Pierre Spies
Encyclopedia
Pierre Johan Spies is a South African rugby union
player. His usual position is number 8 (but can cover flank or wing), where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14
competition. He has represented the Springboks
since 2006.
He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas. 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.
Although he plays as a loose forward, he has considerable pace, having been timed at 10.7 seconds over 100m. This is especially impressive considering his size (194 cm tall and 111 kg); he has played wing for the Bulls and Springboks when they experienced an injury crisis. Spies is known as one of the best ball carriers in the game – he can step, run around or over a defender.
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
. 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
competition, 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. However, the third opinion confirmed the original diagnosis, and Spies remained off the team. 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.
(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 B.Sc Construction Management at the University of Pretoria
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. His usual position is number 8 (but can cover flank or wing), where he plays for the Vodacom Bulls in the international Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition. He has represented the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
since 2006.
He made his debut for the Blue Bulls in 2005 in a match against the Griquas. 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
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in just six games.
Although he plays as a loose forward, he has considerable pace, having been timed at 10.7 seconds over 100m. This is especially impressive considering his size (194 cm tall and 111 kg); he has played wing for the Bulls and Springboks when they experienced an injury crisis. Spies is known as one of the best ball carriers in the game – he can step, run around or over a defender.
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
2006 Tri Nations Series
-Week 2:-Week 3:-Week 4:* All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup-Week 5:-Week 6:-Week 7:-Week 8:-Week 9:-External links:* * *...
Tri Nations
Rugby Union Tri Nations
The Rugby Championship is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the governing bodies of the Australian Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the South...
. Spies was largely anonymous in that game, however, Springbok coach Jake White
Jake White
Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
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
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition, but has since made his comeback for the Bulls in their 49 – 12 victory over southern rivals the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
.
Spies was believed to be a certainty for Jake White's squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
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. However, the third opinion confirmed the original diagnosis, and Spies remained off the team. He returned to the Springboks' team for the 2008 June internationals against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
.
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 SeunskoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
The Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool also known as Affies, is a public high school for boys situated in the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, opposite Loftus Versfeld, the rugby stadium and home of the Bulls and Blue Bulls.The school's founding on 28 January 1920 marked the establishment of the...
(Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies), a public school located in Pretoria. He attended alongside Springbok teammates Fourie du Preez
Fourie du Preez
Petrus Fourie du Preez is a rugby union player. His position of choice is scrum half. Du Preez plays for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup competition in South Africa and the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition...
and Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier
Wynand Olivier is a South African rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Bulls in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at centre, although he has played on the wing in the past.-Career:...
, Bulls teammates Derick Kuun, Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Jacques-Louis Potgieter is a South African rugby player, he played mostly centre for the Bulls in the Super 14 2010, but is primarily a flyhalf. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls against the Cheetahs in 2007. In 2008 and 2009 he joined the Cheetahs, but was reunited with his Bulls teammates...
, Gerhard van den Heever
Gerhard van den Heever
Gerhard van den Heever is a South African rugby union footballer. In 2010 van den Heever inherited Bryan Habana's number 11 shirt for the Bulls after Habana's departure for the Stormers; van den Heever is said to be even quicker than Habana...
, Stormers lock Adriaan Fondse
Adriaan Fondse
Adriaan Fondse is a South African rugby union footballer playing for Newcastle Falcons.-Education:Fondse attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool , a public school located in Pretoria...
and Titan cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn
Heino Kuhn
Heino Gunther Kuhn is a South African cricketer who plays for the Titans in domestic cricket. A wicketkeeper batsman, he was the second highest run scorer in the 2006-07 SuperSport Series with 776 runs at 48.50...
and Faf du Plessis. After school he completed his first year in B.Sc Construction Management at the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
.
External links
- Pierre Spies on sarugby.com
- Pierre Spies Super 14 Stats
- Pierre Spies Tri-Nations Stats
- Pierre Spies on bluebulls.co.za
- Pierre Spies to debut for the Bulls
- Pierre Spies personal website