.JPG) Steyn playing forMontpellier in 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn (1987-05-14)14 May 1987 (age 38) Aliwal North, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (240 lb; 17 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Grey College, Bloemfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn (born 14 May 1987) is a South Africanrugby union coach and former player. Autility back who represented hiscountry, he was able to play as acentre,fly-half,full-back andwing. He is currently the Head Coach of theFree State Cheetahs in theCurrie Cup.[2]
Nicknamed "Daddy Frans", Steyn started his professional career with theSharks at the age of 19 and made hisSuper 14 debut in 2007, before moving to France and joiningTop 14 clubRacing Métro 92 in 2009. He returned to the Sharks in 2012 and then spent a two years stint in Japan, playing forToshiba Brave Lupus from 2014 to 2016.Montpellier signed him after his departure from Tokyo and he stayed with the French side for four seasons, before returning to South Africa and signing for theCheetahs in 2020, where he retired three years later.
Having played 78 matches for the Springboks, Steyn won theWorld Cup on two occasions in2007 and2019, and is the second South African player to have won the tournament twice, as well as the youngest World Champion in the history. He also wonThe Rugby Championship (previously named Tri Nations) twice. A powerful and versatile player, Steyn was particularly renowned for his long distance kicking ability and strong tackling.
In his debut season ofSuper 14 rugby for theSharks, Steyn played on the right wing, however, was moved to fullback whenPercy Montgomery was injured.[1] He played as the last line of defence until Percy Montgomery returned for the game against theBlues in Round 11, and was moved to fly-half for this game.[1]
In 2009, Steyn signed a two-year contract with FrenchTop 14 clubRacing Métro 92 for an estimated wage of €750,000 per season.[3][4]
Steyn then rejoined theSharks by signing a three-year deal on 29 May 2012.[5] Steyn was not available to them for the knock-outs due to his late entry into the squad and didn't play when the Sharks lost in the final to theChiefs.
The player made his return for the Sharks in the 2013 Super Rugby competition, captaining the side in the first few matches in the absence of regular skipper,Keegan Daniel. Steyn struggled with form early on in Super Rugby, but as the season progressed, he began to regain the form that first earned him Springbok honours. Once again though, Steyn was injured in the Sharks league match against the Highlanders in Dunedin, which they lost. Steyn would have to wait until the Currie Cup semi-final of 2013 against theFree State Cheetahs to make his next appearance. He was subbed early on in the match, but was again selected for the final againstDHL Western Province. Steyn's contributions on attack were good, but it was his immense defense that really marked his successful comeback, and helped the Sharks to Currie Cup victory in 2013.[6] After only 2 matches back, Steyn was not selected for the Springbok end of year tour in 2013.[6]
On 3 June 2014 Steyn signed a two-year deal with Japanese clubToshiba Brave Lupus.[1]
In 2016, Steyn joined French clubMontpellier. In his time with theTop 14 side, he won theEuropean Rugby Challenge Cup in2016 and played the2017–18 Top 14 final but lost as Montpellier ended as runners-up.[7]
After four seasons in the south of France, Steyn returned to South Africa and joined theCheetahs on 1 July 2020. He made his debut on 10 October in aSuper Rugby Unlocked match against thePumas inBloemfontein.[1]
On 24 March 2023, he came off sustaining a knee injury in aCurrie Cup Premier Division fixture against theBlue Bulls and was ruled out for the rest of the competition that his team won two months later.[8][9] In July, he announced his retirement from professional rugby at the age of 36 and renounced taking part in theRugby Championship and theWorld Cup in France.[10]
After playing only ten matches for theSharks in the2006 Currie Cup Premier Division (atfly-half), Steyn was, at 19 years old, selected to represent South Africa in the Northern Hemisphere touring squad by national coachJake White. He debuted atwing againstIreland, he scored a try on his debut. In his next international match he was moved tofullback againstEngland, scoring a long range drop-goal, from his own half.[citation needed] Steyn has shown to possess superb goal kicking qualities as well.
Steyn kicked two drop goals in the2007 Tri Nations opener againstAustralia atNewlands Stadium inCape Town, to win the game for the Springboks. One of these, a 42-metre effort from a fielded clearance kick next to the sideline, and another three minutes from time next to the posts about 30 metres out.
In South Africa's first game at the2007 Rugby World Cup, their centreJean de Villiers got injured. Steyn replaced him, playing only his second[citation needed] game at professional level atinside centre, but he made a break on first touch of the ball and his inclusion sparked the Springboks to a 37–0 second half demolition ofSamoa.
On 24 September 2007 Steyn was cited to appear before a disciplinary hearing for allegedly bitingTongan wingerJoseph Vaka during the Springboks v. Tonga2007 Rugby World Cup game on 22 September. (Match report). Both players were sent to the sinbin in the 60th minute for an off-the-ball incident. He was subsequently cleared of the charge, due to insufficient evidence and Vaka conceding that the apparent "bite mark" could have been received during normal play.
Steyn was the starting inside centre for the Springboks in the2007 Rugby World Cup Final, he made a fantastic break that resulted in a penalty for the Boks and also converted one himself later on in the game. He is therefore the youngest player to win aRugby World Cup.
In the Springboks' final match of the2009 Tri Nations againstNew Zealand, his last match with the Boks before his departure forFrance, he converted three penalties from within his own half of the field; he is believed to be the first player ever to do so in a Test match.[11]
Reaching his 50th test cap against Argentina in Cape Town in 2012, Steyn is the youngest South African to reach the milestone. Steyn was injured during the 2012 Rugby Championship, missing the final 2 matches, along with the Currie Cup, and the end of year tour to theUK.
Steyn was re-called for South Africa for the 2017 series against France due to the injuries of Pat Lambie and Handre Pollard, after a 3-year absence from international rugby.
In 2019, Steyn was again called up as part of the South African team to play in the2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and became one of the 21 players to have won the trophy on two occasions, and only the second South African to do so.[12]
Sharks
Sharks
Montpellier
Free State Cheetahs
Winner (1):2023South Africa
