Fourie
Jaque Fourie is considered to be one of the best centres of his generation. Powerful and dynamic.
Jaque Fourie
Jaque Fourie is a former South African rugby union player who played at the top levels for both club and country. Famed for his powerful play and intelligent rugby brain, many consider him to be one of the best centres of his generation.
Born in Carletonville, South Africa in March 1983, Jaque Fourie began his professional career with the Lions, playing provincial rugby and in the Super Rugby competition from 2003 to 2009.
Fourie would also go on to play for Stormers and Western Province in the 2010-11 season, before heading over to Japan to join up with Panasonic Wild Knights and then Kobelco Steelers until 2017. Playing predominately as a centre, but also a wing and a fullback if needed, Jaque Fourie collectively made over 200 club appearances before his retirement.
Jaque Fourie’s international career was where he really shone as a player. He made his debut for South Africa in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup of that year aged just 20, where he scored a try against Uruguay. He then featured regularly for the Springboks, playing left wing at times, before eventually cementing the outside centre position for himself – often playing with Jean de Villiers.
Fourie was included in the World Cup winning South Africa squad of 2007, playing the full game in the final against England. Other highlights on the world stage for Jaque Fourie include him winning the ‘International Rugby Players Association Try of the Year’ for 2009 – the try itself being the one he scored against the British & Irish Lions in June of that year.
In total he won 72 caps for the Springboks, with the final one coming in 2013 against France. While he has now retired from playing, Jaque Fourie is still very much involved in rugby union and was recently brought in as a coach at his former club the Lions.
