Robert Cockrell
# Robert Cockrell

Robert James Cockrell (4 April 1950 – 26 May 2000) was a South African rugby union player who played eleven test matches for the South Africa national rugby union team.

## Playing career

Cockrell made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1972 and played in 102 matches for the union.

He made his test debut for the Springboks on 23 November 1974 at Stade Municipal in Toulouse against France. Cockrell scored his first and only test try during his third test match on 21 June 1975 in Bloemfontein against the touring French team captained by Richard Astre.

His last test match, was the Springboks’ first ever test match against the USA on 20 September 1981 at the Owl Creek Polo ground in Glenville, New York. Cockrell also played in 14 tour matches for the Springboks and scored one try.

### Test history

| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1. | France | 13–4 | Hooker | | 23 Nov 1974 | Stade Municipal, Toulouse |
| 2. | France | 10–8 | Hooker | | 30 Nov 1974 | Parc des Princes, Paris |
| 3. | France | 38–25 | Hooker | 1 | 21 Jun 1975 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 4. | France | 33–18 | Hooker | | 28 Jun 1975 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 5. | New Zealand | 16–7 | Hooker | | 24 Jul 1976 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 6. | New Zealand | 9–15 | Hooker | | 14 Aug 1976 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 7. | World XV | 45–24 | Hooker | | 27 Aug 1977 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 8. | New Zealand | 9–14 | Hooker | | 15 Aug 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch |
| 9. | New Zealand | 24–12 | Replacement | | 29 Aug 1981 | Athletic Park, Wellington |
| 10. | New Zealand | 22–25 | Hooker | | 12 Sep 1981 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 11. | United States | 38–7 | Hooker | | 20 Sep 1981 | Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York |
