Widely regarded as one of the greatest sports players of all time, Bryan Habana is a name known to any modern rugby fan. Whether you follow the Springboks or you simply enjoy reading about the greatest rugby talents, this blog post explores the career of South Africa’s top-scoring rugby player: Bryan Habana.
From his early life to his glittering rugby career, here is a brief biography of Bryan Habana.
Habana’s Early Life
Bryan Gary Habana was born on 12 June 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Foreshadowing his spectacular sporting career, Habana was named after two Manchester United football players: Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey.
As a pupil at King Edward VII School, Habana competed in provincial rugby competitions. Later, while studying at Rand Afrikaans University, he was signed to the Golden Lions in 2003. He made his Currie Cup debut the following year when he was named as South Africa’s most promising rugby player.
International Debut
Habana’s international career kicked off in 2004. At the age of 21, he made not one but two international debuts: he represented South Africa at the 2003-04 World Sevens Series and appeared in his first test against England.
Although England defeated the Springboks 32-16, Habana’s debut was a resounding success. Habana came on as a substitute and he landed his first try as soon as he took possession of the ball.
Career with the Springboks
After his promising debut, Habana quickly became a regular for the Springboks. His international career spanned from 2004 to 2016, when he earned more than 100 caps for the South Africa national rugby team.
Habana’s highlights included representing South Africa at the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. In 2007, he equalled Jonah Lomu’s record by scoring eight tries in a single Rugby World Cup. By 2015, he matched Lomu for a second time by securing 15 Rugby World Cup tries.
Club Career
In addition to the international stage, Habana also enjoyed a successful domestic rugby career. Between 2003 and 2013, Habana made more than 170 appearances at the Currie Cup and Super Rugby. This included stints with the Golden Lions (2003-04), the Blue Bulls (2005-09), Western Provinces (2010-13) and the Stormers (2010-13). In total, he celebrated two Currie Cup and two Super Rugby wins.
Habana ended his rugby career in Europe. He signed to Toulon in 2013 where he won back-to-back Heineken Cups in 2014 and 2015. He also won the Top 14 in 2014.
Habana’s Retirement and Legacy
Bryan Habana retired in 2018 with a wealth of accolades and accomplishments. He was named World Rugby Player of the year in 2007 and he won SARU Player of the Year three times. Additionally, Habana ended his career with 67 test tries, a figure that makes him the Springboks’ top try scorer of all time.
Conclusion
When it comes to successful rugby players, there are few greater than Bryan Habana. His try scoring abilities, title wins and personal achievements make him one of the most revered players in the history of rugby union.
Information courtesy of Rugby365: https://rugby365.com/
