Bokdle #25: 26 Oct 2026

The mystery green and gold player on 26 Oct 2026 was Henry Honiball: Test player #590 · Fly-half · 35 caps · 1 try · School: Estcourt High School.

Henry Honiball was a fly-half who played like a centre: big, direct, a fierce tackler and happy to take the ball into contact, which made him one of the most distinctive Springbok number 10s of the 1990s. Born in Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal in December 1965, he went to Estcourt High School and the University of the Free State. His nickname, "Lem", is Afrikaans for "blade", for the way he cut through defences.

A late starter

Honiball played for Free State from 1989 and moved to Natal in 1992, where he spent the rest of his South African career, more than a hundred games for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby. He was 27 when he won his first cap, off the bench against Australia in Sydney in August 1993, and his first Test start came at fly-half against Argentina in Buenos Aires later that year.

Mallett's playmaker

His best years came under coach Nick Mallett from 1997. With Joost van der Westhuizen inside him, Honiball ran an attacking game that brought the loose forwards into play quickly. He played in 14 of the 17 Tests of South Africa's record-equalling winning run, including the 1998 Tri Nations, the first time South Africa won the tournament, unbeaten. He had also played in the 1997 series against the British and Irish Lions, at fly-half and off the bench, and at centre in the 61–22 thrashing of Australia at Loftus Versfeld that year.

The end of the road

Injury kept him out for much of 1999, but he went to the World Cup in Wales, where South Africa reached the semi-finals. His last Test was the third-place play-off against New Zealand in Cardiff, which South Africa won 22–18. He played one season for Bristol in England and then retired after a serious neck injury.

Test record

From bokhist.com's Test-by-Test list:

• Springbok number: 590
• Debut: 21 August 1993, aged 27, off the bench against Australia at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney (lost 12–19)
• Last Test: 4 November 1999, aged 33, at fly-half against New Zealand at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (won 22–18)
• Tests: 35: 28 starts and 7 off the bench
• Results: 26 wins and 9 losses, a winning rate of 74%
• Starts by position: fly-half 26, inside centre 2
• Most often played against: Australia (7 Tests)

Did you know?

• He scored 156 points in Tests.
• He was not in the squad that won the 1995 World Cup.
• He also played sevens for South Africa, in 1994.

Sources: bokhist.com, en.wikipedia.org

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