Biography
He was originally from Stellenbosch, well known as a Springbok rugby breeding ground.[2] He studied at Stellenbosch University, after which he went to Potchefstroom. He played his first provincial rugby for the Western Transvaal and after that he played for four more provinces.[3]
Ferdie Bergh gained 17 caps for South Africa between 1931 and 1938, scoring seven tries in that period.[1][2]
Willem Ferdinand van Rheede van Oudtschoorn Bergh may hold the record for having the longest name in international rugby,[1] comprising 43 letters in total, including seven words and five names ("Van Rheede" and "Van Oudtschoorn" counting as single names.
He is most famous for scoring the winning try in the only test rugby series ever won by South Africa in New Zealand.
Test history
| No. | Opponents | Results (SA 1st) |
Position | Tries | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Wales |
8–3 | Lock | 1 | 5 Dec 1931 | St. Helen's, Swansea |
| 2. |  Ireland |
8–3 | Lock | 19 Dec 1931 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin | |
| 3. |  England |
7–0 | Lock | 1 | 2 Jan 1932 | Twickenham, London |
| 4. |  Scotland |
6–3 | Lock | 16 Jan 1932 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | |
| 5. |  Australia |
17–3 | Number 8 | 2 | 8 Jul 1933 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 6. | Australia |
6–21 | Number 8 | 22 Jul 1933 | Kingsmead, Durban | |
| 7. | Australia |
12–3 | Lock | 12 Aug 1933 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 8. | Australia |
11–0 | Lock | 26 Aug 1933 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth | |
| 9. | Australia |
4–15 | Lock | 2 Sep 1933 | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein | |
| 10. | Australia |
9–5 | Lock | 1 | 26 Jun 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| 11. | Australia |
26–17 | Lock | 1 | 17 Jul 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
| 12. |  New Zealand |
7–13 | Lock | 14 Aug 1937 | Athletic Park, Wellington | |
| 13. | New Zealand |
13–6 | Number 8 | 4 Sep 1937 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | |
| 14. | New Zealand |
17–6 | Number 8 | 1 | 25 Sep 1937 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 15. |  British Isles |
26–12 | Lock | 6 Aug 1938 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 16. | British Isles |
19–3 | Lock | 3 Sep 1938 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth | |
| 17. | British Isles |
16–21 | Lock | 10 Sep 1938 | Newlands, Cape Town |