Francois Venter

Francois Venter
Full nameJacobus Francois Venter
Date of birth (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthBloemfontein, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
SchoolGrey College, Bloemfontein
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Inside-Centre
Current team Sharks / Sharks (Currie Cup)
Youth career
2007–2009 Free State Cheetahs
2010–2012 Blue Bulls
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2013 Blue Bulls 43 (60)
2012–2013 Bulls 11 (0)
2014–2018 Cheetahs 60 (85)
2014–2018 Free State Cheetahs 29 (55)
2018–2022 Worcester Warriors 77 (40)
2022– Sharks 33 (5)
2023– Sharks (Currie Cup) 3 (5)
Correct as of 18 December 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 South Africa Under-18 Elite Squad
2008 South Africa Schools
2010–2011 South Africa Under-20 10 (35)
2015 Barbarians 2 (0)
2016–2017 South Africa 'A' 4 (5)
2016 Springbok XV 1 (5)
2016–2017 South Africa 7 (5)
Correct as of 22 April 2018

Jacobus Francois Venter (born 19 April 1991) is a South African rugby union player. He usually plays as an inside-centre.

He previously played for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup.

Club career

In July 2013, it was announced that he would join the Cheetahs prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season on a two-year deal.[1] He was subsequently included in the Cheetahs squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[2] and made his Cheetahs debut in a 21–20 defeat to the Lions in Bloemfontein.[3][4]

In March 2018, it was announced that Venter would join English Premiership side Worcester Warriors on a two-year contract from the 2018–19 season.[5] On 5 October 2022 all Worcester players had their contacts terminated due to the liquidation of the company to which they were contracted.[6]

Venter signed for the Sharks following Worcester’s liquidation.[7]

International career

He was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2010 and 2011 IRB Junior World Championships.[8][9]

In 2016, Venter was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[10] He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,[11] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[12] He also started the second match of the series, scoring a try five minutes into the second half of a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Bul-ster word Cheetah". Beeld (in Afrikaans). 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Toyota Cheetahs kondig groep aan vir 2014 Vodacom SupeRugby seisoen" (Press release) (in Afrikaans). Cheetahs. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 20–21 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Francois Venter: Worcester Warriors sign South Africa centre on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling | Worcester | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Sharks give Francois Venter a lifeline after Worcester Warriors' liquidation". IOL Sport. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. ^ "South Africa name squad for JWC 2010". International Rugby Board. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  9. ^ "SA Under-20 squad named". Sport24. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  13. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26–29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.