Johan Goosen

Johannes Lodewikus Goosen (born 27 July 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player. He plays as a fly-half, full-back or centre for the Bulls and the Blue Bulls, competing in the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup.

Johan Goosen
Full nameJohannes Lodewikus Goosen
Date of birth (1992-07-27) 27 July 1992
Place of birthBurgersdorp, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight89 kg (14 st 0 lb; 196 lb)
SchoolGrey College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Fullback /Outside Centre
Current team Bulls / Blue Bulls
Youth career
2005 Border
2008–2010 Free State Cheetahs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Emerging Cheetahs 1 (0)
2011–2014 Free State Cheetahs 17 (143)
2012–2014 Cheetahs 27 (331)
2014–2016 Racing 92 51 (237)
2018 Cheetahs 3 (10)
2018–2021 Montpellier 35 (53)
2021– Blue Bulls 8 (99)
2021– Bulls 17 (100)
Correct as of 23 July 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 South Africa U20 5 (79)
2012–2016 South Africa 13 (25)
2014 Springbok XV 1 (9)
Correct as of 18 July 2019

Career

Youth

He was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship[1] and was also named in the squad for the 2012 tournament, but had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury sustained on 28 April in a Super Rugby match against the Highlanders.[2] At the time of his injury, Goosen was the leading points scorer in his debut season of super rugby with 145 points from 9 games. The total included 3 tries, 17 conversions, 31 penalties and a drop goal.[3]

International debut

Goosen made his South African debut on 8 September 2012 against Australia in a 26–19 defeat in Perth. He came off the bench as replacement fly half for Morné Steyn in the 59th minute of the game. The following two weekends he was in the starting line-up for the Springboks as fly-half, where he performed well. Unfortunately he suffered a knee injury on 18 March 2013 during a Cheetah training session in Sydney[4] and he also missed the rest of the Springboks' Test matches in 2013.

Departure to France and temporary career-ending

Goosen signed a three-year deal with French Top 14 side Racing 92 for the 2014–15 Top 14 season.[5] In the final of the 2015–16 Top 14 season Goosen scored three penalties as Racing defeated Toulon. Despite later signing a contract extension to remain in Paris until 2020,[6] he later announced his retirement from rugby in December 2016 to take up a role as a commercial director at an agricultural company in South Africa.[7] Goosen has since opened up about believing this decision to have been a mistake.

Return to rugby

Goosen made his return to competitive rugby in April 2018 when he was named in the matchday squad for the Cheetahs' match against Munster in Round 20 of the Pro14 competition.[8]

Goosen then signed for French giants Montpellier back in the Top 14 competition ahead of the 2019–19 season.[9] The club reportedly paid around €1.5 million to buy him out from his Racing contract. He rewarded the faith by helping his team toward winning the European Challenge Cup in 2021, putting in a man-of-the-match performance against Leicester in the final.

On 16 April 2021, Goosen returned to South Africa to sign for the Bulls for the next season.[10]

Style of play

Being able to play at several positions (fly-half, centre and full-back), he can usually be described as a utility back.

Honours

Racing 92

Montpellier

Bulls

URC Gilbert Golden Boot award for 2022/2023 season.

References
  1. "SA Under-20 squad named". Sport24. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  2. "Johan Goosen ruled out of Super Rugby". SuperXV.com. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  3. "Goosen blow for SA Rugby". Sport24. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. "Goosen injures knee ligaments in Australia". ESPN Scrum. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  5. "Goosen au Racing Métro" (in French). BFMTV. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  6. "Johannes Goosen jusqu'en 2020 !" (Press release) (in French). Racing 92. 6 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  7. "Johan Goosen annonce qu'il arrête sa carrière, doit-on y croire ?" (Press release) (in French). Racing 92. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  8. "Guinness PRO14 Round 20 – Johan Goosen makes his Guinness PRO14 debut". Toyota Free State Cheetahs. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  9. "Montpellier owner hints Goosen may come out of retirement". ESPN. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. "Bulls confirm Johan Goosen signing". Planet Rugby. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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