Melville Richard Kenneth "Wang" Wyness (23 January 1937 – 6 November 2011) was a South African rugby union player.[1]

Wang Wyness
Birth nameMelville Richard Kenneth Wyness
Date of birth(1937-01-23)23 January 1937
Place of birthColesberg, South Africa
Date of death6 November 2011(2011-11-06) (aged 74)
Place of deathOnrusrivier, South Africa
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
SchoolSea Point Boys High School, Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Hamiltons RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1962–1966 Western Province ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1962–1963 South Africa 5 (3)

Playing career

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Wyness was born in Colesberg and first went to school at Marist Brothers' College in Rondebosch, where he inherited his nickname from his older brother. He moved to Sea Point Boys' High and then played for 12 seasons for Hamiltons RFC.[2] Wyness made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1962.[3]

Wyness made his test match debut for the Springboks against the 1962 British Lions, when Dave Stewart was injured shortly before the test and he was surprisingly selected to replace him.[2] He played in all for tests against the Lions and then one further test against Australia in 1963.[4]

He retired to Onrus and died at home on 6 November 2011 after a battle with cancer.[2]

Test history

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No. Opponents Results
(RSA 1st)
Position Tries Dates Venue
1.   British Lions 3–3 Centre 23 Jun 1962 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2.   British Lions 3–0 Centre 21 Jul 1962 Kings Park, Durban
3.   British Lions 8–3 Centre 4 Aug 1962 Newlands, Cape Town
4.   British Lions 34–14 Centre 1 25 Aug 1962 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
5.   Australia 5–9 Centre 10 Aug 1963 Newlands, Cape Town

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wang Wyness". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Heath, Duane; Grieb, Eddie (2012). SA Rugby Annual 2013. Cape Town: SARU & MWP Media. p. 513. ISBN 978-0620546850.
  3. ^ Parker, A. C. (1983). W.P. Rugby : centenary, 1883-1983. Western Province Rugby Football Union (South Africa) (1st ed.). Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa: WPRFU. p. 306. ISBN 0-620-06555-9. OCLC 54188953.
  4. ^ Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 39–44. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.