CJ Stander

CJ Stander
Full name Christiaan Johan Stander
Date of birth 5 April 1990
Place of birth George, South Africa
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Weight 114 kg (17 st 13 lb)
School Oakdale Agricultural, Riversdale
University University of Pretoria
Notable relative(s) Janneman Stander (brother)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Back-Row
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010–12
2012–present		 Blue Bulls
Munster		 36
56		 (55)
(85)
correct as of 26 Apr 2015.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2012 Bulls 16 (20)
correct as of 24 Aug 2012.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2009–10 South Africa U20 10 (15)
correct as of 22 Feb 2015.

Christiaan Johan 'CJ' Stander (born 5 April 1990 in George, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer. He can play either as a Flanker or Number 8. He represented the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, and is currently playing for Irish province Munster in the Pro 12 and European Rugby Champions Cup.

Early life

Stander was born in George, South Africa, where his family owned a farm.[1] He first began playing rugby at the age of 9.[2] Before focusing on rugby, Stander was a champion discus thrower as a teenager.[3]

Bulls

In his debut Super Rugby season for the Bulls, Stander played in the first 13 games, scoring 4 tries.[4]

Munster

2012–13

In June 2012, Stander signed a deal to join Irish province Munster on a two-year contract at the end of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[5][6] As Munster could not sign any more internationally capped players, he was signed as a project player. This means that Stander would be eligible to play for Ireland under IRB residency laws if he stayed with Munster for three years. He arrived in Ireland to join up with the Munster squad on 30 October 2012.[7] Stander made his debut for Munster on 25 November 2012, coming on as a replacement in the Pro 12 fixture against Scarlets.[8] He made his first start for Munster against Glasgow Warriors in Thomond Park on 1 December 2012, scoring two tries in a Man-of-the-Match winning performance.[9] Stander was ruled out for a month after breaking a bone in his hand during the Glasgow game.[10] He made his comeback from the injury on 5 January 2013, in a Pro 12 game against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park. As he was ineligible to represent Munster in the Heineken Cup, Stander instead turned out for Munster A in the British and Irish Cup, playing at Number 8 against Aberavon RFC and Plymouth Albion, scoring a try against the latter.[11][12] Stander scored his third try in just four appearances for Munster on 9 February 2013, when he made his second start for the club against Edinburgh.[13]

2013–14

Stander scored his first try in his second season at Munster during an uncapped pre-season friendly against Gloucester Rugby on 24 August 2013.[14] He scored two tries in his first full appearance of the season, against Zebre, on 13 September 2013.[15] Stander made his Heineken Cup debut on 12 October 2013, coming off the bench against Edinburgh in Munster's opening pool game.[16] He came off the bench against Gloucester during Munster's 26-10 victory on 19 October 2013.[17] Stander was also a replacement during Munster's 36-8 win against USA Perpignan on 8 December 2013.[18] He came off the bench in the 7-20 away win against Gloucester on 11 January 2013, a win that secured quarter-final qualification.[19] In January 2014, Stander signed a new two-year contract that will see him remain with Munster until June 2016.[20] Stander scored his seventh try for Munster in a Pro 12 fixture against Cardiff Blues on 8 February 2014.[21] He came on as a replacement after 18 minutes for injured captain Peter O'Mahony in Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse on 5 April 2014, scoring his first Heineken Cup try in the 47-23 win and earning the Man-of-the-Match award.[22] Stander started in Munster's 24-16 semi-final defeat to Toulon on 27 April 2014.[23]

2014–15

Stander scored two tries in Munster's 13–14 defeat against Edinburgh in their opening Guinness Pro12 game on 5 September 2014.[24] He also scored a try in Munster's win against Treviso on 12 September 2014.[25] Stander started in Munster's first 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup game against Sale Sharks on 18 October 2014, earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the 26-27 away win.[26] He started against Saracens F.C. in Round 2 of the Champions Cup on 24 October 2014.[27] Stander started the Round 3 game against ASM Clermont Auvergne on 6 December 2014.[28] He also started in the reverse fixture against Clermont on 14 December 2014.[29] Stander scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 28-13 win against Leinster on 26 December 2014.[30] He also scored a try in the 7-31 away win against Zebre on 10 January 2015, again winning the Man-of-the-Match award.[31] Stander started against Saracens on 17 January 2015, but went off with an injured ankle in the first-half.[32] The injury ruled Stander out for 4-6 weeks.[33] He returned from the injury on 21 February 2015, starting in the game against Scarlets.[34][35] Stander scored a try in Munster's 22-10 win against Glasgow Warriors on 28 February 2015.[36] He won his fifth Man-of-the-Match award of the season in Munster's 42-20 win against Connacht on 28 March 2015.[37] Stander scored a try in Munster's 3-34 win against Edinburgh on 11 April 2015.[38] He won the 2015 Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award in April 2015, becoming the first overseas player to do so.[39] He scored a try in the 30-19 win against Treviso on 25 April 2015.[40]

