Joggie Jansen Biography

A rugby old hand from an era long-passed but well remembered, Joggie Jansen was an excellent centre and had formidable defensive capabilities, a lesson well learnt by Wayne Cottrell.

The youngster (at heart) was born in Griekwastad in February 1948 and attended the local Griekwastad high school before heading off to the University of the Free State to study.

He recalls playing his first rugby game at the age of five against lads twice his age as the teams were based on weight and not age. An experience that helped him develop into the legend he is now undoubtedly.

Joachim Scholtz Jansen, or ‘Joggie’ as he was known, spent much of his formative years indulging in the game and partook in the first ever Craven Week tournament in 1964 when he was 16 years old. He represented the Griquas at the time.

A year later he would pay a visit to the Springboks at the time with some of his team to learn the ropes. It was at this time that a proper tackle was demonstrated to him and his peers with him being the prop. A demonstration that he carried with him throughout the years.

On a separate occasion whilst at university his captain would give him a rollicking about allowing his man to pass him and score a try.  A recollection Joggie Jansen holds dear to this day as it again solidified what standard his defensive capabilities should be at.

After university he would go on to play for the Free State and made 61 appearances for the side. They also won the Currie Cup in 1976 against Western Province 33 - 16.

Joggie Jansen made his debut for the Springboks in 1970 against New Zealand and it was in this game that he absolutely hammered Wayne Cottrell while the All Blacks were formulating an attack. The tackle left the forward reeling on the ground and is known as one of the centre’s finest tackles.

He went on to make 10 test appearances for the Springboks, winning eight of them and drawing one to France in Durban.

The vibrant old timer displayed great passion for the game and continues to do so years after his era, a testament to the joy that Joggie Jansen derived from the game and spread to everyone else.