Date of birth | 4 August 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Klerksdorp, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 122 kg (19 st 3 lb) [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | HTS John Vorster, Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Geo Cronje (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jacques Cronjé (born 4 August 1982) [2] is a former South African rugby union footballer who played as a loose forward for the Springboks and for Racing Métro 92 Paris in the French Top 14. He is the brother of Geo Cronjé, who also played for South Africa.
Born in Klerksdorp in the North West Province, Cronjé made his provincial debut during 2001 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup competition. Two years later in 2003 he made his Super 12 (now Super Rugby) debut for the Bulls side, against fellow South African team, the Cats.
Cronjé made his international Test match debut for the Springboks on 12 June 2004 in a match against Ireland at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, which South Africa won 31–17, and he scored his first Test try in a subsequent match against the Pacific Islands in a match at Gosford. He was not included in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Springbok squad, despite playing in the final preparation test against Namibia.
Cronjé was the strongest member of the Bulls team, being able to bench press 170 kg (375 lbs), and is also noted for his speed and wonderful ball-handling skills. He signed a two-year contract with French club Biarritz Olympique in August 2007 and joined them after the 2007 Currie Cup Premier Division season.
Victor Matfield is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played for and captained the South Africa national team (Springboks) as well as the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Bulls franchise in Super Rugby. He is generally considered one of the best locks to have ever played for South Africa and had a long successful partnership with Springbok and Blue Bulls teammate Bakkies Botha.
Bryan Gary Habana OIS is a South African former professional rugby union player. Playing mainly as a wing, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He played for the Golden Lions, the Blue Bulls and Western Province in South Africa, for the Bulls and the Stormers in Super Rugby, and for Toulon in the French Top 14, and won 124 caps for the South Africa national team.
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Daniel Jacobus Rossouw is a South African former professional rugby union footballer who played as a second row forward or back row forward. He played for the Bulls in the Super Rugby competition. Rossouw made his provincial debut during 1999 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the North Western Province in the Currie Cup competition. In 2001 he made his Super 12 debut for the Bulls against the Cats.
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