Basie Vivier

Stefanus Sebastian "Basie" Vivier (1 March 1927 – 18 October 2009) was a South African rugby union player. He was capped for South Africa five times in 1956, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951–52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international match on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.

Personal history Vivier was born Stefanus Sebastian Viviers in 1927 in Pietersburg, Northern Transvaal to Stefanus Vivier. The family name was spelt "Viviers" until it was discovered that the 's' had been appended to his father's name by his school, and the family changed their surname when it was established in 1955 that the true surname was "Vivier". He was educated at Kenhardt and Nylstroom. After 1951 he became an insurance salesman before he was made marketing consultant for National Industries. Despite only playing 14 of the 31 matches, and not playing in any of the five international games, Viviers ended as the tour's second highest scorer with 58 points. His first match in the Springboks jersey was on 13 October 1952, in a win against a combined South-Western counties team. He followed this the very next match with his first points for South Africa, scoring a penalty as full-back in an encounter with a joint Pontypridd/Newbridge team in Wales. The first Test of the tour was against Australia at Sydney on 26 May 1956. Vivier was selected at full-back, winning his first international cap, and scoring his first international points, with a penalty goal in a 9–0 victory. The second Test against Australia saw Vivier switch from full-back, Johnny Buchler taking that position, to half-back. South Africa won 9–0.

The first Test in New Zealand saw du Rand take the captaincy when Vivier was indisposed; South Africa lost 6–10. The second Test, played at Wellington, saw Vivier back in the team at full-back. The game was won by South Africa 8–3, with Vivier again on the score sheet converting one of the two tries. He continued in his position as full back for the final two Tests of the tour, both loses. Vivier scored in both Tests converting both South African tries in the third and Dryburgh's try in the fourth. The New Zealand defeat of South Africa in the Test series was the Springboks' first series defeat since 1896. He never represented South Africa again.

After retiring from playing, Vivier became a selector for Western Transvaal and then Northern Transvaal.