Jesse Kriel

Jesse Kriel
Personal information
Full nameJesse André Kriel
Born15 February 1994
Cape Town, South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
School(s) attendedMaritzburg College, Pietermaritzburg
UniversityUP Tuks
RelativesDan Kriel (twin brother)
Club information
Playing positionUtility back
Current clubBlue Bulls
Youth career
2012Natal Sharks
2013–Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2013UP Tuks0(0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2014–Blue Bulls16(20)
2014–Bulls9(0)
Representative team(s)‡
2012S.A. Schools2(0)
2013–14S.A. Under-209(35)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 18 April 2015.

† Appearances (Points).

‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 6 June 2014.

Jesse André Kriel (born 15 February 1994 in Cape Town) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Blue Bulls.[1] His is a utility back that can play fly-half, centre, winger or full-back.

Career

Youth

As a scholar at Maritzburg College, Kriel was selected in the Natal Sharks squad for the Under–18 Craven Week tournament, where his performance earned him an inclusion in the South African Schools side in 2012.[2] He started in matches against France,[3] and England[4] and was an unused substitute against Wales[5] in the three-match series played in August 2012.

After finishing school, Kriel – along with twin brother Dan – made the move to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls prior to the 2013 season.[6]

Despite not initially being named in the S.A. Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship,[7] a hamstring injury suffered by Sergeal Petersen led to Kriel's inclusion into the squad.[8]

Kriel appeared as a substitute in their first match of the competition and scored two tries in a comprehensive 97–0 victory over the United States.[9] Further substitute appearances followed against England[10] and France.[11] He was an unused substitute in their semi-final match against Wales,[12] before making his first start of the competition in the third-placed play-off match against New Zealand.[13]

For the remainder of 2013, Kriel played more youth rugby for the Blue Bulls, scoring 42 points in ten matches to help the Blue Bulls U19 win the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition[14] and also making three appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side.

He was included in the S.A. Under-20 side for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship,[15] and also named one of two vice-captains for the tournament.[16]

Senior career

In 2014, Kriel was included in the Bulls training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season,[17] but failed to make any matchday squads, instead playing for the Blue Bulls in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition. His first class debut came on 8 March 2014 against Griquas in Pretoria[18] and he scored his first senior try just a week later, in their match against the Pumas.[19]

Personal

Kriel is the twin brother of Dan Kriel.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "SARU Player Profile Jesse Kriel". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "2012 South African Schools season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "South Africa vs France". South African Rugby Union. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "South Africa vs England". South African Rugby Union. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "South Africa vs Wales". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bulls sign top school stars". Sport24. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Steenkamp leads powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "Junior Springboks ready for JWC title defence". South African Rugby Union. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs USA". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs England". South African Rugby Union. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Match Breakdown: France vs South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs Wales". South African Rugby Union. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Match Breakdown: South Africa vs New Zealand". South African Rugby Union. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Vodacom Blue Bulls win Under-19 title". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Pollard to lead Junior Boks at 2014 JWC". South African Rugby Union. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Bulls name training squad". Sport24. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Steval Pumas vs Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Kriel Twins- Jesse & Dan". SA School Sports – The Magazine. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.