Mof Myburgh Biography

The former Springbok prop was born on 24 August 1936 in Senekal. He died in Pretoria in 2012 at the age of 75 after a long illness.

Mof Myburgh was a detective in the police force, and a long-time stalwart for Police club, Pretoria and the Blue Bulls, whom he represented 109 times. 

The big prop was a contemporary and teammate of the legendary Frik du Preez, but also shared the field with a host of big names in South African rugby history like Dawie de Villiers, Syd Nomis, Jan Ellis, Mannetjies Roux and Piet Visagie to name a few. 

Despite his heroics as a powerful scrummager, Mof Myburgh might be best known for the phrase he coined after Northern Transvaal beat Western Provine in 1969 when he said Du Preez had 'gedrop, geplace and gescore'.

Mof Myburgh made his test debut in the Green and Gold in 1962 against the British Lions in Johannesburg. The powerfully built prop had earlier been selected for the SA tour of the British Isles and France in 1960-61 where he played 20 matches, without being selected for the five Test matches.

Fanie Kuhn and Piet du Toit were the props used as the Springboks recorded a Grand Slam against the four home unions but drawing 0-0 against France.

Mof Myburgh also missed out on selection against Ireland and Australia in 1961 but he made his Test debut at Ellis Park against the touring British & Irish Lions in 1962. The match was drawn 3-3 and Myburgh was dropped for the next Test.

He had to wait two years for his next Tests in 1964 against Wales and France.

Both were lost and, with props like Tiny Neethling and Hannes Marais preferred by the selectors, he had another wait of four years before he played in three Tests against the 1968 Lions.

Mof Myburgh then toured France where he played two Tests, both won by South Africa. This cemented his place in the Springbok side, and from then until 1970 he was a regular in the front row. He went on the 1969-70 demo-ridden tour of the British Isles when he played against England, Ireland and Wales and his Test career ended in 1970 in fine style when the All Blacks were beaten 3-1 at home, with Mof Myburgh recalled for the last two Tests. 

When the All Blacks arrived in South Africa they were the favourites to win the series and to avenge the losing series of 1949 and 1960. On the eve of the first test nothing had changed: the Springboks were not given much of a chance. The resolve and commitment in the Springbok camp was however something to behold.

The Springbok team that took the field had some question marks over it. HO de Villiers and Gys Pitzer were injured and the rugby public questioned the inclusion of Tiny Neethling over Mof Myburgh (who was not yet fit though), Albie Bates over Tommy Bedford, Johan Spies over Gawie Carelse or Western Transvaal’s Daan Ackermann, the by then relatively unknown Joggie Jansen at inside centre and newcomer Ian McCullum at full-back. The general view was that this was a team that could not beat the invincible All Blacks. By the end of the series, the public would sing a very different tune.

It was an unforgettable match; a brilliant invincible All Black side put to the sword by a Springbok team who played with such passion and commitment that nothing could stop them.

Mof Myburgh, by many called Mighty Mof because of his shear size and presence, was also described as a solid guy, not only as player but also as a person.

Altogether Mof Myburgh played 57 matches in the Springbok jersey, including 18 Tests, of which 12 were won, two lost and four drawn.