Tom van Vollenhoven

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Tom van Vollenhoven was a South African rugby player, who enjoyed a prolific career with St Helens after switching codes from rugby union from Northern Transvaal at the end of the 1950s. He was lured to the 13-a-side code after scoring a hat-trick for the Springboks against the British Lions in 1955 in a ‘cloak and dagger’ style operation which saw Saints vie off the competition of Wigan for his services, and the attention of the South African RFU.

The 1960’s were a golden era for wingers in the British league, and debate continues to this day over who can lay claim to be the premier winger of the generation. Commentators are split over whether Vollenhoven’s searing speed, or the sheer power of Billy Boston marked them as the finest winger of their era.

Whatever the outcome, it is fair to say that Vollenhoven became a rugby league sensation with the club in a career spanning ten seasons from the 1957 to the1967/8 season. During this time he amassed a club record 392 tries in 408 appearances. This includes scored a record 62 in the 1958/59 season. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rugby Football League’s hall of fame.

Vollenhoven was brought into a Saints side to add a scoring threat out wide, in a side that at the time, was more noted for its forward prowess. His centre, Duggie Greenall was given strict orders to nurse and protect Vollenhoven whilst he found his way in his new game. Greenall was noted as something of a hardman, notably involved in a scandal with the Australians who claimed Greenall’s ruthless tackling had more to do with him using a plaster cast as to his tackling itself. Regardless, Greenall proved to be a fine centre for Vollenhoven in his early days, ensuring that the wingman received little risky ball and that adequate defensive cover was provided when necessary.

Van Vollenhoven’s rugby league debut was against Leeds at Knowsley Road, and his first experience of the code was a negative one as he was responsible for a blunder which gifted the Yorkshire side a try. However such disappointment was short lived as Vollenhoven produced a harbinger of things to come with a well taken try later in the same match much to the excitement of the Knowsley Road faithful. The crew cut wingman would prove over the next few seasons what an extraordinary talent he was, with arguably his finest moment coming in the 1959 Championship Final at Odsal, where his hat trick of tries helped Saints overcome a valiant Hunslet side. His fist try is noted in rugby league folklore as one of the greatest try’s in the history of the game. Vollenhoven beat a series of defenders in a blistering run down the touchline culminating in a try under the sticks. Regrettably, there is no video footage of this achievement as the cameras were not filming for this short period of the game. Many contend that until Vollenhoven’s intervention, there was every chance that the Yorkshiremen could have overturned the favourites.

Over the years Van Vollenhoven matured into a fine all round athlete, honing the other areas of the game that a modern day winger is required to fulfil. This is supported by the fact that Van Vollenhoven had occasionally appeared at centre and even played one game at full-back. He established himself as a strong defensive wingman, capable of rushing over to the other flank to pull off try-saving cover tackles, whilst he was a stronger player than looks would suggest. Tom Van vollenhoven's final Saints match was against Hull K.R. in April 1968 and his final game of rugby league was guesting for Great Britain in a trial match for the 1968 World Cup, at Thrum Hall, Halifax. Many former player would testify that rugby league was a brutal and vicious game in the 1950s and 1960s. The game was not as sanitised as it is in the super league era and matches could be attritional affairs. Inevitably, injury took its toll by the mid 1960s. With Van Vollenhoven etching out a reputation as a prolific scorer, opponents would employ unscrupulous tactics to counter his threat, such as the vicious stiff-arm unleashed by Huddersfield's Peter Ramsden, at Knowsley Road in 1963, which saw Vollenhoven lying prostrate on the turf, unable to continue. In his final season in 1967/68, Vollenhoven was a shadow of himself although he was regarded as a good and underlined this by tallying three tries in his last appearance against Wigan at Knowsley Road.

[edit] Trivia

• A 7 inch vinyl called “The Greatest of them all" was released to celebrate Vollenhoven’s time at Saints. This light hearted calypso was released to coincide with his testimonial season in 1967/68.

• Vollenhoven retains his cult status in St. Helens to this day. He returned to England to front the club's centenary celebrations in 1990, and spent nearly three hours the day before signing autographs.

• For a spell, Saints had South African wingers on both flanks, with Jan Prinsloo also joining the club from Western Province in 1958