Elton Jantjies

Elton Thomas Jantjies (born 1 August 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team, the NTT Red Hurricanes in the Japan Rugby Football Union and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.

Elton Jantjies

Full name	Elton Thomas Jantjies
Date of birth	(1990-08-01) 1 August 1990 (age 32)
Place of birth	Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Weight	88 kg (13 st 12 lb; 194 lb)
School	Hoërskool Florida
Notable relative(s)	Tony Jantjies (brother)
Spouse	Iva Ristic
Children	Unknown
Rugby union career
Youth career 2006–2009 Golden Lions Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2014 Golden Lions 3 (12) Correct as of 22 March 2014 Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–2018 Shining Arcs 32 (195) 2021 → Pau (loan) 3 (26) 2022– Red Hurricanes Osaka 1 (0) Correct as of 9 January 2022 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2010–2020 Golden Lions 51 (536) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2012 Lions 26 (228) 2013 Stormers 13 (11) 2014–2020 Lions 104 (950) Correct as of 7 November 2020 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2010 South Africa U20 5 (12) 2012–2022 South Africa 46 (335) Correct as of 27 August 2022

Jantjies made his professional debut with the Lions (Super Rugby) during the 2011 Super Rugby season, and his International debut with the Springboks during the inaugural Rugby Championship. He has received several significant sporting awards, including the SARU Young Player of the Year award (2010), and the SA U20 Player of the Year award (2010).

In June 2014 it was reported that Jantjies had signed a contract with Japanese side NTT Communications Shining Arcs who play in the Top League. This move meant that he would be ruled out for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.

Domestic career

Golden Lions: 2011–14

Jantjies gained a reputation as being a clutch performer after he successfully converted every goal attempt in the 2011 Currie Cup final, a game in which the Golden Lions defeated the Sharks 42–16. This performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

Super Rugby: 2011–2020

Jantjies made his Super Rugby debut in 2011 for the Lions. He joined the Stormers for the 2013 season on a loan deal after the Lions were relegated from the South African conference. His stint with the Stormers was largely unsuccessful compared to the previous season with the Lions where he had an 86% goal-kicking success rate.^[1] He returned to the Lions who had won promotion back to the Super Rugby competition.

Jantjies reached the finals with the Lions in both 2016 where the Lions lost to the Hurricanes in Wellington and 2017 where they lost to the Crusaders at their home crowd in Johannesburg, playing a huge part in getting them there. Jantjies was also the highest points scorer in the competition in 2017, scoring 203 points that season.

International career

Jantjies made his international rugby test debut for the South Africa national rugby union team during the inaugural Rugby Championship against Australia on 29 September 2012, at Loftus Versfeld, however his debut for the Springboks came in a non-test, uncapped game against the Barbarians in the 2010 end of year tests.

Jantjies was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.^[2] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.^[3]

International tries

As of 26 August 2017.

Try	Opponent	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
1	France	Durban, South Africa	Kings Park Stadium	2017 France tour of South Africa	17 June 2017	Win	37–15
2	Argentina	Salta, Argentina	Padre Ernesto Stadium	2017 Rugby Championship	26 August 2017	Win	23–41

Personal life

He is the older brother of fly-half Tony Jantjies.^[4] Weeks before he joined the Stormers, his father Thomas Jantjies died in hospital after being stung by a bee.^[5] In previous interviews, Jantjies had described his father as his mentor and kicking coach.^[6]

Jantjies was suspended from the Springboks squad in September 2022 while in Buenos Aires after allegations surfaced of inappropriate behaviour with Zeenat Simjee, the Springboks dietician. It was reported that he spent a night away from the team at a separate hotel during the test series against New Zealand (a highly unusual practice for athletes) where patrons allegedly heard the two having sexual encounters and then arguing. He left without paying the hotel bill, only paying the outstanding charges weeks later. Jantjies is married to Iva Ristic, who is the mother of his 3 children. The Springbok press release on 11 September 2022 stated:

"The Springboks management are aware of reports regarding Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies and a team dietician. No team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations for the Test against Argentina."^[7][8]

References

1. "Elton Jantjies fights back". SA Rugby Mag. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
2. "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
3. "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
4. "Jantjies at pivot for Baby Boks". Sport24. Media24. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
5. "Bee sting kills Elton's dad - report". IOL.co.za. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
6. "Team comes first for Jantjies". IOL.co.za. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
7. "Jantjies Scandal". sarugbymag.co.za. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
8. "Elton Jantjies Affair". news24.com. Retrieved 11 September 2022.

External links

• Elton Jantjies at ESPNscrum 
• Elton Jantjies at ItsRugby.co.uk 
• Elton Jantjies at Springboks.rugby  
• IRB JWC Player Profile