Gavin Pfister

Gavin Pfister is a South African-born flanker who won the SARU Don Smith Medal for the 2nd year in 1997 as well as the Sir Norman Jude Tackling Trophy for 1997 ... Rugby Review November 1997.

2002: Gavin travelled to England and played for London Irish. By June 2002 he was back in South Africa preparing for his wedding to be held in December.:

Clipping from Mike Cosgrave, newspaper not known

News from Gavin Pfister, March 2002:

Hello all Old Colls members

It has been a long time since I have had any news on the rugby over there. I hope everything is well at the club and that the bar sales are as high as when I was there. I also believe that you have won 2 flags since I have left. This doesnt say much for my contribution. Well done anyway!!

I have now moved to London and I have just joined London Irish. They have done extremely well in the premiership and I am hoping to be on the bench next week for them against Harlequins for the semi final. Aussie Jo and myself have now got engaged and she is over here with me.

There are a couple of Aussie wildcats in London. Last weekend myself, Nick Brown(English guy who played at Old Colls in 1997 with me) and Dan Pryor had heaps of jugs of beer and a place called the Pitcher and Piano.

We all got extremely pissed and it was brilliant catching on old news and stories with rugby mates. I ended up taking my clothes off in a night club later on. It felt like the old 'singing in the Rain" song we always sang after games back at Old Colls.

Anyway good luck for the season to everyone and all the teams.

Cheers

Gavin Pfister

Stormers' mystery man set to start at the top

Article by Dan Retief of the South African Sunday Times http://www.suntimes.co.za/2000/01/30/sport/rugby/rugby02.htm

THE fact that the build-up to the Super 12 has been dominated by controversy over the stipulations of A J Venter's contract with the Lions makes the case of Gavin Pfister even more remarkable.

Yes, you may well ask. Gavin who? Gavin Pfister, a flanker whose name appeared like a printing error on the list of players included in the squad of the Stormers. Pfister was listed as being of the Northern Free State Griffons but he could well be rugby's man with no name.

He finds himself in the Stormers' squad even though he has no contract with any province. A former Western Province League Craven Week player, he will therefore make his Stormers debut before being picked for the team of his youthful ambition, Western Province.

He owes his selection to the man he praises as his mentor, Stormers coach Alan Solomons.

A specialist open-side flanker, Pfister comes to the Stormers via the most unconventional of routes. Having first been selected by Solomons for Western Province's sevens team, he was slowly forging his way towards the provincial XV when he was struck down by a knee cartilage injury.

He had played in the Western Province sevens team which won the Winfield tournament at Stellenbosch and, significantly, in the side which won the Adelaide Sevens in Australia.

When he was not offered a Western Province contract at the start of the 1997 the contacts he made in Adelaide resulted in his accepting an offer to play and coach rugby union in a region dominated by Aussie rules and rugby league.

So successful was the young South African that he ended his 10month stint being awarded the Don Smith Medal as the player of the year for the South Australian Black Falcons.

At the awards evening he was also presented with the trophies for being the forward of the year as well as the best tackler.

Pfister enjoyed his time in Australia but remained determined to fulfil his boyhood dream of playing for Western Province. Having attended school at Wynberg Boys High and spent most winter Saturday afternoons in the schools enclosure at Newlands, before being picked for the Western Province League team who took part in the Craven Week in East London in 1991, Pfister admits that "playing for Western Province was the ultimate goal for me".

"I returned home for the start of the 1998 season and set out trying to prove myself again. I made it into the Currie Cup squad and was practically selected to make my debut against Griqualand West when I tore a knee cartilage," he said.

"That put me out and in my absence excellent players like Pietie Ferreira and Chean Roux came into the side and because they did so well were offered contracts for the start of the 1999 season.

"I had heard that they were looking for players in Northern Free State so I approached Basil Bey, under whom I had played under-21 rugby at Villagers, to make my services available. It was quite a worthwhile experience for me because it gave me exposure in the Vodacom Cup and the Currie Cup."

Pfister, who turned 26 on Wednesday, admits that the call from the Stormers took him by surprise. "It's a strange experience. Playing for Western Province meant so much to me and then when the Stormers came about I made playing for them my next goal."

Having been presented with the opportunity to achieve his ambition from the top down rather than from the bottom up, Pfister is determined not to let down Solomons.

'solly has guided me to where I am today. He saw potential in me in sevens and he has always shown a lot of faith in me. Solly's good that way. If he believes in a player he'll stick with him. This is a big opportunity for me and hopefully I'll do well."

Built in the mould of a Josh Kronfeld, Pfister believes open-side flank has become a specialist position and is looking forward to playing under the new tackle-ball law that should favour a quick support player.

In fact, he is so keen to be involved that he has not had any discussions about salary. While others concern themselves with the fine print in contracts, all he could say on the subject of remuneration was: "I think there is a set amount that comes from Sarfu to be paid to the players."

