André Venter
Full names: André Gerhardus
Date of birth: 14 Nov 1970
Place of birth: Vereeniging
School: Kroonstad (Blouskool)
Springbok no: 634
Springbok debut province: Cheetahs
Physical: 1.95m, 103.4kg
Current age: 53
Test summary: Tests: 66 Tries: 9
First Test: 17 Aug 1996 Age 25 - Flank against New Zealand at Kingspark, Durban
Last Test: 1 Dec 2001 Age 31 - Reserve against USA at Robertson Stadium, UH, Houston
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
17 Aug 1996 25Flank New Zealand Kingspark, Durban Lose: 19-23  Cheetahs
24 Aug 1996 25Flank New Zealand Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lose: 26-33  Cheetahs
31 Aug 1996 25Flank New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 32-22  Cheetahs
09 Nov 1996 25Flank Argentina Ferrocarril-Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires Win: 46-151 try Cheetahs
16 Nov 1996 26Flank Argentina Ferrocarril-Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires Win: 44-211 try Cheetahs
30 Nov 1996 26Flank France Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Win: 22-12  Cheetahs
07 Dec 1996 26Flank France Parc des Princes, Paris Win: 13-12  Cheetahs
15 Dec 1996 26Flank Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 37-20  Cheetahs
10 Jun 1997 26Flank Tonga Newlands, Cape Town Win: 74-10  Cheetahs
21 Jun 1997 26Flank Britain Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 16-25  Cheetahs
28 Jun 1997 26Flank Britain Kingspark, Durban Lose: 15-18  Cheetahs
05 Jul 1997 26Flank Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 35-16  Cheetahs
19 Jul 1997 26Flank New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 32-35  Cheetahs
02 Aug 1997 26Flank Australia Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane Lose: 20-32  Cheetahs
09 Aug 1997 26Flank New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Lose: 35-55  Cheetahs
08 Nov 1997 26Flank Italy Dall'Ara Stadium, Bologna Win: 62-31  Cheetahs
15 Nov 1997 27Flank France Stade de Gerland, Lyon Win: 36-32  Cheetahs
22 Nov 1997 27Flank France Parc des Princes, Paris Win: 52-10  Cheetahs
29 Nov 1997 27Flank England Twickenham, London Win: 29-11  Cheetahs
06 Dec 1997 27Flank Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 68-101 try Cheetahs
13 Jun 1998 27Flank Ireland Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Win: 37-13  Cheetahs
20 Jun 1998 27Flank Ireland Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 33-0  Cheetahs
27 Jun 1998 27Flank Wales Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 96-132 tries Cheetahs
04 Jul 1998 27Flank England Newlands, Cape Town Win: 18-0  Cheetahs
18 Jul 1998 27Flank Australia Subiaco Oval, Perth Win: 14-13  Cheetahs
25 Jul 1998 27Flank New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Win: 13-3  Cheetahs
15 Aug 1998 27Flank New Zealand Kingspark, Durban Win: 24-23  Cheetahs
22 Aug 1998 27Flank Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 29-15  Cheetahs
14 Nov 1998 28Flank Wales Wembley, London Win: 28-201 try Cheetahs
21 Nov 1998 28Reserve Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 35-10  Cheetahs
28 Nov 1998 28Reserve Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 27-13  Cheetahs
05 Dec 1998 28Reserve England Twickenham, London Lose: 7-13  Cheetahs
12 Jun 1999 28Flank Italy Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 74-3  Cheetahs
19 Jun 1999 28Reserve Italy Kingspark, Durban Win: 101-0  Cheetahs
26 Jun 1999 28Reserve Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Lose: 19-29  Cheetahs
10 Jul 1999 28Flank New Zealand Carisbrook, Dunedin Lose: 0-28  Cheetahs
17 Jul 1999 28Flank Australia Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane Lose: 6-32  Cheetahs
07 Aug 1999 28Flank New Zealand Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lose: 18-34  Cheetahs
14 Aug 1999 28Flank Australia Newlands, Cape Town Win: 10-9  Cheetahs
03 Oct 1999 28Flank Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 46-291 try Cheetahs
15 Oct 1999 28Flank Uruguay Hampden Park, Glasgow Win: 39-3  Cheetahs
24 Oct 1999 28Flank England Stade de France, Paris Win: 44-21  Cheetahs
30 Oct 1999 28Flank Australia Twickenham, London Lose: 21-27  Cheetahs
04 Nov 1999 28Flank New Zealand Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 22-18  Cheetahs
10 Jun 2000 29Flank Canada Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London Win: 51-18  Cheetahs
17 Jun 2000 29Flank England Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 18-13  Cheetahs
24 Jun 2000 29Flank England Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Lose: 22-27  Cheetahs
08 Jul 2000 29Flank Australia Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium), Melbourne Lose: 23-44  Cheetahs
22 Jul 2000 29Lock New Zealand Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Lose: 12-25  Cheetahs
29 Jul 2000 29Flank Australia Stadium Australia, Sydney Lose: 6-26  Cheetahs
19 Aug 2000 29Lock New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 46-40  Cheetahs
26 Aug 2000 29Lock Australia Kingspark, Durban Lose: 18-19  Cheetahs
12 Nov 2000 29Flank Argentina River Plate, Buenos Aires Win: 37-33  Cheetahs
19 Nov 2000 30Flank Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 28-181 try Cheetahs
26 Nov 2000 30Flank Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 23-13  Cheetahs
02 Dec 2000 30Flank England Twickenham, London Lose: 17-25  Cheetahs
16 Jun 2001 30Lock France Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 23-32  Cheetahs
30 Jun 2001 30Flank Italy Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Win: 60-141 try Cheetahs
21 Jul 2001 30Flank New Zealand Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 3-12  Cheetahs
28 Jul 2001 30Flank Australia Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 20-15  Cheetahs
18 Aug 2001 30Flank Australia Subiaco Oval, Perth Draw: 14-14  Cheetahs
25 Aug 2001 30Flank New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Lose: 15-26  Cheetahs
10 Nov 2001 30Reserve France Stade de France, Paris Lose: 10-20  Cheetahs
17 Nov 2001 31Reserve Italy Luigi Ferraris Stadium, Genoa Win: 54-26  Cheetahs
24 Nov 2001 31Reserve England Twickenham, London Lose: 9-29  Cheetahs
01 Dec 2001 31Reserve USA Robertson Stadium, UH, Houston Win: 43-20  Cheetahs

