André Venter
Full names: André Gerhardus
Date of birth: 14 Nov 1970
Place of birth: Vereeniging
School: Kroonstad (Blouskool)
Springbok no: 634
Debut test province: Cheetahs
Physical: 1.95m, 103.4kg
Current age: 53

Test summary: Tests: 66 Tries: 9
First Test: 17 Aug 1996 Age:25 Flank against New Zealand at Kingspark, Durban
Last Test: 1 Dec 2001 Age:31 Reserve against USA at Robertson Stadium, UH, Houston
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
17 Aug 199625FlankNew ZealandLose: 19-23 Kingspark, DurbanCheetahs
24 Aug 199625FlankNew ZealandLose: 26-33 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
31 Aug 199625FlankNew ZealandWin: 32-22 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
09 Nov 199625FlankArgentinaWin: 46-151 tryFerrocarril-Oeste Stadium, Buenos AiresCheetahs
16 Nov 199626FlankArgentinaWin: 44-211 tryFerrocarril-Oeste Stadium, Buenos AiresCheetahs
30 Nov 199626FlankFranceWin: 22-12 Stade Municipal, BordeauxCheetahs
07 Dec 199626FlankFranceWin: 13-12 Parc des Princes, ParisCheetahs
15 Dec 199626FlankWalesWin: 37-20 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffCheetahs
10 Jun 199726FlankTongaWin: 74-10 Newlands, Cape TownCheetahs
21 Jun 199726FlankBritainLose: 16-25 Newlands, Cape TownCheetahs
28 Jun 199726FlankBritainLose: 15-18 Kingspark, DurbanCheetahs
05 Jul 199726FlankBritainWin: 35-16 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
19 Jul 199726FlankNew ZealandLose: 32-35 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
02 Aug 199726FlankAustraliaLose: 20-32 Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneCheetahs
09 Aug 199726FlankNew ZealandLose: 35-55 Eden Park, AucklandCheetahs
08 Nov 199726FlankItalyWin: 62-31 Dall'Ara Stadium, BolognaCheetahs
15 Nov 199727FlankFranceWin: 36-32 Stade de Gerland, LyonCheetahs
22 Nov 199727FlankFranceWin: 52-10 Parc des Princes, ParisCheetahs
29 Nov 199727FlankEnglandWin: 29-11 Twickenham, LondonCheetahs
06 Dec 199727FlankScotlandWin: 68-101 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghCheetahs
13 Jun 199827FlankIrelandWin: 37-13 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinCheetahs
20 Jun 199827FlankIrelandWin: 33-0 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
27 Jun 199827FlankWalesWin: 96-132 triesLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
04 Jul 199827FlankEnglandWin: 18-0 Newlands, Cape TownCheetahs
18 Jul 199827FlankAustraliaWin: 14-13 Subiaco Oval, PerthCheetahs
25 Jul 199827FlankNew ZealandWin: 13-3 Athletic Park, WellingtonCheetahs
15 Aug 199827FlankNew ZealandWin: 24-23 Kingspark, DurbanCheetahs
22 Aug 199827FlankAustraliaWin: 29-15 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
14 Nov 199828FlankWalesWin: 28-201 tryWembley, LondonCheetahs
21 Nov 199828ReserveScotlandWin: 35-10 Murrayfield, EdinburghCheetahs
28 Nov 199828ReserveIrelandWin: 27-13 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinCheetahs
05 Dec 199828ReserveEnglandLose: 7-13 Twickenham, LondonCheetahs
12 Jun 199928FlankItalyWin: 74-3 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethCheetahs
19 Jun 199928ReserveItalyWin: 101-0 Kingspark, DurbanCheetahs
26 Jun 199928ReserveWalesLose: 19-29 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffCheetahs
10 Jul 199928FlankNew ZealandLose: 0-28 Carisbrook, DunedinCheetahs
17 Jul 199928FlankAustraliaLose: 6-32 Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneCheetahs
07 Aug 199928FlankNew ZealandLose: 18-34 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
14 Aug 199928FlankAustraliaWin: 10-9 Newlands, Cape TownCheetahs
03 Oct 199928FlankScotlandWin: 46-291 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghCheetahs
15 Oct 199928FlankUruguayWin: 39-3 Hampden Park, GlasgowCheetahs
24 Oct 199928FlankEnglandWin: 44-21 Stade de France, ParisCheetahs
30 Oct 199928FlankAustraliaLose: 21-27 Twickenham, LondonCheetahs
04 Nov 199928FlankNew ZealandWin: 22-18 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffCheetahs
10 Jun 200029FlankCanadaWin: 51-18 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East LondonCheetahs
17 Jun 200029FlankEnglandWin: 18-13 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
24 Jun 200029FlankEnglandLose: 22-27 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinCheetahs
08 Jul 200029FlankAustraliaLose: 23-44 Colonial Stadium (Telstra Dome), MelbourneCheetahs
22 Jul 200029LockNew ZealandLose: 12-25 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), ChristchurchCheetahs
29 Jul 200029FlankAustraliaLose: 6-26 Stadium Australia, SydneyCheetahs
19 Aug 200029LockNew ZealandWin: 46-40 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
26 Aug 200029LockAustraliaLose: 18-19 Kingspark, DurbanCheetahs
12 Nov 200029FlankArgentinaWin: 37-33 River Plate, Buenos AiresCheetahs
19 Nov 200030FlankIrelandWin: 28-181 tryAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinCheetahs
26 Nov 200030FlankWalesWin: 23-13 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffCheetahs
02 Dec 200030FlankEnglandLose: 17-25 Twickenham, LondonCheetahs
16 Jun 200130LockFranceLose: 23-32 Ellispark, JohannesburgCheetahs
30 Jun 200130FlankItalyWin: 60-141 tryBoet Erasmus, Port ElizabethCheetahs
21 Jul 200130FlankNew ZealandLose: 3-12 Newlands, Cape TownCheetahs
28 Jul 200130FlankAustraliaWin: 20-15 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCheetahs
18 Aug 200130FlankAustraliaDraw: 14-14 Subiaco Oval, PerthCheetahs
25 Aug 200130FlankNew ZealandLose: 15-26 Eden Park, AucklandCheetahs
10 Nov 200130ReserveFranceLose: 10-20 Stade de France, ParisCheetahs
17 Nov 200131ReserveItalyWin: 54-26 Luigi Ferraris Stadium, GenoaCheetahs
24 Nov 200131ReserveEnglandLose: 9-29 Twickenham, LondonCheetahs
01 Dec 200131ReserveUSAWin: 43-20 Robertson Stadium, UH, HoustonCheetahs

