Wednesday, April 15, 2009

john William Smit (gebore 3 April 1978 in Pietersburg, Suid-Afrika) is the 51ste en huidige kaptein van die Suid-Afrikaanse nasionalerugbyspan, die Springbokke. Hy speel haker.Smit het Pretoria Boys High School bygewoon waar hy hoofseun was in 1995 en vir die eerste span gespeel het van 1994 tot 1996.[verwysing benodig]Smit het sy eerste Springbokwedstryd in 2000 op 22-jarige ouderdom gespeel toe Suid-Afrika Kanada 51-18 op die Basil Kenyon Stadion in Oos-London geklop het. Hy was gereeld op die reserwebank tot 2004 toe hy deur die nuwe afrigter Jake White as kaptein aangestel is.Teen 2005 was Smit een van die suksesvolste kapteins wat Suid-Afrika nog ooit gehad het met 16 uit 22 Springbokoorwinnings, 'n wenpersentasie van 72%.[verwysing benodig] Dit maak hom net so suksesvol as ander groot Suid-Afrikaanse kapteins soos Gary Teichmann en Francois Pienaar.Tydens die opbou tot die 2007 Rugby Wêreldbeker is hy verbind met die Franse klub Clermont.[1] Hy het uiteindelik 'n tweejaarkontrak met Clermont geteken wat na die Wêreldbeker in werking sal tree.

John Smit
Volle naamJohn William Smit
Geboortedatum3 4 1978 (ouderdom 31)
GeboorteplekPietersburg (ook Polokwane), Suid-Afrika
Lengte1,88m
Gewig117kg
Rugbyloopbaan
Rugbyposisies
Provinsiale/StaatspanneWedstryde(punte)
1998Natal Sharks??
korrek op .
Super Rugby  
1998Sharks81
korrek op 2007-04-27.
Nasionale span(ne)  
2000Vlag van Suid-Afrika Suid-Afrika63(-10)

Ander Inligting
BeroepProfessionele rugbyspeler
Skool  bygewoonPretoria Boys High School
UniversiteitUniversiteit van Natal (vlugtig)
Kinders2 dogters



Tendai "the beast" Mtawarira (born 1 August 1985 in Harare, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player for theSharks in the Super 14 competition. Tendai Mtawarira plays as a prop. Mtawarira is fondly known by friends and fans as "The Beast". Roars of "Beast" are shouted by spectators and fans of the Natal Sharks team whenever Mtawarira attains possession of the ball or makes a big tackle. Mtawarira was selected as part of the South African National Rugby Union team and made his debut playing against Wales in a test match on the 14th of June 2008. The following week, on the 21st of June 2008, Mtawarira scored a try against Italy as well as winning the 'Man of the Match' award. He went to Peterhouse Group of Boarding Schools in Marondera in Zimbabwe, along withStormers and newly capped Springbok Brian Mujati,he also went to churchill boys high school for 5 years before being given a full scholarship to peterhouse.While at Churchill at the age of 15 he was identified by legendary Zimbabwean Coach Joey Muwadzuri who invited him to join the Under 19 side at the National Schools Festival.Later that year Coach Joey invited him to be part of Cats and Dogs rugby Academy Team that won the National Seniors 7s tournament.He played with Stars Dan Hondo,Pete Benade,Tonderai Kawaza Chivanga, among many others.Despite his young age he used his strength and will to learn to tread with the bigger boys.He also represented Zimbabwe in the under 19 age group in rugbyThe Beast growsAfter a fantastic 2008 Media:super 14 season with the Sharks it was apparent that he had fantastic potential and his speed would be beneficial with the new rules (ELV's).He was then selected in the Springbok squad and at first received limited game time. Later on he had the opportunity to be a reserve during the test against the Wallabies in Perth. Once he came on his impact was significant and had two long distance runs with the ball. He went on to be a part of the starting lineup in all the subsequent Tri-nations tests.

