Joel Stransky Biography

Three seconds - that's all it took from the time the ball left Joel Stransky's boot until it whistled through the rugby posts. In those three seconds, Stransky went from Springbok player to Springbok legend and earned the adulation of a nation. His fairy-tale drop goal in the dying minutes of the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final sealed SA's win against the all-powerful All Blacks and played a role in inspiring unity in a divided country.

Prior to that moment in the final, Joel Stransky kicked off the World Cup by becoming the first Springbok in history to score all four possible ways in one test (a try, a conversion, four penalty goals and a drop goal) as South Africa defeated reigning World Champions Australia, 27-18. 

Joel Stransky grew up in Cape Town being of English and Czech descent and Jewish on his father's side. He went to Rondebosch Boys' High but left the Cape for KwaZulu-Natal, where he attended Maritzburg College and earned a reputation as a complete flyhalf: he had brains and ball skills and never seemed to be in a hurry.

Kicking like a demon, Joel Stransky was able to control a match with his boot. After matric, in 1987, he played his debut season of first-class rugby for Northern Transvaal before switching to Natal, where he was part of the 1990 team that clinched the Currie Cup for the first time. 

He then moved to Italy where he played for L'Aquila during the 1991-1992 season and for San Donà in 1992–93. Between 1993 and 1996, he won 22 caps for South Africa.

After scoring some sensational tries during that campaign, Joel Stransky was called up to the national side in 1993. Then followed the successful '95 RWC which also saw the first final go into extra time.

Joel Stransky moved to Leicester Tigers in 1997 where he played for two seasons, winning the 1996-97 Pilkington Cup and the 19980-99 Allied Dunbar Premiership. He followed this up by moving into the role of backline coach at the club. 

In 2002, he was engaged by Bristol rugby as a coach, but the offer was subsequently withdrawn. Joel Stransky took legal action and was compensated.

Life after rugby for Monsieur Le Drop has been a life filled with epic adventure and serious tests of endurance. He worked hard to maintain an active lifestyle and thus took up cycling to stay fit and help him recover from all the serious injuries he sustained during his career. 

Cycling became a huge part of his life and Joel Stransky became a podium contender on numerous occassions, finishing some treacherous races like the coveted Epic and the Cape Town Cycle Tour. 

His 2017 Epic ended after just a few kilometres when he misjudged a jump and went over his handlebars. When he emerged from the dirt, Joel Stransky looked like he'd gone seven rounds with Mike Tyson. He'd broken some ribs and punctured a lung, and a plastic surgeon spent two-and-a-half hours stitching him back together.

The entrepreneur entered the business sector after rugby, while also acting as a regular TV commentator for SuperSport.