Bubbles Koch

Henri Vercueil Koch (13 June 1921 – 2 November 2003) was a South African international rugby union player.

Bubbles Koch

Full name	Henri Vercueil Koch
Date of birth	(1921-06-13)13 June 1921
Place of birth	Hopefield, South Africa
Date of death	2 November 2003(2003-11-02) (aged 82)
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	102 kg (225 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1942 Boland () 1944–49 Western Province () 1948 Rhodesia () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1949 South Africa 4 (0)

Koch was born on the "Koperfontein" farm outside Hopefield. His nickname of "Bubbles" originated from when he was a baby and would gurgle bubbles. He was educated at Hoërskool Hopefield.^[1]

After playing senior rugby for his hometown club at age 15, Koch was developed from a backline player into a forward during his time with Stellenbosch University. He started his provincial career with Boland, but spent most of the 1940s with Western Province, and also had a season in Rhodesia when employed on a tobacco farm. In 1949, Koch was capped for the Springboks in all four matches of their 4-0 series whitewash of the touring All Blacks, utilised mainly as a lock.^[2]

Koch served Boland as both a selector and team manager.^[3]

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players