Pierre Spies

Pierre Spies
Full name Pierre Johan Spies
Date of birth 8 June 1985
Place of birth Pretoria, South Africa
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 111 kg (245 lb; 17 st 7 lb)
School Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
University University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Number 8
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2005– Blue Bulls 17 (20)
correct as of 20 May 2012.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2005– Bulls 112 (135)
correct as of 19 April 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2006– South Africa 53 (35)
correct as of 23 June 2013.

Pierre Johan Spies (born 8 June 1985) is a South African rugby union player. His usual position is number 8 (but can also cover flank), where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super Rugby competition. He has represented the Springboks since 2006.

Biography

Born 8 June 1985 in Pretoria, South Africa, Spies made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas.[1] Spies made his Super 12 debut against the Brumbies, becoming the youngest player ever to represent the Bulls. After being injured in his first ever Super 12 match, he made his comeback through the national under-21 league, where he scored nine tries in just six games.

As of 2009, he could power clean 135kg, dead lifts 240 kg, bench press165 kg, and do pull-ups with a 50 kg weight between his legs. He could jump 1.4m onto a raised platform and had a body-fat percentage of 6.5.[2]

Career

After starring for the U21 Springbok side that played in the U21 Rugby World Cup France last year, Spies made his debut in the Springbok's 49 – 0 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the 2006 Tri Nations Series. Spies was largely anonymous in that game, however, Springbok coach Jake White picked him again for the home-leg of the tournament. There, Spies turned in two "Man-of-the-Match" performances, most notably in the win over the All Blacks in Rustenburg, and in the victory over Australia in Durban.

He was widely praised for these performances against world-class opposition, but unfortunately was injured in a dismal Springbok showing against Ireland on the end of year tour. This injury ruled him out for the rest of the tour, as well as much of the 2007 Super 14 season, but has since made his comeback for the Bulls in their 49 – 12 victory over southern rivals the Stormers.

Spies was believed to be a certainty for Jake White's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup to be played in France in September, and his selection was confirmed on 21 July. However, nine days later, he was forced to withdraw from the World Cup squad after blood clots were found in his lungs. After a check up with another health expert, it was stated that Spies could return to the World Cup squad if a third opinion was positive.[3] However, the third opinion confirmed the original diagnosis, and Spies remained off the team.[4] He returned to the Springboks' team for the 2008 June internationals against Wales.

While being in treatment and under the eye of the team's physicians, Spies kept on training and as soon as he received the green light, he returned to competitive rugby . That year he was nominated SA Currie Cup Player of the Year, SA Player of the Year, International Player of the Year and got the award for SA's most Promising Player of the Year, as well as Sportsman of the Year.

He married Juanne Weidemann, in December 2008.

In 2009, he played well in the Super 14 and was selected for the Springboks to play against the British & Irish Lions. He was also selected for the end of the year tour, but injured his finger and was ruled out.

Education

Spies attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria. He attended alongside Springbok teammates Fourie du Preez and Wynand Olivier, Bulls teammates Derick Kuun, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Gerhard van den Heever, Stormers lock Adriaan Fondse and Titan cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn and Faf du Plessis. After school he completed his first year in BSc Construction Management at the University of Pretoria.[5]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Who's Who of Southern Africa". 24.com. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  2. ↑ "Spies's cognitive evolution". Keo. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "Springbok Spies to miss World Cup". BBC Sport. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Statement on Pierre Spies". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  5. ↑ http://www.pierrespies.co.za/bio.html Pierre Spies Retrieved 25 June 2011

External links