Niel Burger - The Power of Province

Niel Burger was one of the unluckiest players never to pull on the Springbok jersey. He was a devastating runner who finished like few could and scored some amazing tries for Western Province throughout the 1980's. Ray Mordt, injuries and erratic form kept him out of the national picture, but when he was hot, he was blazing! Enjoy and thanks for watching!

[@tonylochner]

Wow what an great time period in SA rugby, even Eastern Province and Northern Freestate had a competitive team.

[@20165776YEAR]

It was a pleasure to watch Niel Burger, I first noticed him playing for SA Defense force scoring an outrageous try running through 6 defenders. i saw him live a few times at Kings park one noticeable occasion was for WP 7's in provincial 7's he scored a try 50 meters out and all 7 opponents tried to stop him and failed, he got a standing ovation from the Kings park crowd. The world really missed out on a truly exceptional rugby player but we remember him fondly.

[@williezietsman4189]

Wie onthou daardie drie teen N-Tvl op Nuweland in 1984 toe hy deur bykans die hele N-Tvl span gehardloop het?

[@henryoosthui3495]

Ek was daar jy stop nie neil burger 😁

[@rodneymanwaring9396]

Neil Burger and some other WP players c coached us at a rugby clinic in the mid 1980ties. He was wearing army uniform at the rugby clinic

[@ShireenDaniels-vq9fb]

This rugby player should be given an honorary Springbok Blazer

[@markj702]

This video really took me back to the late 80's and the power and pace of this man. What a thrill it was to watch him. You knew with Carel (and later Kobus Burger) on one wing and him on the other there was always a chance of a try, even when trailing.

[@leonhildebrand132]

Yster .... Dankie vir hierdie video.

[@sakkiekloppers8378]

Wish we still had some Wingers like that today. That can run over a man and around him. Also like Mordt

[@mdjcsmith]

5:09 Man, that try is outrageous!

[@jeanodendaal5974]

he has a OK store in Worcester it use to be a Spar but he is there almost everyday very humble person

[@bishopbrink7149]

Oh he is there I stay half an our away in Villiersdorp .Good to know.

[@jeandrephilip3738]

Met him the other day

[@KernowekTim]

Great pace et cetera coupled with massive prey-drive. What a player, what a brutally intent rugby winger.

[@rottazzmuller1753]

bloody monster this lad

[@RealRugby]

He was awesome. Should have been a Springbok

[@ydbarnard6891]

Jo. He was amazing. He was my first sporting hero. Speed and power

[@barry-johnwyman3623]

agree he was soo unlucky , as a laaitie growing up in Goodwood in Cape Town we used to see him jogging around the neighborhood often. He was a freak . Cant believe Kobus Burger was also picked over him sometimes

[@20165776YEAR]

you are right a freak, these videos don't do justice as to how big his thighs were, he didn't have the nickname thunder thighs for nothing

[@Hairy1brick]

I agree with you on that. Despite being a Blue Bull supporter, Neil Burger was my favourite wing in the country and when a vacancy opened for a Springbok wing I thought Neil would be the automatic choice, yet like you say, the position was filled by Kobus Burger instead.

[@andrewmorkel2269]

What the then selectors didn't see in Neil Burger, I will never know. Only winger in SA to have his combination of natural power, swerve and step even with Ray Mordt in the picture. He would be one of the few backline players from the unprofessional period to be competitive in today's game !!

[@nelsonbenjamin4754]

God saw what the selectors did not see a man of God quiet humble Neil Burger🙏

[@nelsonbenjamin4754]

Neil made Newlands rumble 🤗🙌

[@jacqueshughes3085]

He was so hard to tackle/stop - a genuine freakish ability and physique.

[@koosvandermerwe8298]

Stadions was voller teen spanne soos noord-Vrystaat en OP as vandag se Springbok toetse.

[@neilpieterse9614]

Want die politikuste het die game vermoor

[@tobyflenderson1610]

@@neilpieterse9614 Ek dink dis meer omdat die kaartjie pryse so belaglik duur geraak het.

[@neilpieterse9614]

@@tobyflenderson1610 ook waar

[@rodneymanwaring9396]

These guys are bigger than they look. I recently met Calla Scholtz my child hood rugby hero. I am 50 years height 5.8 and Calla Scholtz must be in his 70ties and he towers over me in height but looks average here as a young rugby player

[@lloydoconnor2862]

So sad that we don't have the old Jersey's

[@zido4484]

SOUTH AFRICAS JONAH LOMU

[@Mzansi74]

Baie ongelukkig om nooit 'n Springbok te word nie. Maar nou ja, Ray Mordt was daar...

[@shaunmoller2997]

So sterk soos n os selfde as Ray Mordt en Danie Gerber jammer nooit bok klere gekry nie

[@mtnstrand2819]

Probebly the unluckiest rugby player never to represent his country!

[@jeandrephilip3738]

Het hom die naweek ontmoet

[@williezietsman4189]

Het julle geweet dat nie al sy punte driee was nie? In 1 wedstryd het hy met 'n skepskop ook geslaag. Net jammer daar's nie 'n uittreksel daarvan nie.

[@20165776YEAR]

yes i think it was against Boland and he scored all the tries for WP in that game, 3 tries

[@cyborgisdead1223]

Jip was teen boland in wellington gewees

[@grantpetersen6156]

Never skipped leg day

[@andrewmorkel2269]

Clearly !!

[@Thegrumpycoach]

I think he only Did leg day!