Uli Schmidt


Ulrich Louis Schmidt is a former South African rugby union footballer. His usual position was at hooker, where he played for the in the Currie Cup, and later the, as well as the national team, the Springboks. He later became a Springbok team doctor.

Playing career

Schmidt made his international debut for the Springboks as a 24-year-old on 10 May 1986 in a test against the NZ Cavaliers, which the Springboks won 21 to 15 at Newlands. He played in three subsequent tests against the New Zealand side throughout that May as well. The next time he would be capped for the national side would be in 1989, when he played in two tests against a World Invitation side, both of which the Springboks won.
He was capped twice in 1992, playing at hooker in a test against the All Blacks, which the Springboks lost 24 to 27, as well as a test against the Wallabies, which South Africa also lost, 3 to 26. He was capped five times for South Africa in the subsequent season, playing two tests against France and a three test series against the Wallabies in Australia. He earned four caps in 1994, the year in which he played his last test for South Africa on 26 November at Cardiff Arms Park, in a victory over Wales.
On the field, he was known for rough, even violent play.

Test history

No.OppositionResult
PositionTriesDateVenue
1.New Zealand Cavaliers 21–15Hooker10 May 1986Newlands, Cape Town
2.New Zealand Cavaliers 18–19Hooker17 May 1986Kings Park, Durban
3.New Zealand Cavaliers 33–18Hooker124 May 1986Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4.New Zealand Cavaliers 24–10Hooker31 May 1986Ellis Park, Johannesburg
5.World XV 20–19Hooker26 August 1989Newlands, Cape Town
6.World XV 22–16Hooker2 September 1989Ellis Park, Johannesburg
7.24–27Hooker15 August 1992Ellis Park, Johannesburg
8.3–26Hooker22 August 1992Newlands, Cape Town
9. 20–20Hooker126 June 1993Kings Park, Durban
10. France 17–18Hooker3 July 1993 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
11. Australia19–12Hooker31 July 1993Aussie Stadium, Sydney
12. Australia20–28Hooker14 August 1993Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
13. Australia12–19Hooker21 August 1993Aussie Stadium, Sydney
14.42–22Hooker8 October 1994Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
15. Argentina46–26Hooker15 October 1994Ellis Park, Johannesburg
16.34–10Hooker19 November 1994Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17.20–12Hooker26 November 1994Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

Personal

He moved to Australia in 2006 with his wife and three daughters. He currently lives and works on the New South Wales Central Coast. He is a qualified medical doctor.
He also did commentary for Supersport.

Accolades

In 2000 he was inducted into the University of Pretoria Sport Hall of fame. Schmidt was named the SA Rugby player of the Year for 1990 and 1991.