Ryk Arnoldus Mauritius van Schoor (3 December 1921 – 22 March 2009) was a South African rugby union centre, a crash ball specialist he was known for his hard tackling.
[2] He was educated at the primary school in Klipheuwel then at Paarl Boys' High where he played hockey for Boland.
[2] After leaving school he took a post as a clerk in Cape Town, but left his employment in 1948 when he moved to Rhodesia to seek his fortune as a tobacco farmer.
[2] Van Schoor was also a crash ball specialist, a factor that is believed to have brought him to the notice of the South Africa selectors and won him his first cap.
[2][6] Van Schoor's tackling so impressed the selectors that he, and fellow Rhodesia team-mate Salty du Rand, was chosen for the second Test at Johannesburg.
...Ryk, who was played purely for his amazing defensive qualities and who, in association with Hennie Muller, tore our midfield attack to shreds.
[2] In 1951 South Africa undertook their fourth tour of Great Britain, also taking in games in Ireland and France.
South Africa won the game 43–11, with van Schoor scoring another try, but he also suffered a broken rib which saw him withdraw from the squad for the next four matches.
[11] After just six minutes van Schoor was carried from the pitch unconscious, coming around some time later in the dressing room.
[14] The next Test, played on 5 September, saw van Schoor part of a losing international side for the first, and only, time.
[15] The loss was blamed on the Springboks desire to please the crowd by switching away from their normal kicking game, to one based on running with the ball.
[16] Van Schoor survived a cull by the selectors to retain his place for the third Test, this time played at Durban.