Top 10 Interesting Facts About CJ Stander

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Top 10 Interesting Facts about CJ Stander

CJ Stander fully known as Christian Johan Stander is a South Africa-Irish rugby player who was born on 5^th April 1990 in George, South Africa. Before beginning his career in rugby, he was a very popular discus thrower as a teenager.

He began pursuing his career in rugby early in life while in his native South Africa where he played for the Blue Bulls in Currie Cup.

CJ Stander married Jean-Marie in 2013 after they had met two years previously. Jean-Marie is the sister of the popular South Africa Olympic gold medalist, Ryk Neethling.

CJ Stander has a brother; Janneman Stander, a popular South Africa rugby union player for the SWD Eagles.  The couple was blessed with a beautiful daughter named Everli who was born in August 2018.

During the Limerick awards in 2021, CJ Stander was named an honorary Limerick man and he also had the opportunity to appear on The Late Late Show.

After retiring from rugby, he went back to South Africa with his family where he worked as a project controller for the construction company named Val de Vie Construction.

Below are the top ten interesting facts about CJ Stander

1. CJ Stander Began his Career Very Young

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CJ Shttps://unsplash.com/photos/6N8VK–wvbYtander began his career at a very young age nine years after he went to Blanco Primary School to pursue his studies. While in Blanco, he played as a fly-half but after transferring to Hoer Landbouskool Oakdale he shifted to position number eight at the age of fourteen.

For three consecutive years, he earned the provincial colors after playing for the SWD eagles during the youth tournaments.

He also represented his team during the under 16 Grant Khomo week which took place in Wellington, Western Cape. He started in all three tournaments and held them to win two victories and a draw.

2. He was Named the Captain of the SWD Team

CJ Stander was named the captain of the SWD team in 2006, despite being in the Under-17 age category. He was chosen as the captain during the premier high school rugby union tournament which took place in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

During the tournament, he led from the front and managed to score two trials against Leopards, one trial against KwaZulu-Natal, and a fascinating hat-trick against Griffons in the final match.

His performance attracted the attention of the national team selectors who appointed him as the captain of the South Africa Schools Academy side.

3. He Helped the SWD Team to be Crowned Champions

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CJ Stander was named the captain of the SWD team in 2008 for the second time during the Craven Week which took place in Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool in Pretoria. In the first match, he helped his team to win against the host, Blue Bulls.

He also scored two trials in the second match against Pumas and one trial for the victory against the Free State. He helped his team to be crowned the champions for the first time since 2001.

4. He Played for the South Africa Under-20 Team

CJ Stander played for the South Africa under-20 team during the Junior World Championship which was held in Japan. He always began his matches in the number eight jersey and he scored the first trial during the tournament.

He also helped his team in two further victories against France and Italy in Pool C. The team however did not reach the finals as they lost during the semi-finals against England. They finished in the third position after beating Australia in their final match.

5. CJ Stander Signed a Contract with Irish Province Munster

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CJ Stander managed to sign a two years contract with the Irish Province Munster in 2012 after the end of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season. He claimed that the reason he signed for the team was that he was considered very small for South Africa International.

Since Munster could not sign an international player, he was signed as a project player. He could also play for Ireland during the World Rugby if he stayed in Munster for three years.

6. He Almost Slept on the Street After Getting Lost

CJ Stander almost slept on the street after visiting Ireland and went for a night out with his teammates. In the process, he was left alone and without any knowledge of the area, and with limited English, he was stranded. He however recalled one of his teammates’ residences and got a taxi to his home.

7. He Won the Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award

CJ Stander won the Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award in 2015 and became the first overseas player to win the award. He also won the man of the match award in 2015 after a draw against Ulster.

He was named the man of the match in the same year against Ospreys during the semi-final.

8. CJ Stander Won the Prayer of the Year Award for the Rugby Player’s Ireland

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CJ Stander was named the player of the year in the Rugby Player’s Ireland in 2016 and became the third overseas player to win the award.

He also became the first oversea player to ever win the Irish Times-sponsored Supporter Player of the Year Award.

9. He took up a Job as a Project Controller

CJ Stander finally retired from his rugby career and went back to his country in South Africa where he settled in the Western Cape in the town of Paarl. There he took up a job as a project controller for the construction company named Val de Vie Construction.

10. He Went on Early Retirement to Raise his Family In South Africa

Although CJ Stander was still in very good form for playing rugby, he shocked everyone with his announcement of early retirement. The reason he gave for his retirement was to take care of his young daughter and family while in South Africa.

CJ Stander is a very popular rugby player who has been recognized for his massive success in his career. He began playing rugby from a very young age of nine years and he won several awards during his career. He however went on early retirement to raise his young daughter in South Africa.