Gert Coetzer ( – 10 November 2018) was a South African rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He was nicknamed "Oupa", meaning "Old Man" in Afrikaans. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Orange Free State, and at club level for the Bloemfontein Railway Institute RFC (as a wing). Coetzer played in the South African national rugby league team, and in the Other Nationalities and Commonwealth XIII representative rugby league squads. At club rugby league level, he played 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 died aged 79 in South Africa. Coetzer's funeral service was held on Wednesday, 14 November 2018, at Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente (Dutch Reformed Church) in , North East Pretoria, South Africa.
Playing career Club career Gert Coetzer transferred from rugby union to rugby league in February 1963; he made his debut for Wakefield Trinity during March 1963, and he played his last match for Wakefield during the 196768 season.
He played on the wing in the 219 defeat by St. Helens at Knowsley Road. Finals matches Championship Coetzer, playing on the wing, scored two tries in Wakefield Trinity's 219 victory over St. Helens in the 196667 Championship Final. He also played on the wing in the 1710 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 196768 Championship Final.
Challenge Cup Gert Coetzer played on the wing, and scored two tries in Wakefield Trinity's 2510 victory over Wigan in the 196263 Challenge Cup Final, and played at centre in the 1011 defeat by Leeds in the "Watersplash" Final during the 196768 Challenge Cup Season.
County Cup In Wakefield Trinity's 182 victory over Leeds Rhinos in the 196465 Yorkshire Cup Final, Coetzer played on the wing.
International matches Gert Coetzer took part in a trial match for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. While at Wakefield Trinity, he represented both the Other Nationalities rugby league side, as well as the Commonwealth XIII rugby league team. Coetzer was selected as part of South Africa's national team in their 1963 tour of Australia, but sustained a dislocated shoulder during the second tour match (against Monaro), and took no further part in the tour.
Personal life Gert Coetzer was married to Laurika (née Viljoen). They had a child, Derek Coetzer (born during the first quarter of in Dewsbury district).
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References
External links rugbyleagueproject.org Free State Rugby Saddened By The Loss Of An Ex Free State Player Gert 'Oupa' Coetzer SA Rugby League Springboks who toured Australia in 1963 Rugby League Final 1963 Rugby Cup Final 1968 Search for "Gert Coetzer" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Search for "Oupa Coetzer" at britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk