Benjamin Duff

Benjamin Robert Duff (16 October 1867 – 25 June 1943) was a South African rugby union international. He also played a first-class cricket match with Western Province.

Personal Duff, born in Swellendam, had a brother Colin who represented Rhodesia at cricket and rugby. He married Isabel Watkinson.

Cricket career Duff's cricket match was against Natal during the 1889/90 South African cricket season. Although he batted with the tail, at number 10 in both innings, Duff wasn't called on to bowl once in the match. He scored one and eight not out, dismissed by Test player Gus Kempis in the first dig. Western Province's wicket-keeper for this game, Alfred Richards, was also a rugby union international and the duo appeared together in a Test with the South African national rugby union team.

Rugby union career In 1891, Duff played three rugby union Test matches in a home series against the British Isles. These were the first ever official Tests that South Africa played and due to the order in which players' names were listed on team sheets for a match at the time, Duff has the distinction of being the first Springbok. He played his games as a full-back and represented Western Province at provincial rugby.

Test history No. Opponents Results(SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue 1. British Isles 0–4 Fullback 30 Jul 1891 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth 2. British Isles 0–3 Fullback 29 Aug 1891 Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley 3. British Isles 0–4 Fullback 5 Sep 1891Newlands, Cape Town