Tendai Mtawarira
Image:Tendai Mtawarira (Beast.jpg
by Juiced Media (Pty) Ltd
Personal information
Full nameTendai Mtawarira
Date of birth1 August 1985 (age 23)
Place of birthHarareZimbabwe
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
NicknameThe Beast
SchoolPeterhouse Group of Boarding SchoolsMarondera
Occupation(s) Professional rugby player
Rugby union career
Playing career
PositionProp
Provincial/State sidesCaps(points)
2007-presentNatal Sharks13
Super Rugby  
2007-presentSharks14(5)
National team(s)  
2008-present South Africa7(5)

Jean De villiers




                      

Jean de Villiers (born 24 February 1981 in Paarl) is a South African rugby union footballer. He started his career at wing, but now primarily plays centre. De Villiers plays domestically for Western Province, Super 14 for the Stormers, and internationally for theSpringboks.A product of Paarl Gimnasium, the nursery of many a future Springbok (among them past Boks teammate Marius Joubert and current Boks back-row star Schalk Burger), de Villiers made his first impact at international level in the South African Sevens team, playing a major role in teams that finished second in the 2001-02 World Sevens Series and third in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Also in 2002, he made his first international impact in the 15-man game at the U-21 Rugby World Cup, scoring four tries in the tournament for the victorious Junior Springboks.He made his first senior-level appearance for the Springboks in November 2002 against France, but suffered a major knee injury five minutes into the game. After regaining fitness, he became an important player in the Boks' 2004 renaissance, which saw them earn an unexpected victory in the Tri Nations Series that year. Both he and his former Paarl teammate Joubert earned a share of the try-scoring lead in the 2004 Tri Nations, with three apiece.As of November 2005, de Villiers has scored 11 tries in 18 international appearances.He is captain of his club the Stormers.He captained the Springboks against the World XV at Ellis Park on 11 June 2006.He is notable for his precision timing resulting in interceptions leading to many tries

Jean de Villiers
Personal information
Full nameJean de Villiers
Date of birth24 February 1981 (age 28)
Place of birthPaarlSouth Africa
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
NicknameBukio
SchoolPaarl Gymnasium
CollegeStellenbosch University
Notable relative(s) Jacque de Villiers
Rugby union career
Playing career
PositionCentrewing
Provincial/State sidesCaps(points)
2001-presentWestern Province33(105)
Super Rugby  
2005-presentStormers91(115)
National team(s)  
2002-presentSouth Africa33(225


Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Springbokrugby team as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in the Super 14. He is one of the best locks in the world[citation needed] and has had a long successful partnership with Springbok and Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha.Besides almost always winning his own line-out ball, Matfield is known for his exceptional skill at disrupting opposition line-outs - this skill was a cornerstone of their 2007 World Cup success, where he was crowned irb player of the rugby world cup - and his speed around the field led former Australian coach Eddie Jones to comment that he should be an Olympic sprinter instead.[citation needed]He also possesses good upper body strength, with the ability to bench press 155kg[1]. In 2008 he became the first international captain to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand since Martin Johnson in 2003.

Youth

Growing up Matfield had a love for both rugby and cricket, and even represented Far North Schools in the latter. When an injury affected his batting and bowling he decided to pursue rugby instead and was selected for Far Norths junior Craven Week team before playing lock for Pietersburg High School. He made it to the Craven Week competition for high schools in two successive years before being selected for Far North's senior provincial team while still in his final year of high school. {{Fact|date=June 2007}


Junior rugby career

After school, Matfield went to study at the University of Pretoria where he made the university's under-21 side.[citation needed] It did not take long for him to be selected for the Blue Bulls under-21 side as well.In 1997, Matfield was selected for the under-21 Springbok side captained by Bobby Skinstad. Matfield was also selected for the 1998 squad.


Senior rugby career

A big turning point in Matfield's career came when he decided to leave the Blue Bulls for the Griquas in 1999, where he was also selected to represent the Cats in the Super 12 that year. The move allowed him to prove his worth, and in 2000 he was given the opportunity to represent the Bulls Super 12 team.His hard work did not go unnoticed, and in 2001 he was finally selected for the Springbok squad, making his debut on 30 June 2001 against Italy. Matfield went on to play a major role in the Springboks' renaissance in 2004 and 2005[neutrality disputed]; in the latter year, he made the five-man shortlist for IRB World Player of the Year.Matfield was an instant selection for South Africa's 2007 World Cup winning-squad, and won the Man of the Match award in the final for his brilliant work in the line-out and, in a show of fine all-round skill, he even put in a perfect cross-field touch-finding kick!Matfield had been linked with a move to Leicester Tigers of the English Premiership after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.[2] However, in June 2007, he signed a six-month contract with French second division club Toulon, which he will join on 1 January 2008.[3] At Toulon, he will join an ambitious side whose president Mourad Boudjellai has signed many veteran superstars for the 2007-08 season, such as Australian George Gregan, the sport's all-time leader in international appearances; Andrew Mehrtens, the all-time leading scorer for the All Blacks; and, as coach, former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.It had recently been revealed that Matfield was considering withdrawing from his contract with Toulon in an attempt to make himself available for a possible offer from The Sharks for the2008 Super 14. Eventually, he and Umaga came to an agreement that Matfield would play for Toulon in a stretch of nine key fixtures in January and February 2008, and then return to South Africa and play for the Bulls in the 2008 Super 14. Toulon are currently making a strong drive for promotion to the Top 14, and are atop the 2007-08 second division table as of 6 March 2008. As for Matfield, his main concern was reported to be that the South African Rugby Union has not yet decided whether to continue with its recent policy of allowing a limited number of overseas-based players to play for the Springboks.