South Africa

Having already represented the side at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship, Stander captained the South Africa Under-20 team that competed in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, leading them to a third-place finish.[41][42] He was called up to train with the Springboks squad in June 2012, but was not part of the final squad.[43]

Personal life

Stander is married to Jean-Marié Neethling, the sister of South African olympic gold medalist Ryk Neethling.[44] He is also the brother of Janneman Stander, a rugby union player for the SWD Eagles.[45]

Reference List

  1. ↑ "Big Interview: CJ Stander". independent.ie. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "CJ Stander interview: ‘I need to play the best game of my life against Toulon ’". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "CJ Stander: If I get the chance to play for Ireland I'll sing anthem with all my heart". independent.ie. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Munster bring in South African back row CJ Stander". BBC Sport. 21 June 2012.
  5. ↑ "Munster Complete Their Squad". munsterrugby.ie. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Munster bring in South African back row CJ Stander". BBC Sport. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "CJ Stander In, Troy Smith Out". munsterrugby.ie. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Ronan in wars as Munster fall short". independent.ie. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Comfortable Win For Munster". munsterrugby.ie. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "Munster's in-form CJ Stander ruled out for a month by broken hand". BBC Sport. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Munster A Remain Undefeated". munsterrugby.ie. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  12. ↑ "Quarter Final In Store For Munster A". munsterrugby.ie. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Solid Second Half Swings It". munsterrugby.ie. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Winning Start To SEAT Series". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bonus Point Win In Parma". munsterrugby.ie. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Disappointing Defeat In Murrayfield". munsterrugby.ie. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  17. ↑ "Heineken Cup Win In Thomond Park". munsterrugby.ie. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  18. ↑ "Munster Top Of Group After Bonus-Point Win". munsterrugby.ie. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  19. ↑ "Quarter Final Place Secured". munsterrugby.ie. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Contract Extenstions For Casey And Stander". munsterrugby.ie. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "Six-Try Munster Sweep Blues Aside". irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "Vintage Munster March On". munsterrugby.ie. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "Toulon End Munster's European Campaign". munsterrugby.ie. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  24. ↑ "Munster Lose Opener To Edinburgh". munsterrugby.ie. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  25. ↑ "Munster Pass Treviso Test". munsterrugby.ie. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Foley hails match winning hero Ian Keatley". independent.ie. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "Munster Overcome Saracens". munsterrugby.ie. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "Clermont Claim Win At Thomond Park". munsterrugby.ie. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "Losing Bonus Point Secured At Clermont". munsterrugby.ie. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  30. ↑ "Munster Return To Winning Ways". munsterrugby.ie. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  31. ↑ "Bonus Point Victory In Parma". munsterrugby.ie. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Munster Lose Out In London". munsterrugby.ie. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  33. ↑ "JJ Hanrahan hints at possible return to Munster in future". irishtimes.com. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  34. ↑ "Foley Makes 8 Changes For Scarlets". munsterrugby.ie. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  35. ↑ "Munster Fight For Vital Points". munsterrugby.ie. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  36. ↑ "Winning Ways Continue In Cork". munsterrugby.ie. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  37. ↑ "Bonus Point Win At Thomond Park". munsterrugby.ie. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "Bonus Point Win At Murrayfield". munsterrugby.ie. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "Stander Scoops Player Of The Year Award". munsterrugby.ie. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  40. ↑ "Munster Make Home Advantage Count". munsterrugby.ie. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  41. ↑ "Who is CJ Stander?". touchlinerugby.com. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  42. ↑ "Strong SA Under-20 squad announced". rugby15.co.za. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  43. ↑ "Final Bok planning squad named". planetrugby.com. 24 May 2012.
  44. ↑ "The South African TV feature on CJ Stander’s wedding is very glossy indeed". thescore.ie. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  45. ↑ "Blitsige Janneman word ’n SWD-Arend" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2015.

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