Gary Teichmann

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Gary Hamilton Teichmann (born 9 January 1967 in Gwelo, Zimbabwe) is a retired South African rugby player. He played number eight (eighthman) and was the captain of the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999. He moved to South Africa with his family when he was 11 years old.

Teichmann stands 1.95 metres tall and weighed about 100 kilograms for most of his career. His humility and fair play earned him wide repsect throughout the rugby world.

Educated at Hilton College, Teichmann started his career playing school and later club rugby before being spotted by the Natal Province's Currie Cup team in 1991. He was soon promoted to captain by then Natal coach Ian McIntosh and led Natal to three Currie Cup victories in 1992, 1995 and 1996. The team under Teichmann also finished in second place in 1993 and 1999 and made it to the final of the Super 10 (the precursor to the Super 12 and Super 14) competition in 1994. The Natal Currie Cup team became the core of the team now known as the Sharks when the Super 12 competition began in 1996, and Teichmann also captained that side. After the team was renamed the Sharks in 1998 he led them to the final of the Super 12. In all, Teichmann represented Natal and the Sharks in 144 matches.

In 1993 he was selected for the Springbok tour to Argentina, and in 1994 he was again selected as part of the squad that toured Wales and Scotland. It wasn't until 2 September 1995 that he played his first game as a Springbok however. He scored a try in his opening match as the Springboks went on to defeat Wales 40-11 at Ellis Park.

After playing only 6 games for the Springboks Teichmann was selected captain of the squad in 1996, and went on to become one of South Africa's most successful captains ever. He captained the Springboks in 36 tests between 1996 and 1999 with 27 of those (72%) ending in victory. The Springboks, with Teichmann at the helm, were considered by many the greatest South African team in history.

Between 1997 and 1998 the Springboks went on a record winning streak of 17 consecutive test matches. As part of their unbeaten run they won the 1998 Tri Nations Series undefeated, beating both Australia and New Zealand away from home. They kicked off the feat with a record dismantling of Australia to win 61-22 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and ended with a defeat against England at Twickenham at the end of a long tour.

A list of record victories during that period includes:

23/07/97 South Africa 61-22 Australia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
22/11/97 South Africa 52-10 France at Parc des Princes, Paris
06/12/97 South Africa 68-10 Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
27/07/98 South Africa 96-13 Wales at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Although not records they also beat Ireland 33-0 at Loftus and Italy 74-3 in Port Elizabeth. In all Teichmann played 42 tests for the Springboks, and still holds the record for the most consecutive test matches played for the Springboks with 39.

In 1999 coach Nick Mallett, who thought that Teichmann had lost most of his form, controversially dropped him from the squad shortly before the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup. The Springbok squad's performance suffered after Teichmann was dropped until 2000 when Mallett resigned as coach of the Springboks.

Teichmann described himself as "gutted" at being left out of the squad but did not get involved in the mud slinging that followed his dismissal. Instead he opted to move to Wales where he played for the Newport club. He captained Newport to their first Principality Cup win in 24 years in 2001, announcing his retirement from rugby shortly after. He also wrote his autobiography, "For The Record", published in 2000 by Jonathan Ball Publishers in South Africa, during this time.

As of 2005 Teichmann serves in an advisory capacity on the board of The Sharks Pty Ltd.