Davey Cope Explained

Davey Cope
Birth Name:David Gill Cope
Birth Date:14 August 1877
Birth Place:Kimberley, Cape Colony
Death Place:Mostert's Hoek, South Africa
Ru Position:Fullback
Repteam1:South Africa
Repyears1:1896
Repcaps1:1
Reppoints1:2
Ru Ntupdate:19 July 2010
Ru Province1:Transvaal
Ru Provinceupdate:19 July 2010

David Gill "Davey" Cope (14 August 1877 – 16 August 1898) was a South African international rugby union player.

Born in Kimberley, he attended Diocesan College before playing provincial rugby for Transvaal (now known as the Golden Lions).

He made his only Test appearance for South Africa during Great Britain's 1896 tour. He played as a fullback in the 2nd Test of the series, an 8–17 South Africa loss at the Wanderers Ground.[1] During the match he became the first South African to kick a goal in a Test after converting Theo Samuels's try.

In addition to his rugby career, Cope was also a good enough cricketer to make first-class appearances for the Transvaal cricket team.[2]

Cope died in 1898 at the age of 21, after he was involved in a train crash at Mostert's Hoek on his way to a Currie Cup match.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Mellet . Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame. 2010-07-16.
  2. Web site: David Cope. Cricinfo.
  3. Web site: School Profiles: DIOCESAN COLLEGE (BISHOPS) . Rugby 365 . 2010-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616032137/http://www.rugby365.com/schools/profiles/585639.htm . 2011-06-16 . dead .