Tommy Gentles
 Gentles in New Zealand in 1956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Thomas Alexander Gentles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 May 1934 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 29 June 2011 (aged 77) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 61 kg (134 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Diocesan College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thomas Alexander Gentles (31 May 1934 – 29 June 2011) was a South African rugby union player.[1]
Playing career[edit]
Gentles was educated at Diocesan College (Bishops) and the University of Cape Town, where he gained a B.A. degree. He played provincial rugby for Western Province from 1955 to 1958.[2]
Gentles made his test match debut for South Africa against Robin Thompson's British Lions side in 1955 at Ellis Park on 6 August 1955, in front of over 90,000 fans. He toured with the Springboks to Australia and New Zealand in 1956. Gentles and Popeye Strydom competed for the scrumhalf position and consequently played in two of the six Tests, during the tour.[3] He also played in 12 tour matches and scored three tries.[1]
Test history[edit]
| No. | Opponents | Results (SA 1st) |
Position | Tries | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  British Lions |
25–9 | Scrumhalf | 6 Aug 1955 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 2. | British Lions |
6–9 | Scrumhalf | 20 Aug 1955 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
| 3. | British Lions |
22–8 | Scrumhalf | 24 Sep 1955 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth | |
| 4. |  New Zealand |
8–3 | Scrumhalf | 4 Aug 1956 | Athletic Park, Wellington | |
| 5. | New Zealand |
10–17 | Scrumhalf | 18 Aug 1956 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | |
| 6. |  France |
5–9 | Scrumhalf | 16 Aug 1958 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
See also[edit]
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 316
References[edit]
- ^ a b Heath, Duane; Grieb, Eddie; Smit, Kobus (2020). South African Rugby Annual 2020. Cape Town: South African Rugby Union. p. 238. ISBN 9780620872041.
- ^ Parker, A. C. (1983). W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983. Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa) (1st ed.). Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa: WPRFU. p. 303. ISBN 0-620-06555-9. OCLC 54188953.
- ^ Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 14–25. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.