Jesse Kriel

Jesse Kriel

Personal information
Full name	Jesse André Kriel
Born	(1994-02-15) 15 February 1994 Cape Town, South Africa
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
School(s) attended	Maritzburg College
University	UP Tuks
Relatives	Dan Kriel (twin brother) Matt Kriel (brother)
Club information
Playing position	Utility back
Current club	Bulls
Youth career
2012	Sharks
2013–15	Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
2013	UP Tuks	0	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Pts)†
2014–	Blue Bulls	16	(20)
2014–	Bulls	24	(5)
2015–16	NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes	9	(20)
Representative team(s)‡
2012	S.A. Schools	2	(0)
2013–14	S.A. Under-20	9	(35)
2015	Springbok XV	1	(0)
2015–	South Africa	11	(15)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 2 May 2016. † Appearances (Points). ‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 30 October 2015.

Jesse André Kriel (born (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 in Cape Town) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Bulls. He is a utility back who can play centre, wing or fullback.

Career

Youth

As a scholar at Maritzburg College, Kriel was selected in the Sharks squad for the Under–18 Craven Week tournament, where his performance earned him an inclusion in the South African Schools side in 2012. He started in matches against France, and England and was an unused substitute against Wales in the three-match series played in August 2012.

After finishing school, Kriel – along with twin brother Dan – made the move to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls prior to the 2013 season.

Despite not initially being named in the S.A. Under-20 squad for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship, a hamstring injury suffered by Sergeal Petersen led to Kriel's inclusion into the squad.

Kriel appeared as a substitute in their first match of the competition and scored two tries in a comprehensive 97–0 victory over the United States. Further substitute appearances followed against England and France. He was an unused substitute in their semi-final match against Wales, before making his first start of the competition in the third-placed play-off match against New Zealand.

For the remainder of 2013, Kriel played more youth rugby for the Blue Bulls, scoring 42 points in ten matches to help the Blue Bulls U19 win the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition and also making three appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side.

He was included in the S.A. Under-20 side for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, and also named one of two vice-captains for the tournament.

Senior career

In 2014, Kriel was included in the Bulls training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season, but failed to make any matchday squads, instead playing for the Blue Bulls in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition. His first class debut came on 8 March 2014 against Griquas in Pretoria and he scored his first senior try just a week later, in their match against the Pumas.

In June 2015, he extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2018, which was extended even more until October 2019 just two months later following Kriel's call-up to the Springbok squad.

South Africa

In June 2015, Kriel was named in an extended Springbok squad prior to the 2015 Rugby Championship. He started for a Springbok XV in a warm-up match against a World XV, helping them to a 46–10 win. He was named in the squad for their opening Rugby Championship match against Australia and was named as the starting centre for the match to become Springbok Number 867. Not only was this match Kriel's test debut, but he also scored his first test try in the 44th minute of the match. However, he ended the match on the losing side, with a late Tevita Kuridrani try securing a 24–20 victory for Australia.

Personal

Kriel is the twin brother of Dan Kriel.