From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tommy Bedford
Tommy Bedford
Sporting positions
Preceded by Springbok Captain Succeeded by
Dawie de Villiers 1969 Hannes Marais
Tommy Bedford A very athletic and dynamic number 8 he formed a
Full name Thomas Pleydell Bedford remarkably efficient and complementary back-row part-
nership with Jan Ellis and Piet Greyling. He made his de-
Date of birth February 8, 1942 (1942-02-08)
but against the Lions in an historic Test at Loftus Vers-
Place of birth Bloemfontein, South Africa feld in Pretoria - the first ever international in which
replacements were allowed for injury, though no more
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
than four players per team could be replaced in a match
Weight 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) at the time. He played number 8 in all four Tests against
University University of Natal the 1968 Lions with South Africa winning the tightly-
fought series 3-0, with one drawn, when in both the first
Rugby union career and third Tests the winning margin was only five points.
Playing career The young Durban architect, who captained his provin-
cial team Natal, also led his country three times, against
Position Rugby union positions#8., Number eight
Australia (twice) and Scotland on the 1969 tour to Britain
Amateur clubs and Ireland.
Despite his prowess as a player and captain, it is
Years Club / team
thought that his relentless and uncompromising criti-
University of Natal cism of the apartheid system and the rugby establish-
Provincial/State sides
ment contributed to a premature end of his playing ca-
reer. He retired from international rugby after the drawn
Years Club / team Caps (points) Test with France in Durban in 1971.[1]
Natal RFU ? (?)
? Natal Sharks ?
0
(?)
(?)
Notes and references
[1] http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/
correct as of 9 September 2006.
nominees20th.html
National team(s) Persondata
Years Club / team Caps (points) Name Bedford, Tommy
1963-1971 South Africa 25 (3) Alternative names
Short description
Thomas Pleydell ’Tommy’ Bedford (born February 8, 1942 Date of birth 1942-02-08
in Bloemfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby
Place of birth Bloemfontein, South Africa
union player who has represented the national team, the
Springboks, 25 times, captaining the Springboks on 3 oc- Date of death
casions. Place of death
Career
Tommy Bedford won the first of his 25 caps against Aus-
tralia as a flank forward on 13 July 1963. Though he ap-
peared as a 21-year-old flank forward in six Test matches,
it was the number 8 position that established him as a
player of outstanding quality on the international scene.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Bedford&oldid=458346120"
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tommy Bedford
Categories:
• South African rugby union players
• South Africa international rugby union players
• Anglo-African people
• Rugby union number eights
• People from KwaZulu-Natal
• Living people
• 1942 births
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