Boks hero Venter quits

Springbok flanker André Venter has announced his retirement from rugby.

The powerful forward issued a surprise statement in Bloemfontein on Tuesday revealing he will quit the game at the end of the Currie Cup season on 26 October (2002).

Venter, once considered the fittest man in South African rugby, is the third most capped Springbok of all time.

He played in 66 Tests between 1996 and 2001 and has made more than 100 appearances for his Free State province.

"André has decided to retire from the game in order to give more attention to his family as well as to further expand his business," said Free State President Harold Verster. "Although it has come as a shock to our management, we fully understand and appreciate the reasons for his decision. André is widely acknowledged as one of South African rugby's greats.

He is a strong, silent character who not only impresses with his play but is able to leave an impression as a determined and disciplined person."

Venter was left in the international wilderness this year by injuries suffered at the beginning of the campaign.

But he has been in excellent form for Free State in the latter stages of the domestic season, helping propel them into the semi-finals of the Currie Cup.

And his efforts were rewarded with a international training squad place ahead of next month's European tour.

Venter, now 31, made his international debut against the All Blacks in 1996, when he replaced Francois Pienaar for the second Test in Durban.

He became only the third Springbok to be sent off in a Test when he was shown the red card for stamping on New Zealand skipper Sean Fitzpatrick in 1997.

"To have a player of Andre's calibre retire is a great loss to South African rugby," said Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli. "It is said in sporting circles that great players leave the game a year too early rather than a year too late."