André Joubert
Encyclopedia
André Joubert is a former South African rugby union
player. He was capped 34 times at fullback for the Springboks in the early 1990s, and amassed a total of 115 Test Points from 10 tries, 17 penalties and 7 conversions.
He made his international debut, aged 25, in 1989 against the World XV in a game the Springboks won 20-19. His final appearance in the Green and Gold came in 1997, in a 61-22 demolition of Australia, the Wallabies
in Pretoria
.
held in South Africa
, most notably turning in an outstanding performance in the 15-12 win over the All Blacks
in the final despite playing with a broken hand.
But the Samoan quarterfinal almost proved to be the end of Joubert's World Cup. Western Samoa player George Harder made contact with Joubert's hand and broke it immediately. That same night he went for surgery and had to spend time in a decompression chamber.
in the inaugural Super 12 competition, helping them reach the final against the Auckland Blues. The next year (1996) he was man of the match against the then Transvaal/Gauteng Lions
, in the Currie Cup final as he scored two marvelous tries.
He played his last competitive rugby match in the 1999 Currie Cup
Final for Natal against the Gauteng Lions
, a match which also saw the final appearances of Gary Teichmann
and Ian McIntosh
as captain and coach respectively. It was a sad farewell for three of Natal’s favourite sons as the Lions
lifted the cup with a convincing 32-9 victory.
Apart from playing for the Springboks and Natal Sharks he has also played for the following teams:
He is affectionately known in South Africa as 'The Rolls-Royce of Fullbacks'
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He was capped 34 times at fullback for the Springboks in the early 1990s, and amassed a total of 115 Test Points from 10 tries, 17 penalties and 7 conversions.
He made his international debut, aged 25, in 1989 against the World XV in a game the Springboks won 20-19. His final appearance in the Green and Gold came in 1997, in a 61-22 demolition of Australia, the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
.
1995 Rugby World Cup
Joubert played a major role in the Springboks' success at the 1995 Rugby World Cup1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
held in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, most notably turning in an outstanding performance in the 15-12 win over the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in the final despite playing with a broken hand.
But the Samoan quarterfinal almost proved to be the end of Joubert's World Cup. Western Samoa player George Harder made contact with Joubert's hand and broke it immediately. That same night he went for surgery and had to spend time in a decompression chamber.
National career
Joubert was first choice fullback for the Natal SharksNatal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
in the inaugural Super 12 competition, helping them reach the final against the Auckland Blues. The next year (1996) he was man of the match against the then Transvaal/Gauteng Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
, in the Currie Cup final as he scored two marvelous tries.
He played his last competitive rugby match in the 1999 Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
Final for Natal against the Gauteng Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
, a match which also saw the final appearances of Gary Teichmann
Gary Teichmann
Gary Hamilton Teichmann is a retired Rhodesian/Zimbabwean-born South African rugby union player. He played number eight and was the captain of the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999...
and Ian McIntosh
Ian McIntosh
Ian McIntosh is a Zimbabwean-South African rugby union coach. He served as head coach for the Springboks during the early 1990s.McIntosh grew up near Bulawayo....
as captain and coach respectively. It was a sad farewell for three of Natal’s favourite sons as the Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
lifted the cup with a convincing 32-9 victory.
Other accomplishments
He was twice (1991 and 1994) shortlisted for the South African "Player of the Year" award, eventually winning in 1996.Apart from playing for the Springboks and Natal Sharks he has also played for the following teams:
He is affectionately known in South Africa as 'The Rolls-Royce of Fullbacks'
-
- Free StateFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
- 93 caps - South African BarbariansSouth African BarbariansSouth African Barbarians is an invitational rugby union club formed in 1960 by Frank Mellish, the former 1951-2 Springbok selector and manager together with former Natal chairman, Harry Stacey, styled along the lines of Barbarian F.C...
(1992) - British Barbarians (1992)
- French BarbariansFrench BarbariansThe Barbarian Rugby Club, more commonly known as the French Barbarians , are an invitational rugby union team that is based in France. The team is based on the Barbarians and was founded by Jean-Claude Skrela after he played for and adored the Barbarians in the later days of his career...
- World XV (1992)
- South African SevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
1992-1994
- Free State