Currie Cup players, origins and wanderings

The born, the bred and the roamed

From time to time provinces get angry with each other when players change province, something more likely to be prevalent, some say, in the days of the money game than they were in amateur times. And some say that poaching goes on. And some say that the ambitions of agents play a part.

Still, there goes Martin Johnson - a one-club man. There are players who have been one-province men, those who play where they were born and bred.

Then there are those who have wandered much through the rugby provinces of South Africa. Ferdie Bergh, way back before World War II, played for five provinces - South Western Districts, Western Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Transvaal and Griquas. There were several others who did that as well.

The record though is six, held by St Elmo Wilken and Jeremy Nel. Wilken played for Eastern Province, Free State, Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Griquas and Natal. Nel played for Western Transvaal, Eastern Province, Western Province, Boland Transvaal and Free State.

And that was in the days when rugby was  amateur - or at least subscribed to the amateur principal.

Now the movement and transfer of players is often related to money or the prospect of money. There are after all still players in provinces who have "proper" jobs. Conrad Burke is still required to do accounting to make ends meet and Fabian Brand still delivers the post.

Sometimes the acquiring of a players is motivated by transformation requirements. There are, we are told no quotas, but transformation is in.

Recently in the semi-final between the Cheetahs and Western Province at Newlands the Cheetahs played most of the game with all but one player of the same hue as their jerseys, presumably because transformation was happening somewhere else.

Just for fun and with no serious intent, let's look at the eight teams and see how they measure up in terms of born, bred and transformation. We are going to make it easy. Born will be place of birth, bred place of schooling and transformation those counted as black.

We shall take their teams as they last played and then break them up into five categories.

Blue Bulls

Team: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez,  Anton Leonard (captain),  Pedrie Wannenburg,  Jacques Cronjé,  Victor Matfield,  Bakkies Botha,  Andries Human,  Gary Botha,  Kees Lensing, Danie Coetzee,  Wessel Roux,  Danie Rossouw, Johan Wasserman,  Heini Adams,  Derick Hougaard,  Riaan van der Bergh.

Born & bred: Johan Roets, Fourie du Preez,  Victor Matfield,  Gary Botha

Born, not bred: -

Bred, not born: Wynand Olivier, Jacques Cronjé, 

Neither born nor bred: Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn,  Pedrie Wannenburg,  Anton Leonard, Bakkies Botha,  Andries Human,  Kees Lensing, Danie Coetzee, Wessel Roux, Danie Rossouw,  Johan Wasserman,  Heini Adams,  Derick Hougaard,  Riaan van der Bergh.

Transformation: Akona Ndungane, Bryan Habana, Heini Adams

Boland Cavaliers

Team: Justin Peach, Rayno Benjamin, Piet van Zyl, Kobus Meintjies, Renfred Dazel, Antonius Verhoeven, Charl Blom,  François Prinsloo,  Kobus le Roux,  Henley du Plessis,  Henk Eksteen,  David de Villiers,  Tommy Dixon,  Conrad Burke (captain),  Jaco Engels, Gustav Rademeyer,  Fabian Brandt,  Chris Potgieter, Angelo Brinkhuys,  Neil Papier,  Enrico Swartz,  Solly Goosen

Born & bred:  Rayno Benjamin, Kobus Meintjies, Renfred Dazel, Antonius Verhoeven, Henley du Plessis, Fabian Brandt,  Angelo Brinkhuys,  Neil Papier,  Solly Goosen

Born, not bred: Piet van Zyl, Conrad Burke

Bred, not born: -

Neither born nor bred: Justin Peach, Charl Blom,  François Prinsloo,  Kobus le Roux,  Henk Eksteen, David de Villiers,  Tommy Dixon,  Jaco Engels, Gustav Rademeyer, Chris Potgieter, Enrico Swartz, 

