Wynand Claassen

Wynand Claassen (born 16 January 1951, in Schweizer-Reneke) is a former South African rugby player and Springbok captain.

Playing career He was selected as eighth-man for Northern Transvaal whilst studying architecture at the University of Pretoria in the late 1970s. He formed a loose-trio with Thys Lourens and Burger Geldenhuys and soon had two Currie Cup final victories, in 1975 and 1977.

In 1980 he moved to Natal and was selected for the Springboks in 1981, captaining the team on his debut against Ireland. Despite Natal's relegation to the Currie Cup B section at the end of 1981 he continued as Springbok captain until 1984. He played seven test matches for the Springboks, all as captain and also played in six tour matches, scoring two tries.

Claassen is credited with reviving rugby at the University of Natal, both as a player and later as a coach. In 1988 he coached the Durban campus of the University of Natal to the Moor Cup title.

Test history

No. Opposition Result (SA 1st) Position Tries Date Venue 1. 23–15 Number 8 (c) 30 May 1981 Newlands, Cape Town 2. 12–10 Number 8 (c) 6 June 1981 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 3. 24–12 Number 8 (c) 29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington 4. 22–25 Number 8 (c) 12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland 5. 38–7 Number 8 (c) 20 September 1981 Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York 6. 24px South American Jaguars 50–18 Number 8 (c) 27 March 1982 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 7. 24px South American Jaguars 12–21 Number 8 (c) 3 April 1982 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Springbok captain In 1981 he earned international acclaim as captain during the infamous "Rebel Tour" in New Zealand.

Personal His father was George Claassen, a schoolmaster from Middelburg Hoërskool and winner of the 1961 Comrades Marathon between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.