Springbok flanker André Venter has announced his retirement from rugby.

The powerful forward issued a surprise statement in Bloemfontein on Tuesday revealing he will quit the game at the end of the Currie Cup season on 26 October (2002).

Venter, once considered the fittest man in South African rugby, is the third most capped Springbok of all time.

He played in 66 Tests between 1996 and 2001 and has made more than 100 appearances for his Free State province.

"André has decided to retire from the game in order to give more attention to his family as well as to further expand his business," said Free State President Harold Verster. "Although it has come as a shock to our management, we fully understand and appreciate the reasons for his decision. André is widely acknowledged as one of South African rugby's greats.

He is a strong, silent character who not only impresses with his play but is able to leave an impression as a determined and disciplined person."

Venter was left in the international wilderness this year by injuries suffered at the beginning of the campaign.

But he has been in excellent form for Free State in the latter stages of the domestic season, helping propel them into the semi-finals of the Currie Cup.

And his efforts were rewarded with a international training squad place ahead of next month's European tour.

Venter, now 31, made his international debut against the All Blacks in 1996, when he replaced Francois Pienaar for the second Test in Durban.

He became only the third Springbok to be sent off in a Test when he was shown the red card for stamping on New Zealand skipper Sean Fitzpatrick in 1997.

"To have a player of Andre's calibre retire is a great loss to South African rugby," said Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli. "It is said in sporting circles that great players leave the game a year too early rather than a year too late."