Pierre Spies
South Africa
player portrait
Full name Pierre Johan Spies
Born June 8, 1985, Pretoria
Current age 38 years 294 days
Major teams Barbarians, Blue Bulls, Bulls, Montpellier, South Africa
Position No. 8
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 244 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2006-2013 53 51 2 35 7 0 0 0 36 16 1 68.86
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011-2011 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 80
The Rugby Championship 2006-2011 23 23 0 5 1 0 0 0 11 12 0 47.82

Career statistics
Test debut Australia v South Africa at Brisbane, Jul 15, 2006 match details
Last Test South Africa v Samoa at Pretoria, Jun 22, 2013 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Pierre Spies is a South Africa No.8 who was part of the Springboks side that beat the British & Irish Lions in 2009. He plays for the Bulls and received recognition as a youngster in 2006 when he won the Newcomer of the Year award from the International Rugby Players Association.

Spies has incredible pace for a back-row forward and used to be a wing when he played for the Springboks Under-19 side. One of the reasons Spies is so quick and powerful is due to his training regime and immense physical attributes. His teammates often watch in awe at his bench-pressing prowess and he can vertically jump 1.4 metres as well as having supreme leg strength to boost his incredible pace.

He burst onto the scene in 2006 in the Tri-Nations when he turned in two man of the match performances but he suffered a major setback the following year. He started to cough up blood and was ruled out of South Africa's World Cup squad after blood clots were found in his lungs.

The Springboks won in his absence but a year later he marked his return to the national side with a try against Wales in Bloemfontein.

In 2009 he played an integral part in the Bulls run to the Super 14 title, showing his scorching pace with breakaway tries in both the 36-23 semi final win over reigning champions the Crusaders and the 61-17 destruction of the Chiefs in the final at Loftus Versfeld.

He was picked in the South Africa squad to play the British & Irish Lions and he started both the first and second Test, which the Springboks won to claim the series. In the third Test he came on as a replacement for Jongi Nokwe on the wing, once again showing his unbelievable pace for a No.8.

Latest Articles
Pierre Spies joins South African revolution at Montpellier (Jun 19, 2015) Bulls halt Lions' winning run in thriller (May 2, 2015) Chiefs confirm title intentions, Canes look real deal (Mar 2, 2015) Spies targets future move to Japan (Jul 21, 2014) The All Blacks' 2009 horror show (Jun 20, 2014) Pierre Spies news and articles (37) »
Latest Photos
Mar 10, 2013
The Bulls' Pierre Spies powers through a Blues tackle
The Bulls' Pierre Spies powers through a Blues tackle
©  Getty Images
Jul 19, 2012
Pierre Spies cuts a relaxed figure
Pierre Spies cuts a relaxed figure
©  Getty Images
Jun 16, 2012
South Africa's Pierre Spies is halted by the England defence
South Africa's Pierre Spies is halted by the England defence
©  Getty Images
Jun 16, 2012
South Africa's Pierre Spies hands off Toby Flood
South Africa's Pierre Spies hands off Toby Flood
©  Getty Images
Pierre Spies rugby photos (51) »

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