Hansie Graaff

Johannes Petrus Jacobus 'Hansie' Graaff (born 10 September 1989 in Pretoria) is a South African rugby union player for Bayonne in the Top 14 in France.^[1] He is a utility back that can play as a fly-half, centre, winger or full-back.He is also known as the bulldog because of his aggressive style of play, he once tackled everyone on the pitch even the referee.

Hansie Graaff

Full name	Johannes Petrus Jacobus Graaff
Date of birth	(1989-09-10) 10 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Pretoria, South Africa
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	97 kg (214 lb; 15 st 4 lb)
School	Wonderboom High School
University	Tshwane University of Technology
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back Current team Massy Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2010–2012 TUT Vikings 21 (30) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012–2013 Griffons 27 (178) 2014 Sharks XV 2 (5) 2014–2015 Eastern Province Kings 9 (17) 2014 → Border Bulldogs 1 (5) 2016 SWD Eagles 16 (104) 2016–2018 El Salvador 39 (238) 2018–present Massy 2 (21) Correct as of 30 August 2018

Career

Varsity Cup rugby

He sprung to prominence playing for a struggling TUT Vikings side in the Varsity Cup between 2010 and 2012, scoring six tries in 21 appearances during the three seasons.

Griffons / Cheetahs

He joined the Griffons shortly after the 2012 Varsity Cup and made his first class debut for them in their 30–19 defeat to the Leopards in Potchefstroom in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition.^[2] Two more substitute appearances followed in the same competition before a highly successful 2012 Currie Cup First Division campaign, where Graaff scored 134 points in fifteen starts to finish fourth in the scoring charts.^[3]

This led to his inclusion in the final Cheetahs squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season,^[4] but he failed to make any appearances for them. Instead, a further seven appearances followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup and 2013 Currie Cup First Division competitions.

Sharks

He subsequently moved to the Sharks for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division,^[5] but missed the entire competition through a knee injury. However, he was offered a contract extension with the Durban-based side until April 2014^[6] and made his debut for them in the 2014 Vodacom Cup match against the Border Bulldogs,^[7] marking the occasion by scoring a 10th minute try to help the Sharks to a 46–24 victory.

Eastern Province Kings

He joined Port Elizabeth-based side Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.^[8] In June 2014, he was selected in the starting line-up for the Eastern Province Kings side to face Wales during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He made his debut for the Eastern Province Kings, playing 72 minutes of the match as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.^[9]

However, he didn't feature in their 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division campaign, instead being loaned to neighbours Border Bulldogs for one match. He eventually made his debut for the EP Kings in a domestic competition by starting their first match of the 2015 Vodacom Cup season, a 19–27 defeat to defending champions Griquas.^[10]

SWD Eagles

Graaff moved to George for the 2016 season, joining the SWD Eagles.^[11]

El Salvador

After the 2016 Currie Cup, Graaff joined Spanish División de Honor side El Salvador.^[12][13]

RCME Massy

During the 2018-2019 season, Graaff played for RCME Massy, in the French Pro D2.

Aviron Bayonnais

Graaff moved to Aviron Bayonnais for the 2019 season, a Top14 club of the French Championship.

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Hansie Graaff". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Griffons 19–30 Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2012 ABSA Currie Cup First Div". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
4. "GW kry JP, Marnus terug". Cheetahs (in Afrikaans). Cheetahs. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
5. "Haaie kry Graaff en nóg twee aanwinste". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
6. "Haaie verleng Graaff se kontrak in Durban". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border Bulldogs 24–46 Cell C Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
8. "Kings land 'big' Shark". Rugby365. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 12–34 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – EP Kings 19–27 GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
11. "Kings-haker sleep OP dalk hof toe". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 9 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
12. "Hansie Graaff, refuerzo para la tres cuartos colegial" (Press release). El Salvador Rugby. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
13. "Ficha Federado". Federación Española de Rugby (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.