Transformation: Rayno Benjamin, Renfred Dazel,  Henley du Plessis, Fabian Brandt,   Angelo Brinkhuys,  Neil Papier,  Enrico Swartz,

Cheetahs

Team: Bevin Fortuin, Phillip Burger, Chris Kruger, Barry Goodes, Sinethemba Zweni, Willem de Waal, Michael Claassens,  Ryno van der Merwe,  Juan Smith,  Hendro Scholtz,  Barend Pieterse,  Boela du Plooy,  Jannie du Plessis,  Naka Drotské (captain),  Wian du Preez, Ollie le Roux,  CJ van der Linde,  Corniel van Zyl, Kabamba Floors,  Falie Oelschig,  Meyer Bosman,  Alwyn Hollenbach

Born & bred:  Phillip Burger, Michael Claassens,  Juan Smith,   Barend Pieterse,   Jannie du Plessis,  Wian du Preez, Falie Oelschig

Born, not bred: -

Bred, not born: Naka Drotské,  Barry Goodes, CJ van der Linde,  Ollie le Roux,  Alwyn Hollenbach

Neither born nor bred:  Bevin Fortuin, Chris Kruger, Willem de Waal, Sinethemba Zweni, Ryno van der Merwe,  Hendro Scholtz, Boela du Plooy, Corniel van Zyl, Kabamba Floors, Meyer Bosman

Transformation: Bevin Fortuin,  Sinethemba Zweni, Kabamba Floors

Griquas

Team: MJ Mentz, Vuyani Dlomo, Dries Scholtz, Lafras Uys, Jose van Rensburg, Ederich Prinsloo, Neil Powell,  Frans Viljoen,  Gareth Krause,  Jacques Burger,  Evan Botha,  Windpomp van Rooyen,  Attie Winter,  Willie Wepener,  Jane du Toit (captain)., Hedley Wessels,  Cerneels Rautenbach,  Jannie Bornman, Kobus Grobbelaar,  Johannes Rooifontein,  Quinton van Tonder,  Brendell Brandt.

Born & bred: Dries Scholtz,  Hedley Wessels,  Kobus Grobbelaar

Born, not bred: -

Bred, not born: -

Neither born nor bred: MJ Mentz, Vuyani Dlomo, Jose van Rensburg, Ederich Prinsloo,  Lafras Uys, Neil Powell,  Frans Viljoen,  Gareth Krause, Jacques Burger,  Windpomp van Rooyen,  Attie Winter,  Willie Wepener,  Jane du Toit,  Evan Botha,  Cerneels Rautenbach,  Jannie Bornman,Johannes Rooifontein,  Quinton van Tonder,  Brendell Brandt.

Transformtion: Vuyani Dlomo,  Johannes Rooifontein,  Brendell Brandt.

Leopards

Team: Anvor Schooney, Bertus Swanepoel, Deon van Rensburg, Jaco Bekker, Jaco Hanekom, Naas Olivier, Frans Conradie,  Jonathan Mokuena,  Andre Swanepoel, Franco van der Merwe,   Retief Uys,  Werner Lessing (captain),  Bees Roux,  Nik Superina,  Gunder Williamson, Ronnie Uys,  Frank Redelinghuys,  Naudé Beukes, Nelis Nel,  Jean Tiedt,  Pieter Jordaan,  Thulani Njembe.

Born & bred:  Deon van Rensburg, Naas Olivier, Frans Conradie,   Frank Redelinghuys,  Nelis Nel

Born, not bred: -

Bred, not born: -

Neither born nor bred: Anvor Schooney, Bertus Swanepoel, Jaco Bekker, Jonathan Mokuena, Andre Swanepoel,  Retief Uys,  Franco van der Merwe, Werner Lessing, Bees Roux, Gunder Williamson, Ronnie Uys,  Naudé Beukes, Jean Tiedt,  Jaco Hanekom, Pieter Jordaan,  Nik Superina,  Thulani Nyembe

Transformtion:  Anvor Schooney, Jonathan Mokuena,  Thulani Nyembe.

