Jaque Fourie
Full names: Jaque
Date of birth: 4 Mar 1983
Place of birth: Carletonville
School: Monument
Springbok no: 752
Debut test province: Lions
Physical: 1.89m, 96kg
Current age: 41

Test summary: Tests: 72 Tries: 32
First Test: 11 Oct 2003 Age:20 Outside Centre against Uruguay at Subiaco Oval, Perth
Last Test: 23 Nov 2013 Age:30 Outside Centre against France at Stade de France, Paris
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
11 Oct 200320Outside CentreUruguayWin: 72-61 trySubiaco Oval, PerthLions
24 Oct 200320Outside CentreGeorgiaWin: 46-191 trySydney Football Stadium (Aussie stadium), SydneyLions
01 Nov 200320ReserveSamoaWin: 60-101 trySuncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneLions
08 Nov 200320ReserveNew ZealandLose: 9-29 Colonial Stadium (Telstra Dome), MelbourneLions
19 Jun 200421Left WingIrelandWin: 26-171 tryNewlands, Cape TownLions
20 Nov 200421ReserveEnglandLose: 16-32 Twickenham, LondonLions
27 Nov 200421Right WingScotlandWin: 45-101 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghLions
04 Dec 200421Right WingArgentinaWin: 39-7 Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos AiresLions
11 Jun 200522ReserveUruguayWin: 134-31 tryBasil Kenyon Stadium, East LondonLions
25 Jun 200522ReserveFranceWin: 27-13 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethLions
09 Jul 200522ReserveAustraliaLose: 12-30 Stadium Australia, SydneyLions
23 Jul 200522Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 33-201 tryEllispark, JohannesburgLions
30 Jul 200522Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 22-16 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaLions
06 Aug 200522Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 22-16 Newlands, Cape TownLions
20 Aug 200522Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 22-19 Subiaco Oval, PerthLions
27 Aug 200522Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 27-311 tryCarisbrook, DunedinLions
05 Nov 200522Outside CentreArgentinaWin: 34-231 tryVelez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos AiresLions
19 Nov 200522Outside CentreWalesWin: 33-16 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffLions
26 Nov 200522Outside CentreFranceLose: 20-261 tryStade de France, ParisLions
10 Jun 200623Outside CentreScotlandWin: 36-16 Kingspark, DurbanLions
15 Jul 200623Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 0-49 Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneLions
22 Jul 200623Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 17-35 WestPac Stadium, WellingtonLions
05 Aug 200623Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 18-201 tryStadium Australia, SydneyLions
26 Aug 200623Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 26-452 triesLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaLions
02 Sep 200623Full BackNew ZealandWin: 21-20 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, RustenburgLions
09 Sep 200623Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 24-16 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
09 Jun 200724ReserveSamoaWin: 35-8 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
16 Jun 200724Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 22-191 tryNewlands, Cape TownLions
23 Jun 200724Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 21-26 Kingspark, DurbanLions
15 Aug 200724Outside CentreNamibiaWin: 105-131 tryNewlands, Cape TownLions
25 Aug 200724Outside CentreScotlandWin: 27-31 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghLions
09 Sep 200724Outside CentreSamoaWin: 59-71 tryParc des Princes, ParisLions
14 Sep 200724Outside CentreEnglandWin: 36-0 Stade de France, ParisLions
30 Sep 200724Outside CentreUSAWin: 64-152 triesStade de la Mosson, MontpellierLions
07 Oct 200724Outside CentreFijiWin: 37-201 tryStade Velodrome, MarseillesLions
14 Oct 200724Outside CentreArgentinaWin: 37-13 Stade de France, ParisLions
20 Oct 200724Outside CentreEnglandWin: 15-6 Stade de France, ParisLions
24 Nov 200724Outside CentreWalesWin: 34-122 triesMillenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffLions
09 Aug 200825ReserveArgentinaWin: 63-9 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
08 Nov 200825ReserveWalesWin: 20-15 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffLions
15 Nov 200825ReserveScotlandWin: 14-101 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghLions
22 Nov 200825ReserveEnglandWin: 42-61 tryTwickenham, LondonLions
20 Jun 200926ReserveBritainWin: 26-21 Kingspark, DurbanLions
27 Jun 200926ReserveBritainWin: 28-251 tryLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaLions
04 Jul 200926Outside CentreBritainLose: 9-28 Ellispark, JohannesburgLions
25 Jul 200926Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 28-191 tryFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinLions
01 Aug 200926Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 31-19 Kingspark, DurbanLions
08 Aug 200926Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 29-17 Newlands, Cape TownLions
29 Aug 200926Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 32-251 trySubiaco Oval, PerthLions
05 Sep 200926Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 6-21 Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneLions
12 Sep 200926Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 32-29 Waikato Stadium, HamiltonLions
13 Nov 200926Outside CentreFranceLose: 13-20 Stade Municipal, ToulouseLions
21 Nov 200926Outside CentreItalyWin: 32-101 tryStadio Friuli, UdineLions
28 Nov 200926Outside CentreIrelandLose: 10-15 Croke Park, DublinLions
05 Jun 201027Outside CentreWalesWin: 34-31 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffWP
12 Jun 201027Outside CentreFranceWin: 42-17 Newlands, Cape TownWP
26 Jun 201027Outside CentreItalyWin: 55-11 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East LondonWP
10 Jul 201027Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 12-32 Eden Park, AucklandWP
17 Jul 201027Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 17-31 WestPac Stadium, WellingtonWP
24 Jul 201027Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 13-301 trySuncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneWP
28 Aug 201027Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 44-31 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaWP
04 Sep 201027Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 39-411 tryFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
13 Aug 201128Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 9-14 Kingspark, DurbanWP
20 Aug 201128Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 18-5 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port ElizabethWP
11 Sep 201128Outside CentreWalesWin: 17-16 WestPac Stadium, WellingtonWP
17 Sep 201128Outside CentreFijiWin: 49-31 tryWestPac Stadium, WellingtonWP
22 Sep 201128Outside CentreNamibiaWin: 87-01 tryNorth Harbour Stadium, North Shore CityWP
30 Sep 201128Outside CentreSamoaWin: 13-5 North Harbour Stadium, North Shore CityWP
09 Oct 201128Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 9-11 WestPac Stadium, WellingtonWP
09 Nov 201330Outside CentreWalesWin: 24-15 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffKobe Steel
17 Nov 201330Outside CentreScotlandWin: 28-0 Murrayfield, EdinburghKobe Steel
23 Nov 201330Outside CentreFranceWin: 19-10 Stade de France, ParisKobe Steel

