The Players
Daniel Hartman Craven (1910 - 1993)
The ‘Doc’
Born Daniel Hartman Craven, the sporty youngster grew up receiving lessons at a farm school, playing barefoot soccer and rugby with a stone in the dusty streets of the small town on the Vals River, South Africa. At the age of 13 he was sent to Lindley High School where he shone at cricket and rugby.
Player stats
position Scrum Half (9)
height 5FT 10”
weight 12st 6lbs
debut WALES V SOUTH AFRICA SWANSEA 5TH DEC 1931
appearances 16
As a player Craven won 16 international caps between 1931 and 1938. One of his most impressive attributes was the ability to not only play, but excel, in many different positions on the field. Primarily a scrum-half this did not stop Danie being selected at fly-half, centre, number eight and even fullback on occasion. As well as his versatility on the pitch, Craven is cited as perfecting the dive pass, a newly adapted method of rapidly distributing the ball from scrummages.
He may have possessed natural sporting abilities but he was also an academic. Holding 3 PHDs, he was the first professor of physical education at The University Stellenbosch and this intellectual side of Craven earned him the nickname ‘Doc’.
A game of rugby is a work of art!
In 1949 he became selector and coach of his national side and during this tenure South Africa enjoyed one of their most prosperous eras. After this seven-year spell, he was elevated to The South African Rugby Board (SARB) and in 1959 to the role of chairman of the International Rugby Board.
A true servant of the game, his varied playing career and charge of governing positions at every level, it’s no surprise that the moniker for which he was best known was “Mr. Rugby”.
The Craven
A vintage reproduction of the classic 1931 international South Africa rugby shirt
Made from 100% cotton, this Daniel “Danie” Craven jersey is a study of the original worn by the legendary South African scrum half and coach.
Its highly woven cloth delivers supreme quality with a contrast twill collar and featuring nape embroidery commemorating the player’s signature characteristics.
The particulars of the original were carefully studied and reproduced. We’ve incorporated the springbok shield emblem on the chest with unparalleled detail, emulating the embroidery of the era and delivering a vintage jersey that is tailored for a contemporary audience.
100% British made in our manufacturing facility here in the Midlands, with yarn spun in the same building.
Limited Edition range with only 250 jerseys available!