John Gainsford

John Leslie Gainsford (August 4, 1938 – November 18, 2015) was a South African rugby union player (Springbok number 348). He was born in Germiston. Gainsford played in 71 matches for South Africa (the Springboks), including tour games, and was known for being the most-capped Springbok centre until his record was overtaken by Japie Mulder in 2001.

Early life Gainsford grew up in Lansdowne, Cape Town. He was the eldest of four children. His mother, Enid Francis Gainsford, was Australian. She was a former Sydney swimming champion who came out to South Africa with her mother, when her mother was sent to South Africa to help train women factory workers for the Second World War effort. It was during this time that she met his South African father, John Cecil Gainsford, and made South Africa her permanent home.

Rugby career Gainsford made his debut for Western Province at the age of 19.

He did have a break from Province when he was working for an insurance company and was sent to Beaufort West to open a branch there. In 1962 and 1963 he played for South Western Districts along with Dave Stewart who was in Carnarvon.

Gainsford was a Province man through and through. He played for them 46 times, which was a vast number in those days, and he played from 1958 to 1967 without being dropped. He was the Province captain in 1966 when they won the Currie Cup.

He wore a Springbok jersey more often than a Province jersey - 71 times in a career that included 33 Tests. When he was dropped against France in 1967, Syd Nomis took his place. When Gainsford heard the news on the radio, he immediately sent Nomis a telegram: "Say I'm sad, man, say I'm glad, man. Have a great game.”

Nice Guys Come Second is the title of his autobiography- and that says it all about both the man and the player. Winners take all, was his approach to rugby, and Doc Craven said about him, “John was one who never apologised for his belief that rugby was played to be won.” From April 1960 to July 1967, South Africa played a total of 34 International matches. Gainsford participated in 33 of these tests, missing only one through injury. This was against Ireland at Newlands in 1961. In 1968, he became a Western Province under-20 selector, and started coaching Villager's under-20 teams. In 1969, he became the coach for the Western Province's under-20 team. Some of the Western Province Currie Cup squad players that he coached included Springboks Morne du Plessis, Dawie Snyman, Peter Whipp, Johan Oosthuizen, Robert Cockrell, Dugald Macdonald, Wilhelm Landman, Kobus Immelmann, and Doug Claxton. In 1971, he was made a senior Western Province selector. from Jack Logan. Gainsford, Stewart, and Pickard all became directors. Gainsford served as President of Villager FC from 2006 to 2010.

Wine industry Jan Pickard persuaded Gainsford to become a part of his wine business, Union Wine, in Wellington. Gainsford became an integral part of the business, especially the export division, remaining with the company when it became DGB. He worked for Graham Beck and then DGB as their international director focusing on sales and promotions. For more than 30 years, even during the times when sanctions seriously impaired wine exports, he won over the palates of wine lovers in Germany, Switzerland, the UK and Mauritius.

Even after retirement, Gainsford still did consultation work in the wine industry. He is survived by his wife Shona, children Murray, Lindsay, Kirk, and Shona-Leigh, and 11 grandchildren.

Philanthropy

Gainsford's wife, Shona, said that he never turned down an opportunity to help out at schools in Paarl as coach and mentor to players, or to appear as guest speaker. He became "Uncle John" to so many boys and girls across the valley.

He also reached out to the many downtrodden people in the valley. Gainsford spent many years raising funds for Hospice. He also established a fund for ex-rugby players who had fallen on hard times, even delivering groceries to their homes.

For more than five years he had been helping homeless people living on the embankments of the Berg River, finding them jobs, helping them with IDs and other Home Affairs documents, and more.

Each Sunday he would provide meals for these homeless people, at the same time providing spiritual guidance and preparing them to make a positive impact on their own lives.

Gainsford's wife Shona said he did indeed make a positive impact on many of their lives.

She said: "There is the story of Jannie who, through this 'ministry' gave up alcohol abuse, found faith and employment, and was then able to uplift himself by moving away from the river banks and buying a wendy house to live in. He is now integrated into society. John was excited about this work which has brought about change."

"John was always a person who tackled everything he did with every fibre of his being. But above all, he was a committed Christian, a family man." Opponent Result Age Position Points Date Venue 1. Scotland Win: 18–10 21 Outside Centre 30 Apr 1960 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth 2. New Zealand Win: 13–10 21 Outside Centre 25 Jun 1960 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 3. New Zealand Lose: 3–11 21 Outside Centre 23 Jul 1960 Newlands, Cape Town 4. New Zealand Draw: 11-11 22 Outside Centre 13 Aug 1960 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 5. New Zealand Win: 8–3 22 Outside Centre 27 Aug 1960 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth 6. Wales Win: 3–0 22 Outside Centre 03 Dec 1960 Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff 7. Ireland Win: 8–3 22 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 17 Dec 1960 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin 8. England Win: 5–0 22 Outside Centre 07 Jan 1961 Twickenham, London 9. Scotland Win: 12–5 22 Outside Centre 21 Jan 1961 Murrayfield, Edinburgh 10. France Draw: 0-0 22 Outside Centre 18 Feb 1961 Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris 11. Australia Win: 28–3 23 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 5 Aug 1961 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 12. Australia Win: 23–11 23 Outside Centre 12 Aug 1961 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth 13. Britain Draw: 3-3 23 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 23 Jun 1962 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 14. Britain Win: 3–0 23 Outside Centre 21 Jul 1962 Kings Park, Durban 15. Britain Win: 8–3 24 Outside Centre 04 Aug 1962 Newlands, Cape Town 16. Britain Win: 34–14 24 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 25 Aug 1962 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 17. Australia Win: 14–3 24 Outside Centre 13 Jul 1963 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 18. Australia Lose: 5–9 25 Outside Centre 10 Aug 1963 Newlands, Cape Town 19. Australia Lose: 9–11 25 Outside Centre 24 Aug 1963 Ellis Park, Johannesburg 20. Australia Win: 22–6 25 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 07 Sep 1963 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth 21. Wales Win: 24–3 25 Outside Centre 23 May 1964 Kings Park, Durban 22. France Lose: 6–8 25 Outside Centre 25 Jul 1964 P.A.M. Brink Stadium, Springs 23. Ireland Lose: 6–9 26 Outside Centre 10 Apr 1965 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin 24. Scotland Lose: 5–8 26 Outside Centre 17 Apr 1965 Murrayfield, Edinburgh 25. Australia Lose: 11–18 26 Outside Centre 19 Jun 1965 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 26. Australia Lose: 8–12 26 Outside Centre 3 (1 try) 26 Jun 1965 Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane 27. New Zealand Lose: 3–6 26 Outside Centre 31 Jul 1965 Athletic Park, Wellington 28. New Zealand Lose: 0–13 27 Outside Centre 21 Aug 1965 Carisbrook, Dunedin 29. New Zealand Win: 19–16 27 Outside Centre 6 (2 tries) 04 Sep 1965 AMI Stadium (Lancaster Park), Christchurch 30. New Zealand Lose: 3-20 27 Outside Centre 18 Sep 1965 Eden Park, Auckland 31. France Win: 26–3 28 Outside Centre 15 Jul 1967 Kings Park, Durban 32. France Win: 16–3 28 Outside Centre 22 Jul 1967 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 33. France Lose: 14–19 28 Outside Centre 29 Jul 1967 Ellis Park, Johannesburg