large as they exchanged the ball a number of occasions whereas working previous the opposition. Van Vollenhoven is considered one of many all-time main wingers of rugby league soccer.