Schalk Burger Snr

The Burger family have become synonymous with rugby in South Africa as well as the world, with Schalk snr and Schalk jnr becoming the eighth father and son to both play for South Africa. Schalk snr’s other son, Tiaan was a respected provincial rugby player in his own right. Today he is the head of viniculture and viticulture on the family farm, Welbedacht Wine Estate near Wellington.

Schalk snr bought this historic farm, originally granted by the Dutch Governor, Simon van der Stel in the early 1700s, in 1997. Over the years he has fully renovated the manor house, planted new vineyards and resurrected old vineyards, and designed and built a 1 000-ton cellar where premium wines are made and bottled.

His memoir, Just a Moment…, is about much more than rugby and chronicles the many triumphs and hardships that have shaped this much-loved South African’s life as a rugby legend, businessman, wine farmer, cultural custodian, musician, husband, father and grandfather.