Bubbles Koch
| Full name | Henri Vercueil Koch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 13 June 1921 Hopefield, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 2 November 2003 (aged 82) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (225 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Henri Vercueil Koch (13 June 1921 – 2 November 2003) was a South African international rugby union player.
Koch was born on the "Koperfontein" farm outside Hopefield. His nickname of "Bubbles" originated from when he was a baby and would gurgle bubbles. He was educated at Hoërskool Hopefield.[1]
After playing senior rugby for his hometown club at age 15, Koch was developed from a backline player into a forward during his time with Stellenbosch University. He started his provincial career with Boland, but spent most of the 1940s with Western Province, and also had a season in Rhodesia when employed on a tobacco farm. In 1949, Koch was capped for the Springboks in all four matches of their 4-0 series whitewash of the touring All Blacks, utilised mainly as a lock.[2]
Koch served Boland as both a selector and team manager.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "South African Team". Wanganui Chronicle. 11 July 1949.
- ^ "Springbok Team Selected". The Press. 11 July 1949.
- ^ "Bubbles Koch". bokhist.com.