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William Alexander Millar (6 November 1883 – 3 March 1949) was a South African Rugby union player. He was captain during South Africa's Tour of Great Britain in 1906.
| Birth name | William Alexander Millar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 6 November 1883 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bedford, Cape Colony | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 18 March 1949 (aged 65) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Paarl, Cape Province, Union of South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st 2 lb (184 lb; 83 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal life
editMillar was born in 1884 in Bedford. Millar was 5 feet 10 inches in height, and weighed 13 stone 2 pounds. He played a little football at the South African College in 1899. He was an amateur boxer, having won the heavyweight championship of the Western Province.[1]
Career
editHe did not start playing the game again till 1903. He was badly wounded during the Boer war, and, on returning to Cape Town to convalesce, his recreations were walking, mountain climbing and shooting. These exercises gave him stamina and strength for Rugby football.[1]
In 1903 he started in the second string of the Gardens, but joined the first later that season. In 1904-6 he steadily improved, till in the last season he was recognised as one of the best forwards in the Western Province. He was selected for the Western Province in the Currie Cup Tournament at Johannesburg. His omission from the original list of those selected caused some surprise, but Bertie Mosenthal's inability to make the trip gave him a place as first reserve.[1]