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8 Things You Didn’t Know About Jean de Villiers

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Jean de Villiers

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Jean de Villiers, named team captain in 2012 of the Springboks South African national rugby team, was an important leader in the rugby community for years.

South African Player of the Year in 2008, he is the most-capped center in Springbok history, despite being plagued with injuries throughout his career. His is a story of perseverance in the face of repeated adversity. He has since retired from the Springbok side that he loves, but left behind a great legacy.

De Villiers recently confirmed that he would likely retire from club rugby at the end of the English season, when his commitment with the Leicester Tigers comes to an end, at which point he will return to South Africa.

Here are 8 things you didn’t know about Jean de Villiers.

Sources: FSCheetas.co.za, IOL.co.za, SARugby.net, Edition.CNN.com, EyeWitnessNews, Sport24.

This is an updated version of a slideshow that was originally published April, 2014. Peter Pedroncelli contributed to this report.

Jean de Villiers in action
Jean de Villiers in action – thepapare.com

He retired from the Springboks after injury ended his 2015 World Cup

History repeats itself, and unfortunately for the rugby legend, his Springbok career came to an abrupt end at the 2015 Rugby World Cup when he suffered a jaw fracture in a Pool B match against Samoa. De Villiers captained the Boks 37 times, ending his career as the second most capped Springbok captain of all time, and the fourth most capped player in the history of South African Test rugby, with 109 appearances.

Jean de Villiers was a legendary Springbok - telegraph.co.uk
Jean de Villiers was a legendary Springbok – telegraph.co.uk

His first international appearance for South Africa lasted seven minutes

In his first game for South Africa, De Villiers tore a ligament in his knee after only seven minutes. Luckily, he managed to return to the game after nine months of rehabilitation, and went on to have an impressive career, albeit hampered by injury at various stages.

Springboks win 2007 Rugby World Cup
Springboks win 2007 Rugby World Cup – sarugbytravel.com

He sat out of South Africa’s win in the 2007 World Cup

Another devastating injury in his career forced de Villiers to sit out the majority of the World Cup tournament in 2007 due to a bicep tear he sustained in the first game. The Spingboks went on to win the tournament, without their influential centre.

Jean de Villiers and family
Jean de Villiers and family – iol.co.za

He met his wife when they were both students at Stellenbosch University

Jean de Villiers and his wife, Marlie, met while studying at Stellenbosch University and they married in 2010. They have two daughters, Layli and Lana.

SARugby.com
The captain comes from an athletic family – SARugby.com

Sport runs in the De Villiers family

Both of his parents were impressive athletes, with De Villier’s father playing rugby for Western Province, while his mother was a swimmer for Western Province. With blood like that running through his veins, a professional career was sure to follow.

aussiesportsbets.com.au
The All Blacks and Springboks share a great rivalry – aussiesportsbets.com.au

He names several competitors as his toughest opponents

Unable to pick just one, de Villiers named “a combination of Tana Umaga, Stirling Mortlock, Brian O’Driscoll…Sonny Bill Williams, and Ma’a Nonu” as his toughest opponents on the pitch, with a special respect always shown for great rivals the All Blacks.

sabc.co.za
Mandela was a Bok good luck charm – sabc.co.za

De Villiers and the Springboks won every game Nelson Mandela attended

Nelson Mandela attended six games during de Villier’s career, and the Springboks won them all. De Villiers said he attributes the wins to Mandela’s aura, as the great man always brought out the best in people. The Springboks played unbelievably well in each of the games.

Students in the art library at the University of Botswana, Gaborone. Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty
Libraries for learning – Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty

He gives back in the “Boks for Books” program

The initiative, launched in June 2013 by the South African Rugby Union, aims to supply fully stocked mobile or refurbished libraries to disadvantaged children in schools around South Africa.