Jaque Fourie : André Bester

Jaque Fourie was born on 4 March, 1983 in Carletonville, a town in the North West, and was regarded as one of the finest centres of his generation. A powerful presence in the midfield, Fourie was always a threat on the gainline, but he was also blessed with plenty of pace and an exceptional rugby brain. For a decade, he terrorised defences and ended his international career in 2013 having picked up 72 caps.

Fourie was an impressive athlete and it was no surprise that he made an immediate impact on the sport after making his Lions debut in 2003. Despite being just 20, an ailing South African team were in dire need of some inspiration and the centre received a call-up for the World Cup squad. The youngster was a consistent presence in the team, making a try-scoring debut against Uruguay, and would feature three more times in that competition, including in the quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.

The midfield maestro had already made his mark in the famous green jersey but he wouldn’t become a mainstay in the 13 channel until 2005 as he began to form a dynamic partnership with the legendary Jean de Villiers. Those two would be crucial leading into the ’07 World Cup, but an injury to De Villiers meant the up-and-coming Frans Steyn had to step into the breach. He did it with aplomb as the new combination thrived. Fourie, in particular, was one of their star performers as they claimed their second global title, and their first since 1995.

Over the next two years, the talented runner would take a bit more of a back seat on the international front as South African politics reared its ugly head, but Fourie made a huge impact off the bench against the British and Irish Lions. Following a 2-1 series win over the tourists, the centre moved to the Stormers and produced a number of stunning displays as the Cape Town-based outfit became a threat at Super Rugby level. That form transferred onto the Test arena and Fourie once again nailed down his place ahead of the 2011 World Cup, but another last-eight loss, this time to Australia, was the last we saw of the midfielder at his best. After joining Japanese team Kobelco Steelers, Springbok appearances became sparse, with an encounter against France in 2013 being the last of his 72 caps. He would continue playing in Asia before retiring in 2018.

After being a focal point of South Africa’s World Cup victory in 2007 at the age of just 24, Jaque Fourie should have been coming into his prime ahead of the 2009 British and Irish Lions series. And to an extent, he was. Once again, the centre had impressed at franchise level, despite the Lions’ struggles in Super Rugby, but he wasn’t favoured to start for the series against another Lions side, this time the British and Irish version.

The appointment of Peter de Villiers following Jake White’s departure and the politics which surrounded that decision probably dictated that. Just like Siya Kolisi’s elevation to captain, which was a monumental moment for South African rugby, so was the hiring of De Villiers as head coach. He became the national team’s first black boss and there were murmurings that he was under pressure to select more people of colour in his side. Even though the quota system was scrapped in 2007, Adrian Jacobs was the man selected in the 13 channel. While he was an excellent player, the Sharks stalwart wasn’t of the quality of his competitor, leaving Fourie to reside on the bench until the second half. He was duly introduced both times at the end of the third quarter but it wasn’t for Jacobs. Instead, Jean de Villiers was the player that gave way both times, but his replacement still made a significant impact without his partner in crime on the field.

Fourie wasn’t necessarily ‘needed’ for the first Test as South Africa surged into a 26-7 lead before the Lions threatened a late victory by coming back into the contest, but in the second game, they found themselves 16-8 in arrears when he came on. Bryan Habana had touched down to reduce the deficit but the visitors were still 22-18 ahead via the boot of Stephen Jones going into the latter stages. However, the Springboks were starting to get on top as Ian McGeechan’s men tired due to the altitude factor. They managed to work a position for Fourie out wide but he still had so much work to do. It appeared impossible to score but the midfield powerhouse sat Ronan O’Gara down on his back, fended off Mike Phillips and somehow crossed the whitewash in the corner, despite the attentions of Phillips and Tommy Bowe.

It was a remarkable finish and was unsurprisingly awarded the IRB Try of the Year due to the brilliance of Fourie and the significance it had on the contest. Although Morné Steyn kicked the winning points in the final minute to secure the series win, South Africa may have ultimately lost the three-Test encounter had their outstanding back not intervened.