Paul Roos (rugby union)
Paul Roos, Springbok Captain, of the first South African touring rugby team to the British Isles in 1906 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Paul Johannes Roos 30 October 1880 Stellenbosch, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 22 September 1948 (aged 67) Stellenbosch, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 181 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90.5 kg (14 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Stellenbosch Gymnasium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | schoolmaster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Paul Johannes Roos (30 October 1880 – 22 September 1948) (also known as Oom Polla – Afrikaans for "Uncle Polla", "Polla" being a pet name for "Paul") was one of the first South African Springbok rugby union captains and led the first South African rugby team to tour overseas – to Britain in 1906. Roos was born near the South African town of Stellenbosch on 30 October 1880 and completed his education there.
A devout Christian, Roos was a popular rugby player and was chosen by his own teammates to captain the 1906 tour. Throughout the tour he saw the campaign as an attempt to improve the relationship between his fellow countrymen and the British after the events of the Second Boer War.