Benjamin Duff

Benjamin Robert Duff (16 October 1867 – 25 June 1943) was a South African rugby union international.^[2] He also played a first-class cricket match with Western Province.

Ben Duff

Birth name	Benjamin Robert Duff
Date of birth	(1867-10-16)16 October 1867
Place of birth	Swellendam, Cape Colony
Date of death	25 June 1943(1943-06-25) (aged 75)
Place of death	Pretoria, South Africa
School	South African College High School[1]
Notable relative(s)	Colin Duff (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) – Hamilton RFC () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1888–1892 Western Province (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1891 South Africa 3 (0) Correct as of 19 July 2010

Personal

Duff, born in Swellendam, had a brother Colin who represented Rhodesia at cricket and rugby. He married Isabel Watkinson.

Cricket career

Duff's cricket match was against Natal during the 1889/90 South African cricket season. Although he batted with the tail, at number 10 in both innings, Duff wasn't called on to bowl once in the match. He scored one and eight not out, dismissed by Test player Gus Kempis in the first dig. Western Province's wicket-keeper for this game, Alfred Richards, was also a rugby union international and the duo appeared together in a Test with the South African national rugby union team.^[3]

Rugby union career

In 1891, Duff played three rugby union Test matches in a home series against the British Isles. These were the first ever official Tests that South Africa played and due to the order in which players' names were listed on team sheets for a match at the time, Duff has the distinction of being the first Springbok.^[4] He played his games as a full-back and represented Western Province at provincial rugby.^[5]

Test history

No.	Opponents	Results(SA 1st)	Position	Tries	Date	Venue
1.	British Isles	0–4	Fullback		30 Jul 1891	Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth
2.	British Isles	0–3	Fullback		29 Aug 1891	Eclectic Cricket Ground, Kimberley
3.	British Isles	0–4	Fullback		5 Sep 1891	Newlands, Cape Town

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 1