Jacques Cronjé

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Jacques Cronjé


caption =
birthname =
nickname = Sakkie
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|8|4
placeofbirth = Klerksdorp, South Africa
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.95
weight = 113 kg (17 st 11 lb)
ru_position = Blindside Flanker/Lock/Eighthman
ru_nationalteam = South Africa
ru_nationalyears = 2004-
ru_nationalcaps = 32
ru_nationalpoints = (20)
ru_ntupdate = 14 October 2007
super14 = Bulls
super14years = 2003-
super14caps =
super14points =
super14update =
ru_province = Blue Bulls
ru_provinceyears = 2001-
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
other = yes
school = HTS John Vorster, Pretoria
university =

Jacques Cronjé (born 4 August 1982) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a loose forward for the Springboks and for Biarritz Olympique in the French Top 14. He is the brother of Geo Cronjé, who also played for South Africa.

Born in Klerksdorp in the North West Province, Cronjé made his provincial debut during 2001 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the Bulldogs in the Currie Cup competition. Two years later in 2003 he made his Super 12 (now, Super 14) debut for the Bulls side, against fellow South African team, the Cats.

Cronjé made his international Test match debut for the Springboks on 12 June 2004 in a match against Ireland at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, which South Africa won 31–17, and he scored his first Test try in a subsequent match against the Pacific Islands in a match at Gosford. He was not included in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Springbok squad, despite playing in the final preparation test against Namibia.

Cronjé was the strongest member of the Bulls team, being able to bench press 170 kg (375lbs), and is also noted for his speed and wonderful ball-handling skills. He signed a two-year contract with French club Biarritz Olympique in August 2007 and joined them after the Currie Cup season.

External links

* [http://www.sarugby.co.za/profiles.asp?id=21698&Search=cronje Profile at www.sarugby.co.za]
* [http://www.genslin.us/bokke/SARugby.html Springbok information]