François Steyn

Francois Steyn

Full name	Francois Philippus Lodewyk Steyn
Date of birth	14 May 1987 (1987-05-14)
Place of birth	Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb)
School	Grey College
Occupation(s)	Professional Rugby Union Player
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fullback Centre Wing Fly-half
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2009 –	Racing Metro	16	(47)
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006–2009	Natal Sharks	18	(70)
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2007–2009	Sharks	38	(78)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2007–	South Africa	47	(121)

Francois Steyn (born 14 May 1987) is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He is renowned for his long distance kicking ability.

Francois Steyn in the Springbok change kit, after a pre-match warmup at Murrayfield, 2008

Player History

After playing only ten matches for the Natal Sharks in the 2006 Currie Cup Premier Division (at fly-half), Steyn was, at 19 years old, selected to represent South Africa in the Northern Hemisphere touring squad by national coach Jake White. He debuted at wing against Ireland, he scored a try on his debut. In his next international match he was moved to fullback against England, scoring a long range drop-goal, from his own half. Steyn has shown to possess superb goal kicking qualities as well.

In his debut season of Super 14 rugby, Frans Steyn was selected on the right wing, however, was moved to fullback when Percy Montgomery was injured. He played as the last line of defence until Percy Montgomery returned for the game against the Blues in Round 11, and was moved to fly-half for this game.

He kicked two drop goals in the 2007 Tri Nations opener against Australia at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, to win the game for the Springboks. One of these, a 42 metre effort from a fielded clearance kick next to the sideline, and another three minutes from time next to the posts about 30 metres out.

In South Africa's first game at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, their star centre Jean de Villiers got injured. Steyn replaced him, playing only his second game at professional level at inside centre, but he made a break on first touch of the ball and his inclusion sparked the Springboks to a 37–0 second half demolition of Samoa.

On 24 September 2007 Steyn was cited to appear before a disciplinary hearing for allegedly biting Tongan winger Joseph Vaka during the Springboks v. Tonga 2007 Rugby World Cup game on 22 September. (Match report). Both players were sent to the sinbin in the 60th minute for an off-the-ball incident. He was subsequently cleared of the charge, due to insufficient evidence and Vaka conceding that the apparent "bite mark" could have been received during normal play.

Steyn was the starting inside centre for the Springboks in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final, he made a fantastic break that resulted in a penalty for the Boks and also converted one himself later on in the game. He is therefore the youngest player to win a Rugby World Cup.

Steyn training with Racing-Metro

In April 2009, Steyn signed a two-year contract with French Top 14 club Racing Métro 92 for an estimated €750,000 per season.

In the Springboks' final match of the 2009 Tri Nations against New Zealand, his last match with the Boks before his departure for France, he converted three penalties from within his own half of the field; he is believed to be the first player ever to do so in a Test match.

External links

• Francois Steyn at SARugby.co.za
• itsrugby.co.uk Super 14 stats