Abrie Griesel

Abraham Jacobus Griesel (born 15 January 1992 in Bloemfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player who last played for the Pumas in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

Abrie Griesel

Full name	Abraham Jacobus Griesel
Date of birth	(1992-01-15) 15 January 1992
Place of birth	Bloemfontein, South Africa
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
School	Grey College, Bloemfontein
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Youth career 2005–2010 Free State Cheetahs 2011–2013 Blue Bulls Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2016 Young Munster () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014 Free State Cheetahs 4 (0) 2014–2015 Griquas 10 (10) 2016–2017 Munster 3 (0) 2018 Pumas 6 (5) Correct as of 27 October 2018 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2012 South Africa Under-20 3 (0) Correct as of 7 August 2014

Career

Youth

At school level, he was included in the Free State Under-13 team that played at the 2005 Under-13 Craven Week competition and in their Under-18 side that played at the Academy Week tournament in 2010.

He made the move to Pretoria in 2011 to join the Blue Bulls. He made seven starts and two appearances off the bench for the Blue Bulls U19 during the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship and two appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side in 2012.

2012 IRB Junior World Championship

In 2012, Griesel was a member of the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team that participated at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship held in South Africa. He started their first match of the competition, a 23–19 defeat to Ireland.[2] He came on as a late substitute in their next match against Italy[3] and didn't make an appearance in their final pool match against England, where South Africa got a 28–15 victory to ensure their qualification for the semi-finals.[4] He played off the bench in their semi-final clash with Argentina,[5] but remained an unused substitute for the final, where the hosts triumphed 22–16 over New Zealand to win the competition for the first time.[6]

Free State Cheetahs

His introduction to first class provincial rugby came during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, where the played for the Free State XV after moving back to Bloemfontein. He made his debut by coming on as a second-half substitute against the SWD Eagles in a 52–47 win.[7] He made a further three substitute appearances in the Cheetahs' next three matches.

Griquas

He moved to Kimberley shortly after to link up with a Griquas side trying to qualify for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. Although he was named in their squad for the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series, he failed to make an appearance, but was retained for their Premier League campaign. He was included on the bench for their season-opener against the Sharks.[8]

Munster

Having moved to All-Ireland League side Young Munster in 2016, Griesel made his debut for Munster on 4 November 2016, coming on as a replacement for Duncan Williams in the 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Ospreys.[9]

Pumas

Griesel returned to South Africa for the 2018 season, joining the Nelspruit-based Pumas prior to the 2018 Rugby Challenge.[10]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Abrie Griesel". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 19-23 Ireland". South African Rugby Union. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 52-3 Italy". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 28-15 England". South African Rugby Union. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Argentina 3-35 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – New Zealand 16-22 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 52-47 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
8. "Griquas set sights high". Sport24. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
9. "Munster Flourish in Cork Sell Out". munsterrugby.ie. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
10. "WRK skop seisoen af, laaste kans vir Pumas" [WRC kicks off season, last chance for Pumas]. Lowvelder (in Afrikaans). 6 April 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.