AJ Venter

AJ Venter
Birth name Albertus Johannes Venter
Date of birth (1973-07-29) 29 July 1973
Place of birth Zastron, Bethulie, South Africa
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School Technical High School Louis Botha, Bloemfontein
University Technicon Bloemfontein
Rugby union career
Position(s) Versatile Forward
Correct as of 19 April 2007
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008
2000–2008
1999
1997–1998		 W. Province
Sharks (Currie Cup)
Golden Lions
Free State Cheetahs		 2
48
?
?		 (0)
(40)
(?)
(?)
Correct as of 9 September 2006
Correct as of 28 April 2007
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994–2007 South Africa South Africa 25 (0)
Correct as of 19 April 2007
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
– South Africa South Africa 1
Correct as of 19 April 2007
Official website
http://www.ajventer.com

AJ Venter (born 29 July 1973) is a retired South African rugby union footballer, who played rugby for the Sharks in the international Super Rugby competition, and the Sharks in the domestic Currie Cup competition. Venter has also played for the South African national team, the Springboks.

Venter made his debut for South Africa on 26 November 2000 in a Test against Wales in Cardiff, and went on to represent the Springboks 25 times, his usual position was as flanker, but he also played at lock or No 8.

After retiring from professional rugby Venter up-skilled himself within the financial sector and worked with institutions like ABSA and Old Mutual.

International Retirement

AJ Venter was selected for the second-string squad for the away legs of the 2007 Tri Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand as almost 20 first team players were either rested or injured. But he decided to retire from International rugby and hence withdrew from the Springboks touring squad.

His retirement meant that he also missed out on a possible World Cup place with the Springboks, but he cited personal and business commitments in Durban and South Africa as his reasons for the retirement. He however, continued playing for the Sharks until the end of the 2008 Super 14 competition.

He did however later in the year rekindle his passion for the game after a lack of game time including a controversial exclusion from the Sharks semi-final team and with his freshened body he joined the Stormers (Western province) on a short term contract.

Early career

In 2002, Venter, along with Richie McCaw of New Zealand, saved referee David McHugh from injury when a drunk South African fan ran onto the pitch during a 2002 Tri-Nations game between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban. McCaw wrestled the fan off the referee while Venter ran and tackled both McCaw and the fan to the ground before the rest of the players attempted to drag him off as security ran onto the field.

References

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