# Uli Schmidt

Ulrich Louis Schmidt (also known as Uli Schmidt) (born 10 July 1961 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union footballer. His usual position was at hooker, where he played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, and later the Golden Lions, as well as the national team, the Springboks. He later became a Springbok team doctor.

## Playing career

Schmidt made his international debut for the Springboks as a 24-year-old on 10 May 1986 in a test against the NZ Cavaliers, which the Springboks won 21 to 15 at Newlands. He played in three subsequent tests against the New Zealand side throughout that May as well. The next time he would be capped for the national side would be in 1989, when he played in two tests against a World Invitation side, both of which the Springboks won.
He was capped twice in 1992, playing at hooker in a test against the All Blacks, which the Springboks lost 24 to 27, as well as a test against the Wallabies, which South Africa also lost, 3 to 26. He was capped five times for South Africa in the subsequent season, playing two tests against France and a three test series against the Wallabies in Australia. He earned four caps in 1994, the year in which he played his last test for South Africa on 26 November at Cardiff Arms Park, in a victory over Wales.
On the field, he was known for rough, even violent play.

### Test history

| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
| 1. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 21–15 | Hooker | | 10 May 1986 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 2. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 18–19 | Hooker | | 17 May 1986 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 3. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 33–18 | Hooker | 1 | 24 May 1986 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 4. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 24–10 | Hooker | | 31 May 1986 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 5. | World XV | 20–19 | Hooker | | 26 August 1989 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 6. | World XV | 22–16 | Hooker | | 2 September 1989 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 7. | New Zealand | 24–27 | Hooker | | 15 August 1992 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 8. | Australia | 3–26 | Hooker | | 22 August 1992 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 9. | France | 20–20 | Hooker | 1 | 26 June 1993 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 10. | France | 17–18 | Hooker | | 3 July 1993 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 11. | Australia | 19–12 | Hooker | | 31 July 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney |
| 12. | Australia | 20–28 | Hooker | | 14 August 1993 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane |
| 13. | Australia | 12–19 | Hooker | | 21 August 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney |
| 14. | Argentina | 42–22 | Hooker | | 8 October 1994 | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
| 15. | Argentina | 46–26 | Hooker | | 15 October 1994 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 16. | Scotland | 34–10 | Hooker | | 19 November 1994 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| 17. | Wales | 20–12 | Hooker | | 26 November 1994 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |

## Personal

He moved to Australia in 2006 with his wife and three daughters. He currently lives and works on the New South Wales Central Coast. He is a qualified medical doctor.
He also did commentary for Supersport.

## Accolades

In 2000 he was inducted into the University of Pretoria Sport Hall of fame. Schmidt was named the SA Rugby player of the Year for 1990 and 1991.