Lions

Team: Conrad Jantjes, Wylie Human, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Jorrie Muller, André Pretorius, Nicholas Eyre,  Cobus Grobbelaar,  Wikus van Heerden (captain),  Gerhard Vosloo,  Willem Stoltz,  Trevor Hall,  Marius Hurter,  Lukas van Biljon,  Pietman van Niekerk, Schalk Brits,  Lawrence Sephaka,  KleinJan Tromp, Ernst Joubert,  Jano Vermaak,  Nel Fourie,  Grant Esterhuizen

Born & bred: Jaque Fourie, André Pretorius, Cobus Grobbelaar,  Willem Stoltz, 

Born, not bred: Trevor Hall,  Lawrence Sephaka, 

Bred, not born: Jorrie Muller,

Neither born nor bred: Conrad Jantjes, Wylie Human, Wayne Julies, Nicholas Eyre,  Wikus van Heerden,  Gerhard Vosloo,  Schalk Brits,  Lukas van Biljon,  Marius Hurter,   Pietman van Niekerk, KleinJan Tromp, Nel Fourie,  Ernst Joubert, Jano Vermaak,  Grant Esterhuizen

Transformtion: Conrad Jantjes, Wylie Human, Wayne Julies, Lawrence Sephaka

Sharks

Team: Brent Russell, Cedric Mkhize,  Adrian Jacobs, Grant Rees, Henno Mentz, Ruan Pienaar, Craig Davidson,  Jacques Botes,  Nico Breedt,  Solly Tyibilika,  Johann Muller (captain),  Steven Sykes,  BJ Botha,  Louwtjie Louw,  Deon Carstens, Brent Moyle,  Danie Saayman,  Werner Cronjé, Bertus Mulder,  Sandile Nxumalo,  Gcobani Bobo,  Odwa Ndungane

Born & bred: Cedric Mkhize,  Grant Rees, Craig Davidson,  BJ Botha,   Sandile Nxumalo, 

Born, not bred: Danie Saayman,

Bred, not born: Nico Breedt,  

Neither born nor bred: Brent Russell, Adrian Jacobs,Ruan Pienaar, Henno Mentz, Jacques Botes, Solly Tyibilika,  Johann Muller, Deon Carstens, Brent Moyle, Bertus Mulder, Steven Sykes, Louwtjie Louw,   Werner Cronjé,  Gcobani Bobo,  Odwa Ndungane

Transformtion: Cedric Mkhize,  Adrian Jacobs, Solly Tyibilika,  Sandile Nxumalo,  Gcobani Bobo,  Odwa Ndungane

Western Province

Team: Earl Rose, Egon Seconds, Jean de Villiers, De Wet Barry, Zhahier Ryland, Peter Grant, Neil de Kock,  Joe van Niekerk,  Hendrik Gerber,  Schalk Burger,  Gerrie Britz,  Ross Skeate,  Pat Barnard,  Hanyani Shimange,  Eddie Andrews, Huia Edmonds,  JD Moller,  Rob Linde, Adri Badenhorst,  Bolla Conradie,  Werner Greeff,  Gus Theron

Born & bred:  Earl Rose, Egon Seconds, Jean de Villiers, Zhahier Ryland, Neil de Kock, Schalk Burger,   Eddie Andrews,  Bolla Conradie,  Werner Greeff

Born, not bred: Gus Theron

Bred, not born: De Wet Barry, Ross Skeate,  JD Moller,  Hanyani Shimange

Neither born nor bred: Peter Grant, Joe van Niekerk,    Hendrik Gerber,  Gerrie Britz,  Pat Barnard,  Huia Edmonds, Rob Linde, Adri Badenhorst

Transformtion: Earl Rose, Egon Seconds,  Zhahier Ryland,  Hanyani Shimange,  Eddie Andrews, Bolla Conradie