# Theuns Stofberg

Marthinus Theunis Steyn 'Theuns' Stofberg (6 June 1955 – 23 August 2023) was a South African rugby union player who was captain of the national team for four tests between 1980 and 1984. He is remembered for his speed and his size, both remarkable for a flank at that time.

## Early life and career

Marthinus Theunis Steyn Stofberg, named after the 6th State President of the Orange Free State, Martinus Theunis Steyn, was born in Villiers, Free State on 6 June 1955. He attended school at Grey College in Bloemfontein, one of the strongholds in South African rugby. He started his provincial career playing for Orange Free State while he was still studying at the University of the Free State. When he was called up for his conscription, he was moved to Pretoria where he started playing for Northern Transvaal, currently called the Blue Bulls. It was during this time that he went from strength to strength cementing his place in the national side as flanker.

## Test career

Stofberg played his first test on the 14 August 1976 against New Zealand at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at the age of 21. The Springboks lost the test 9-15.
Stofberg played in 21 tests and scored 6 tries during this time. His first test as captain was against the South American Jaguars on the 18 October 1980 in Montevideo where the Springboks won 22-13. His biggest test as a captain was leading the Springbok side, after the regular captain Wynand Claassen was injured, in the first test of the infamous 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand. The tour was disrupted by protesters during the matches and is now seen as one of the most important tours in rugby history. Stofberg did not play in the last of the three test series, which was stopped momentarily due to a light airplane throwing flour bombs, due to a knee injury that would ultimately end his career.
Stofberg left Northern Transvaal in 1982 and moved to their arch-rivals Western Province Rugby Union where he settled and opened a physiotherapy practice. Stofberg captained his last two international tests against England in 1984, winning both and scoring a try in the second test. After yet another series setback due a knee injury he retired from rugby in 1984 at the age of 29. He is the only player in history to have won the Currie Cup with three different teams. He won titles with Free State (1976), Northern Transvaal (1979 and 1980) and Western Province (1982 and 1983). In total he played 7 finals, winning 4 ('76, '80, '82 & '83) and drawing one (1980).

### Test history

| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
| 1. | New Zealand | 9–15 | Flank | | 14 August 1976 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 2. | New Zealand | 15–10 | Flank | | 4 September 1976 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 3. | World XV | 45–24 | Flank | 2 | 27 August 1977 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 4. | South American Jaguars | 24–9 | Flank | | 26 April 1980 | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 5. | South American Jaguars | 18–9 | Flank | | 3 May 1980 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 6. | British Lions | 26–22 | Flank | | 31 May 1980 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 7. | British Lions | 26–19 | Flank | 1 | 14 June 1980 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 8. | British Lions | 12–10 | Flank | | 28 June 1980 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 9. | British Lions | 13–17 | Flank | 1 | 12 July 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 10. | South American Jaguars | 22–13 | Flank (c) | 1 | 18 October 1980 | Wanderers Club, Montevideo |
| 11. | South American Jaguars | 30–16 | Flank | | 25 October 1980 | Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago |
| 12. | France | 37–15 | Flank | 1 | 8 November 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 13. | Ireland | 23–15 | Flank | | 30 May 1981 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 14. | Ireland | 12–10 | Flank | | 6 June 1981 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 15. | New Zealand | 9–14 | Flank (c) | | 15 August 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch |
| 16. | New Zealand | 24–12 | Flank | | 29 August 1981 | Athletic Park, Wellington |
| 17. | United States | 38–7 | Flank | | 20 September 1981 | Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York |
| 18. | South American Jaguars | 50–18 | Lock | | 27 March 1982 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 19. | South American Jaguars | 12–21 | Lock | | 3 April 1982 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 20. | England | 33–15 | Flank (c) | | 2 June 1984 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 21. | England | 35–9 | Flank (c) | | 9 June 1984 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |

## Personal life

Stofberg lived in Stellenbosch where he had a physiotherapy practice until 2008, before starting a business to take tour groups abroad. He fell ill while watching a test against England and was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, causing him to stop practising as a physiotherapist.

### Death

Theuns Stofberg died in a traffic collision on 23 August 2023, at the age of 68.