Gert Coetzer

Gert Coetzer, also known by the nickname of "Oupa", was a South African rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played representative level rugby union for Orange [Free State (province)|Orange Free State], and at club level for Bloemfontein Railway Institute RFC, as a wing, and representative level rugby league for South Africa, Other Nationalities and Commonwealth XIII, and at club level for Johannesburg Celtic, Bloemfontein Aquilae, and Wakefield Trinity, as a or.

Background

Gert Coetzer was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, he worked as a waterworks superintendent in Yorkshire, he bred and showed German Shepherds, including the champion; "Vanda", he died aged 79 in South Africa, and his funeral service took place at Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente in Doornpoort, North East Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday 14 November 2018.

Gert Coetzer took part in a trial match for the South Africa , he represented Other Nationalities while at Wakefield Trinity, he played on the in the 2–19 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Wednesday 27 January 1965, to mark the switching-on of new floodlights, represented Commonwealth XIII while at Wakefield Trinity in 1965 against New Zealand at Crystal Palace [National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre], London on Wednesday 18 August 1965, and was selected for the South Africa squad to play in the 1963 tour of Australia. Unfortunately, he sustained a dislocated shoulder during the second tour match, against Monaro south of Canberra, and took no further part in the tour, and as South Africa played no further internationals in this era, there were no further opportunities to win international caps.

Gert Coetzer played on the, and scored two tries in Wakefield Trinity's 21–9 victory over St. Helens in the Championship Final replay during the 1966–67 [Northern Rugby Football League season|1966–67 season] at Station Road, Swinton on Wednesday 10 May 1967, and played on the in the 17–10 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the Championship Final during the 1967–68 Northern [Rugby Football League season|1967-68 season] at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 4 May 1968.

Gert Coetzer played on the, and scored two tries in Wakefield Trinity's 25–10 victory over Wigan in the 1962–63 Challenge Cup Final during the 1962–63 Northern [Rugby Football League season#Challenge Cup|1962–63 season] at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1963, in front of a crowd of 84,492, and played at in the 10–11 defeat by Leeds in the 1967–68 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" Final during the 1967–68 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, in front of a crowd of 87,100.

Gert Coetzer played on the in Wakefield Trinity's 18–2 victory over Leeds in the 1964–65 [Yorkshire Cup] Final during the 1964–65 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 31 October 1964.

Gert Coetzer transferred from rugby union to rugby league with Wakefield Trinity during February 1963, he made his debut for Wakefield Trinity during March 1963, and he played his last match for Wakefield Trinity during the 1967–68 season.

Gert Coetzer was married to Laurika. They had children; Derek Coetzer.