Dawid Schalk Pienaar "Dawie" Ackermann (3 June 1930 – 1 January 1970), was a South African international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

and

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer. His position was at Flanker (or loose forward in rugby league).

Rugby union career

Ackermann started his career as a

player, appearing for

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and

Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal. * South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...

. He also played in eight test matches for

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

between 1955 and 1958.

Rugby league career

In 1962, Ackermann was one of a number of high-profile South African players to switch to rugby league. He was selected by the RLSA to play in a three match series against

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, who were returning from their 1962 tour of Australia and New Zealand. Ackermann played in all three games, scoring a try in the second game. In 1963, he was part of the team which toured Australia and New Zealand, captaining the side in the two games against

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Following the collapse of rugby league in South Africa after the tour, Ackermann was forced to retire due to the ban on rugby league players from participating in rugby union.

References

External links

Dawie Ackermann
at Rugby League Project {{DEFAULTSORT:Ackermann, Dawie 1930 births 1970 deaths Rugby league locks Rugby league players from Eastern Cape Rugby union flankers Rugby union players from the Eastern Cape South Africa international rugby union players South Africa national rugby league team captains South Africa national rugby league team players South African rugby league players Western Province (rugby union) players