Today in history: Herbert Hayton Castens dies
He joined the Villagers Rugby Football Club, the second oldest rugby club in South Africa, situated in the southern suburbs of Cape Town.
Herbert Hayton Castens was educated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, where the game of rugby allegedly originated.
He played both cricket and rugby and was an outstanding sportsman. He was South Africa’s first rugby captain, and was also captain of the first South African cricket team to tour overseas.
Herbert studied Law at Oxford and after completing his studies he returned to South Africa and started practising law in Cape Town.
He joined the Villagers Rugby Football Club, the second oldest rugby club in South Africa, situated in the southern suburbs of Cape Town.
In 1891, Herbert achieved a few unique feats on the rugby field against the first ever British team to tour South Africa, captained by William (Bill) MacLaglan.
When the South African team that toured England was announced, he was made captain of the side.
He thus had the honour and the distinction of captaining the first South African international sides in both rugby and cricket.
Herbert worked in the Southern Rhodesian (Zimbabwean) government service for some years and died on 18 October 1929.
Information sourced from: South African History Online.