From RugbySA August 1997

Gavin Pfister

Born January 26 1974 in Cape Town, South Africa. Gavin has one brother, Mark, whom he believes could have been an outstanding Rugby player, if not for injury.

Gavin's fast running, hard tackling displays from the side of the scrum have been one of the leading sights in this year's first grade competition.

Gavin started playing at 6 years of age, and was selected at the top levels through until he gained selection in the Western Province Under 19's. During his career to date, he has played alongside some of South Africa's recent and current greats including Christian Steward, Joel Stransky, Keith Andrews, Percival Montgomery and Pieter Rousouw. His next few goals include selection in the South African national 7-a-side team, and a Super 12 spot with an interested Province.

Adelaide Rugby has proved to be an eye-opener in a number of ways. He sees lots of potential here with up and coming Rugby youth who have the capabilities to go to the top, but also lots of players who have made it through to first grade without basic skills, and therefore limitations on any further development. He believes correct coaching disciplines need to be put in place, so the competition, which is hard enough, can nurture the potential we possess. As keen as Gavin is to return home, he has found Adelaide to be a beautiful City, where the people have made him feel very much at home, and leaving for South Africa in the coming months will be a sad experience.

Gavin joins Ulster

From breakingnews

Pfister to make full Ulster debut on Friday

15/12/2004, Mark McCall will give new signing Gavin Pfister his full debut in Ulster

Mark McCall will give new signing Gavin Pfister his full debut in Ulster's Celtic League joust with Edinburgh at Ravenhill on Friday.

The South African openside, signed because of injuries to Neil McMillan and Andy Ward in the back row, will pack down beside the emerging Roger Wilson and Campbell Feather.

Ulster should be in good order following their 18-10 defeat of Stade Francais in Europe, where Jonny Bell suffered a broken nose. New Zealander Paul Steinmetz will take his place.

ULSTER (v Edinburgh): Bryn Cunningham; Tommy Bowe, Kevin Maggs, Paul Steinmetz, Tyrone Howe; David Humphreys, Kieran Campbell; Ronan McCormack, Paul Shields, Rod Moore, Gary Longwell, Matt McCullough, Campbell Feather (Capt), Gavin Pfister, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Rory Best, Simon Best, Rowan Frost, Matt Mustchin; Neil Doak, Adam Larkin, Andrew Maxwell.

Bees forced to cash in on Pfister

Nov 17 2004, By Brian Dick, Birmingham Post

Ulster Rugby are close to completing the signing of Pertemps Bees' flanker Gavin Pfister.

The South African moved to Sharmans Cross Road last summer and made seven starts for Phil Maynard's side without recapturing the form that characterised his career with Worcester.

Pfister, in Belfast yesterday for a medical and contract discussions, said last night that he expected the deal to be completed at some stage today.

A number of injuries to back-row players forced Ulster coach Mark McCall to look for cover and Pfister has been drafted in on contract until the end of June next year.

The 30-year old, who has previously played for Free State and Western Province, moved to England and signed with Warriors at the beginning of their 2001-02 campaign.

In his two seasons at Sixways, he helped the club win promotion to the Premiership and gained a reputation as a prolific try-scorer and strong back-row forward.

Much to his disappointment, he was released by Worcester last May as the Sixways side looked to rejig their back row and even though he arrived in Solihull after rejecting a contract at Bees' National One rivals Henley Hawks, he made no secret of the fact he did not feel ready for the semi-professional game.

He said last night: "I did not really want to leave full-time rugby. When this opportunity came up, I thought it was a good one to pursue. I did not physically go out and look for a move, but I had to look at this chance to get back into professional rugby.

"I had very mixed feelings about leaving. I had settled into the fact that I was committed to Pertemps Bees for the season and I was serious about that commitment. I do not like breaking it but it is a new adventure for me and, having played in South Africa, Australia and England, it is a chance to see a part of the world I don't know."

Pfister will not be eligible to play in the Heineken Cup, the deadline for squad registration having passed in September, but he will be registered for the Celtic League and is expected to be in the mix for selection for this weekend's match against Cardiff. Maynard, Bees' director of rugby, said: "We have parted by mutual consent, on good terms.

Maynard has recalled Tom Jordan from his loan with Stourbridge to compensate for the loss of Pfister and the fitness problems of Nathan Carter.

Stourbridge back row forward Julian Horrobin was last night found guilty of striking an opponent with the head by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary committee. The former Coventry man has been banned for four weeks after denying an incident with Mike Buckingham in a Powergen Cup tie with his former club.

Ulster sign South African to replace Ward

16/11/2004

Ulster coach Mark McCall has reacted quickly to the news that Andy Ward could be out for four to six weeks by announcing the signing of specialist openside Gavin Pfister

The 30-year-old South African has played for Free State, Western Province and Worcester and arrives to Ulster after a six-month stint with English National Division One Pertemps Bees.

The contract will run to the end of June and Pfister will only be eligible for the Celtic League.