Elton Jantjies

Elton Thomas Jantjies (born 1 August 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team, the Lions in Super Rugby and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.

Elton Jantjies
Full nameElton Thomas Jantjies
Date of birth (1990-08-01) 1 August 1990
Place of birthGraaff Reinet, South Africa
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb; 194 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Florida
Notable relative(s)Tony Jantjies (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-Half
Current team Lions / Golden Lions
Youth career
2006–2009 Golden Lions
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2014 Golden Lions XV 3 (12)
2010– Golden Lions 51 (538)
2011–present Lions 131 (1,183)
2013 → Stormers 13 (11)
2014–2018 NTT Shining Arcs 35 (224)
Correct as of 24 January 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 South Africa Under-20 5 (12)
2012–present South Africa (test) 37 (281)
2012 South Africa (tour) 1 (5)
Correct as of 21 October 2019

Jantjies made his professional debut with the Lions (Super Rugby) during the 2011 Super Rugby season, and his International debut with the Springboks during the inaugural Rugby Championship. He has received several significant sporting awards, including the SARU Young Player of the Year award (2010), and the SA U20 Player of the Year award (2010).

In June 2014 it was reported that Jantjies had signed a contract with Japanese side NTT Communications Shining Arcs who play in the Top League. This move meant that he would be ruled out for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.

Domestic career

Golden Lions: 2011–14

Jantjies gained a reputation as being a clutch performer after he successfully converted every goal attempt in the 2011 Currie Cup final, a game in which the Golden Lions defeated the Sharks 42-16. This performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

Super Rugby: 2011–present

Jantjies made his Super Rugby debut in 2011 for the Lions. He joined the Stormers for the 2013 season on a loan deal after the Lions were relegated from the South African conference. His stint with the Stormers was largely unsuccessful compared to the previous season with the Lions where he had an 86% goal-kicking success rate.[1] He returned to the Lions who had won promotion back to the Super Rugby competition.

Jantjies reached the finals with the Lions in both 2016 where the Lions lost to the Hurricanes in Wellington and 2017 where they lost to the Crusaders at their home crowd in Johannesburg, playing a huge part in getting them there. Jantjies was also the highest points scorer in the competition in 2017, scoring 203 points that season.

International career

Jantjies made his international rugby test debut for the South Africa national rugby union team during the inaugural Rugby Championship against Australia on 29 September 2012, at Loftus Versfeld, however his debut for the Springboks came in a non-test, uncapped game against the Barbarians in the 2010 end of year tests.

Jantjies was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[2] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.[3]

Personal life

He is the older brother of fly-half Tony Jantjies.[4] Weeks before he joined the Stormers, his father Thomas Jantjies died in hospital after being stung by a bee.[5] In previous interviews, Jantjies had described his father as his mentor, and also his kicking coach.[6]

References
  1. "Elton Jantjies fights back". SA Rugby Mag. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  2. "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  3. "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  4. "Jantjies at pivot for Baby Boks". Sport24. Media24. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. "Bee sting kills Elton's dad - report". IOL.co.za. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  6. "Team comes first for Jantjies". IOL.co.za. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
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