Jean de Villiers

Rugger
name = Jean de Villiers


caption =
birthname = Jean de Villiers
nickname = Bukio
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|2|24
placeofbirth = Paarl, South Africa
height = height|m=1.90
weight = convert|103|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Centre, wing
ru_clubyears =
ru_clubupdate =
ru_proclubs =
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_currentclub =
super14 = Stormers
super14years =2005-present
super14caps = 91
super14points = (115)
super14currentclub =
super14update =9 September 2006
ru_province = Western Province
ru_provinceyears = 2001-present
ru_provincecaps = 33
ru_provincepoints = (105)
ru_provinceupdate = 27 Sept 2006
ru_nationalyears = 2002-present
ru_nationalteam = South Africa
ru_nationalcaps = 33
ru_nationalpoints = (225)
ru_ntupdate = 27 Sept 2006
other = yes
spouse = Jasmine Byrne
children = 3
relatives =Jacque de Villiers
school = Paarl Gymnasium
university = Stellenbosch University: "This article is about the rugby player. For the medieval commander, see Jean de Villiers (Grand Master)"Jean de Villiers (born birth date|1981|2|24 in Paarl) is a South African rugby union footballer. He started his career at wing, but now primarily plays centre. De Villiers plays domestically for Western Province, Super 14 for the Stormers, and internationally for the Springboks.

A product of Paarl Gimnasium, the nursery of many a future Springbok (among them past Boks teammate Marius Joubert and current Boks back-row star Schalk Burger), de Villiers made his first impact at international level in the South African Sevens team, playing a major role in teams that finished second in the 2001-02 World Sevens Series and third in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Also in 2002, he made his first international impact in the 15-man game at the U-21 Rugby World Cup, scoring four tries in the tournament for the victorious Junior Springboks.

He made his first senior-level appearance for the Springboks in November 2002 against France, but suffered a major knee injury five minutes into the game. After regaining fitness, he became an important player in the Boks' 2004 renaissance, which saw them earn an unexpected victory in the Tri Nations Series that year. Both he and his former Paarl teammate Joubert earned a share of the try-scoring lead in the 2004 Tri Nations, with three apiece.

As of November 2005, de Villiers has scored 11 tries in 18 international appearances.

He is captain of his club the Stormers.

He captained the Springboks against the World XV at Ellis Park on 11th June 2006.

He is notable for his precision timing resulting in interceptions leading to many tries

He is married to former actress Jasmine Byrne

References

External links

* [http://www.thestormers.com/profiles.asp?id=58 Stormers profile]
*Springboks|id=21181|name=Jean de Villiers

.