Personal life

Victor married Monja Bekker in 2003. They have one daughter, Jaime born at 8.02am on New Year's Day 2006. Has a unique link to the New Zealand through his Grandmother who was of Maori decent.

Victor Matfield
Victor <span class=Matfield wins a line-out for South Africa" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b7/New_Zealand_vs_South_Africa_2006_Tri_Nations_Line_Out.JPG/250px-New_Zealand_vs_South_Africa_2006_Tri_Nations_Line_Out.JPG" width="250" height="166" border="0" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: middle; ">
Personal information
Full nameVictor Matfield
Date of birth11 May 1977 (age 31)
Place of birthPietersburg, now PolokwaneSouth Africa
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight110 kg (240 lb)
CollegeUniversity of Pretoria
Occupation(s) Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
PositionLock
Provincial/State sides  
1999-2000
2001-
Griqualand West
Blue Bulls
Super RugbyCaps(points)
1999-2000
2001-
Cats
Bulls
National team(s)Caps(points)
2001-South Africa66(25)


Bakkies Botha

Bakkies Botha
Volle naamJohn Philip Botha
Geboortedatum22 9 1979 (ouderdom 29)
GeboorteplekNewcastle , Suid-Afrika
Lengte2,02 m
Gewig120 kg
BynaamBakkies
Rugbyloopbaan
Rugbyposisies
Provinsiale/StaatspanneWedstryde(punte)
2001Blou bulle??
korrek op .
Super Rugby  
Bulls
korrek op .
Nasionale span(ne)  
2002Vlag van Suid-Afrika Suid-Afrika41(35)
korrek op 2007-10-07.
Ander Inligting
BeroepProfessionele rugbyspeler
Skool  bygewoonVereeniging THS; Middelburg THS

John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, wat gewoonlik op sy bynaam genoem word, (gebore 22 September 1979 in NewcastleKwaZulu-Natalprovinsie) is 'n Suid-Afrikaanserugbyspeler wat as slot vir die Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale rugbyspan, die Springbokke uitdraf. Hy speel ook vir die Blou Bulle provinsiale span in dieCurriebekerkompetisie en vir die Bulls Super 14-span. Botha is 2,02 meter lank en weeg 120 kilogram.

Botha het vir die onder-19 en onder-23 Springbokspanne gespeel voor hy vir die Suid-Afrikaanse "A"-span gekies is wat teen die einde van 2001 na Europa getoer het. Die volgende jaar is hy vir die Springbokspan gekies en het sy debuut gemaak teen Frankryk in Marseille op 9 September 2002, 'n wedstryd wat die Springbokke 30-10 verloor het.

Oor die jare het 'n gedugte vennootskap tussen Botha en Blou Bulle spanmaat Victor Matfield ontwikkel. Saam het hulle 'n ongeëwenaarde vermoë om opponente se lynstane te ontwrig en gereeld balbesit te bewerkstellig.

Botha word gesien as een van die mees onwrikbare slotte in wêreldrugby en is al verskeie kere van vuilspel beskuldig, vernaamlik onder voormalige SpringbokafrigterRudolph Straeuli. In sy eerste vier toetse is hy koelkas toe gestuur, dissiplinêre optrede onverwant aan die koelkas-episode ondergaan en 'n skorsing van agt weke ontvang.[1] Sedert 2004 onder nuwe afrigter Jake White blyk dit dat sy omstrede spel iets van die verlede is. In sy vyftigste wedstryd vir die Bulls in 2006 het hy die span gelei in hulle Super 14-halfeindstryd teen die Crusaders.

