Jesse Kriel

Jesse André Kriel (born 15 February 1994) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League.[5] His regular playing position is as a utility back but can also play centre, wing or fullback. Kriel was part of the national team who won the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Jesse Kriel
Kriel playing in 2017
Full nameJesse André Kriel
Date of birth (1994-02-15) 15 February 1994
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
SchoolMaritzburg College
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Notable relative(s)Dan Kriel (twin brother)
Matthew Kriel (brother)
John Hodgson (great-grandfather)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back
Current team Canon Eagles
Youth career
2012 Sharks
2013–2015 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 UP Tuks 0 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2018 Blue Bulls 17 (25)
2014–2019 Bulls 70 (95)
2015–2016 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 9 (20)
2020– Canon Eagles 26 (50)
Correct as of 10 July 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 South Africa Schools 2 (0)
2013–2014 South Africa Under-20 9 (35)
2015 Springboks [lower-alpha 1] 1 (0)
2015–present South Africa 63 (70)
2016 Springbok XV [lower-alpha 1] 1 (0)
Correct as of 22 November 2022

Career

Youth

As a scholar at Maritzburg College, Kriel was selected in the Sharks squad for the Under–18 Craven Week tournament, where his performance earned him an inclusion in the South African Schools side in 2012.[6] He started in matches against France,[7] and England[8] and was an unused substitute against Wales[9] in the three-match series played in August 2012.

After finishing school, Kriel – along with twin brother Dan – made the move to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls prior to the 2013 season.[10]

Despite not initially being named in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship,[11] a hamstring injury suffered by Sergeal Petersen led to Kriel's inclusion into the squad.[12]

Kriel appeared as a substitute in their first match of the competition and scored two tries in a comprehensive 97–0 victory over the United States.[13] Further substitute appearances followed against England[14] and France.[15] He was an unused substitute in their semi-final match against Wales,[16] before making his first start of the competition in the third-placed play-off match against New Zealand.

For the remainder of 2013, Kriel played more youth rugby for the Blue Bulls, scoring 42 points in ten matches to help the Blue Bulls U19 win the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition[17] and also making three appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side.

Kriel was included in the South Africa Under-20 side for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship,[18] and also named one of two vice-captains for the tournament.[19]

Senior career

In 2014, Kriel was included in the Bulls training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season,[20] but failed to make any matchday squads, instead playing for the Blue Bulls in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition. His first class debut came on 8 March 2014 against Griquas in Pretoria[21] and he scored his first senior try just a week later, in their match against the Pumas.[22]

In June 2015, he extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2018,[23] which was extended even more until October 2019 just two months later following Kriel's call-up to the South Africa squad.[24]

South Africa
Kriel scoring a try for South Africa during the 2015 Rugby World Cup

In June 2015, Kriel was named in an extended South Africa squad prior to the 2015 Rugby Championship.[25] He started for South Africa in a warm-up match against a World XV, helping them to a 46–10 win.[26] He was named in the squad for their opening Rugby Championship match against Australia[27] and was named as the starting centre for the match to become Springbok Number 867.[28] Not only was this match Kriel's test debut, but he also scored his first test try in the 44th minute of the match. However, he ended the match on the losing side, with a late Tevita Kuridrani try securing a 24–20 victory for Australia.[29]

Kriel was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[30] However he had to withdraw through injury in the pool stage and was replaced by Damian Willemse.[31] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.[32]

Personal

Kriel is the twin brother of Dan Kriel,[33] both being professional South African rugby players and the great-grandson of John Hodgson (1909-1970), who played 15 games for the British and Irish Lions in the 1930s.[34]

Notes
  1. In addition to playing in test matches, Kriel featured in a match against a World XV in Cape Town in July 2015.[1] This match has an equivalent status to international tour matches, but was played on home soil.[2] He also played for a Springbok XV that played against the Barbarians in London in November 2016. While this match was a first class match recognised by World Rugby,[3] the South African Rugby Union did not award this match tour match status and no caps were awarded to players that appeared in this match.[4]

References
  1. South African Rugby Annual 2016. South African Rugby Union. 2016. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8.
  2. South African Rugby Annual 2018. South African Rugby Union. 2018. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-620-78461-0.
  3. "2016 South Africa Tour (ENG/ITA/WAL), Match 1". World Rugby. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. South African Rugby Annual 2017. South African Rugby Union. 2017. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-0-620-74427-0.
  5. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jesse Kriel". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Squad – South Africa : 2012 SA Schools 2012". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17–7 France". South African Rugby Union. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 36–29 England". South African Rugby Union. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 24–16 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. "Bulls sign top school stars". Sport24. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  11. "Steenkamp leads powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  12. "Junior Springboks ready for JWC title defence". South African Rugby Union. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 97–0 USA". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 31–24 England". South African Rugby Union. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – France 19–26 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17–18 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  17. "Vodacom Blue Bulls win Under-19 title". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  18. "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  19. "Pollard to lead Junior Boks at 2014 JWC". South African Rugby Union. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  20. "Bulls name training squad". Sport24. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  21. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 24–26 GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  22. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Steval Pumas 22–20 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  23. "Vodacom Blue Bulls name Absa Currie Cup squad" (Press release). Bulls. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  24. "Established Springboks to continue careers with Blue Bulls" (Press release). Bulls. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  25. "Eight uncapped players in extended Springbok squad". South African Rugby Union. 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  26. "Willie Le Roux hattrick secures easy Springbok win over World XV". ESPN. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  27. "Springbok squad for Brisbane confirmed". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  28. "Burger back in Springbok starting line-up". South African Rugby Union. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  29. "Wallabies stun Boks at the death". SANZAR. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  30. "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  31. "Damian Willemse called up to replace Jesse Kriel in Springbok squad". thesouthafrican.com. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  32. "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  33. "The Kriel Twins- Jesse & Dan". SA School Sports – The Magazine. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  34. "Bok centre reveals his great-grandfather was a British Lion". news24.com. sport24. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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