Jesse Kriel is one of the most recognizable, marketable, and popular players in South African rugby. The Springbok center has graced the covers of Men’s Health and SA Rugby magazines multiple times and partnered with leading brands such as Nike International and Garmin. He boasts a substantial social media presence, with 324,000 followers on Instagram and 40,000 on X (Twitter). This popularity stems from his outstanding on-field performances and his relentless off-field work ethic, which has made him one of the best-conditioned players in world rugby. As of the 2025 season, Jesse has earned 79 Test caps for the Springboks, scoring 18 tries.
Jesse's rugby career took off early when, at just 21, he was part of the Bok team that finished third at the 2015 World Cup in England. Four years later, he earned a winner’s medal in Japan. Earlier in 2019, he played a key role in helping the Springboks win the Rugby Championship for the first time in a decade. Kriel also represented SA Schools during his final year at Maritzburg College and went on to represent the Junior Springboks in the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2013 and 2014, scoring seven tries in nine matches.
He spent five successful years at the Bulls in Pretoria from 2014 to 2018, during which he earned 70 Super Rugby caps and 17 Currie Cup caps, scoring 24 tries across both competitions. Kriel had a brief stint with NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in 2015-2016 and, in 2020, signed a full-time contract with the Yokohama Canon Eagles. He has excelled in Japan’s Rugby League One competition, scoring 21 tries in 65 matches.
Jesse earned his 50th Test cap during the Springboks' 2021 end-of-year tour and played a crucial role in their successful 2023 World Cup campaign, wearing the No. 13 jersey in six of the team’s seven matches in France. In 2024, he continued his strong form, starting in 11 of the Springboks' 13 Tests and helping the team win the Rugby Championship.
Languages: English
Country: South Africa
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