In September 2006 het dit aan die lig gekom dat Botha 'n aanbod van R2 miljoen aangebied is vir 'n nuwe kontrak met die Sharks wat hom die hoogsbetaalde speler in Suid-Afrikaanse rugby sou maak.[2]

Verwysings [wysig]

Sunday, April 12, 2009


Schalk ("Schalla") Burger Jr. (born 13 April 1983 in Port Elizabeth) is a South African rugby union player. He plays the position of flanker in the Springbok rugby union team and is regarded as one of the best flankers in the world. Burger is recognized as a key player in the South African squad along with Victor Matfield, John Smit and Jean de Villiers and some other players.


Father

His father, also called Schalk Burger, was an international lock, being capped for South Africa during the "isolation years" of the 1980s. Schalk was schooled at Paarl Gimnasium, and enjoyed success in many sports.


Rugby career

After playing for the Under 21 Springbok side that won the U21 Rugby World Cup in 2002 and then captaining it in 2003, Schalk was selected for the senior Springbok squad. He made his debut against Georgia in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup and has since carved out a name as one of the best flankers in the world with solid performances in the Super 12Tri-Nations and Currie Cup. Burger plays club rugby for the Stormersand Western Province.

Burger possesses all the necessary attributes to be a great loose forward. He is quick to the breakdown and has an abundance of stamina; he is rarely rested throughout the Stormers' Super 14 campaigns, South African Test matches or the Currie Cup. He is also a constructive link in open play with his ability to draw defenders and offload. Despite these strengths, Burger does have a problem on field with accruing yellow cards and penalties frequently, a problem common to many - if not all - 'fetcher' flankers in world rugby.[citation needed]


2004

In 2004, Burger was selected as part of a rejuvenated Springbok squad which, under the guiding hand of new coach Jake White, went on to win the Tri-Nations trophy for the first time since Nick Mallett's team managed the feat in 1998.

To cap off a magnificent year, Burger was also awarded the most prestigious rugby player's award, the IRB International Player of the Year award in the 2004 season. In addition, he claimed the 2004 ABSA SA Rugby Player of the Year award.


2006

After an indifferent 2006 Super 14 season, during which Burger showed only flashes of the brilliance that took him to the peak of world rugby, he was to once again start in his favoured number 6 shirt (openside flanker in South African rugby) in the national team for the upcoming expanded Tri-Nations test series against Australia and New Zealand. However, in the Springboks' Test match against Scotland on June 17th, Burger suffered a serious neck injury. The following day, it was confirmed that he would require cervical fusion surgery and would be out of action for at least the remainder of 2006.[1] The injury and the required surgery were serious enough for White to tell the media, "I don't want to jump to conclusions - but there is a chance he may never play again."[2] Burger's father told a Cape Town radio program that the injury was between his sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae, adding, "Although the operation is difficult the fact that the injury is lower down his neck is good for a future prognosis of making a full recovery."[2] The South African Rugby Unionreleased a statement on 24 June, the date of the surgery, indicating that the surgery was successful and that Burger would undergo six to eight months of rehabilitation with plans to return him to the game.[3]


2007 and the Rugby World Cup

Following successful surgery and rehabilitation, Burger returned to the Vodacom Stormers line-up on 13 January 2007, playing 55 minutes as the Stormers lost to the Bulls. Despite the loss, Burger did show flashes of the brilliance that took him to the peak of world rugby in 2004-05.[citation needed] After a shaky start to the 2007 Super 14 season, Burger inspired the Stormers to their first win of the campaign against the Chiefs as the Stormers recorded their first points of the season in a tense 21–16 victory at the Newlands Stadium.

In mid-2007 he was picked in the Springboks squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He has been linked with a move to Harlequins of the English Premiership after the cup.[4]

During the Springboks' first match of the Rugby World Cup against Samoa, Burger was cited for a high tackle on Junior Polu, and on 11 September was given a four-match suspension which would have in theory kept him out of the team until the semi-final. However, this was reduced to a two-match suspension on appeal.[5]

Burger would return to play a key role in South Africa's World Cup triumph as the Springboks defeated England 15–6 to lift the Webb Ellis trophy and brought it back to South Africa for the second time in four attempts.


2008

In March 2008, Burger was banned for openly abusing a touch judge in a Super 14 game for the Stormers against the Sharks in Durban. [6] The touch judge in question had suggested the referee send Burger to the sin-bin for an offense that the referee hadn't seen. Upon leaving the field, Burger was seen to be gesticulating and shouting at the touch judge. The citing commissioner decided that Burger be banned for two weeks for his actions. After another great season which saw the Stormers finish just short of making the play-offs, Burger was selected by new coach Peter de Villiers for the Springboks' 2008 Tri Nations campaign.