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Pretoria - The Blue Bulls Rugby Union and Blue Bulls Company have expressed their sadness at the news that Professor Fritz Eloff passed away on Thursday.
He was 93.
The BBRU and BBC have extended their condolences to his family.
He leaves behind two daughters and two grandchildren.
Eloff served as the president of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union for 26 years.
He was also a member of SA Rugby’s executive committee for 30 years and he served as the acting president in 1993 after the passing of Dr Danie Craven.
He was chairperson of the International Rugby Board from 1989 to 1990. He was a lifelong honorary member of the Blue Bulls as well as SA Rugby, where he served a term of co-deputy president after unification in 1992.
He was elected president of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union in 1965 and in 1968 managed the Springbok team touring France.
As a player, Eloff played lock, prop and loose forward for the Blue Bulls during the years 1944 to 1950 (eight games).
He also participated in the Springbok trials held at Loftus Versfeld in 1949. During his studies in England in 1951, he played for the London Harlequins.
He coached the first team of the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) from 1954-1957.
He was equally famous as an academic as he was as a rugby administrator.
Eloff, who was born on May 18, 1920, obtained his BSc degree at Tukkies in 1939 after matriculating at Pietersburg High School in 1936. In 1942 he received his MSc (cum laude), also at the University of Pretoria. In 1943 he was appointed lecturer in the Department of Zoology at UP and obtained his Doctorate in 1946 also cum laude. In 1954 he was promoted to Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology at Tukkies.
Eloff received numerous awards in his lifetime including the State President’s award: Order of exceptional service: Class 1 Gold (1987) and the State President Sports Merit award (1988). He was chairperson of the National Parks Board for more than 16 years.
More information regarding funeral arrangements will be released at a later date.
He was 93.
The BBRU and BBC have extended their condolences to his family.
He leaves behind two daughters and two grandchildren.
Eloff served as the president of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union for 26 years.
He was also a member of SA Rugby’s executive committee for 30 years and he served as the acting president in 1993 after the passing of Dr Danie Craven.
He was chairperson of the International Rugby Board from 1989 to 1990. He was a lifelong honorary member of the Blue Bulls as well as SA Rugby, where he served a term of co-deputy president after unification in 1992.
He was elected president of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union in 1965 and in 1968 managed the Springbok team touring France.
As a player, Eloff played lock, prop and loose forward for the Blue Bulls during the years 1944 to 1950 (eight games).
He also participated in the Springbok trials held at Loftus Versfeld in 1949. During his studies in England in 1951, he played for the London Harlequins.
He coached the first team of the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) from 1954-1957.
He was equally famous as an academic as he was as a rugby administrator.
Eloff, who was born on May 18, 1920, obtained his BSc degree at Tukkies in 1939 after matriculating at Pietersburg High School in 1936. In 1942 he received his MSc (cum laude), also at the University of Pretoria. In 1943 he was appointed lecturer in the Department of Zoology at UP and obtained his Doctorate in 1946 also cum laude. In 1954 he was promoted to Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology at Tukkies.
Eloff received numerous awards in his lifetime including the State President’s award: Order of exceptional service: Class 1 Gold (1987) and the State President Sports Merit award (1988). He was chairperson of the National Parks Board for more than 16 years.
More information regarding funeral arrangements will be released at a later date.
