Bryan Gary Habana (born 12 June 1983 in Benoni, Gauteng) is a South African rugby player who is a wing for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, the Bulls in Super 14, and the Springboks internationally. He played outside centre and scrumhalf in provincial and age group rugby, but once he was moved to the wing a vast improvement was seen. Prior to his first year of Super Rugby he was selected into the South African Springbok side, ominously scoring a try with his first touch of the ball in test rugby in the end of year test against England in Twickenham in 2004.
Habana’s speed is legendary: he has been timed as the fastest winger in South African rugby and has demonstrated on many occasions at all levels of professional rugby his lethal finishing ability. In addition, he is an effective defender, especially in covering line breaks due to his great speed and ability to run down players in the open field. He has a great tackling technique, taking the legs out from under the attacker, and driving them into the ground.
Habana won international acclaim for his championship-winning try in the 2007 Super 14 final, as one sportswriter put it: “It was one of the most amazing finales to a major game ever seen… Habana’s swerving run was brilliant”.
Habana, developed by the Golden Lions and educated at King Edward VII School and Rand Afrikaans University (now a part of the University of Johannesburg), made his first senior international appearances as a member of the South African Sevens side in the 2003-04 World Sevens Series. He made his Currie Cup debut for the Lions in 2004, doing well enough to be voted the country’s most promising player that year. That November, he made his Test debut against England at Twickenham as a 21 year-old. Though the game was lost 32 points to 16, Habana came on as a reserve to score a try on debut against the then World Champions. The following week Habana was moved into the starting line up, where he contributed two tries to the 45 to 10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. The next week, he was selected in the same position, on the left wing, in that year’s final match against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Although he did not score any tries in the Argentina game, his current record stood at three tries from three tests.
In 2005, he moved to the Blue Bulls and Bulls. Following the 2005 Super 12 season, Habana was, as expected, including in the 2005 Springboks squad. He played on the left wing in South Africa’s opening match of 2005 against Uruguay, who the Springboks soundly defeated 134 points to three, with Habana scoring a double. South Africa then hosted France for a two test series; drawing the first 30-all, and winning the second 27 to 13, with Habana, scoring two tries in both games. In the lead-up to the 2005 Tri Nations, Habana played in two tests against Australia, the first, a loss at Telstra Stadium, and then a 33 to 20 win at home at Ellis Park, with Habana scoring in the second test.
Habana made his Tri Nations debut on July 30 against the Wallabies at the Bulls’ home of Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. South Africa won the match 22 points to 16. The subsequent match against the All Blacks at Newlands was also a win for South Africa. In the second match against Australia in Perth, Habana scored two tries in the 22 to 19 win. The All Blacks won the last match of the series, a thrilling 31 to 27 win for the New Zealanders at Carisbrook. Though South Africa did not win the series, Habana had fully emerged as force on the international stage, finishing as the tournament’s highest try-scorer, tying with New Zealands’ Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko. In the Currie Cup, the Blue Bulls made it to the final, which was played at home at Loftus Versfeld, against the Free State Cheetahs. The Cheetahs, somewhat underdogs, won the final. In November of that year, Habana earned caps for South Africa against Argentina, Wales and France, scoring two tries in the Welsh match. Habana was named to the five-man shortlist for 2005 IRB World Player of the Year, and was also selected by SA Rugby as 2005 South Africa Player of the Year.
In April 2007 Habana competed against a cheetah in a 100 meter race to help raise awarness on the in imminent danger of the cheetah being classified as an endangered species, according to De Wildt officials.
Habana’s most dramatic act of the 2007 Super 14 season was his last minute try in the final, enabling flyhalf Derick Hougaard to make an easy conversion and giving the Bulls a dramatic 20-19 victory over the Sharks.
The Springbok wing gave short, separate interviews – supervised by his father and manager Bernie – to selected journalists, including Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing, who asked him:
After hoisting the Currie Cup with the Blue Bulls last weekend, were you tempted toward any feeling of “what have I done?†by quitting such a successful franchise?
Yeah, obviously it was a little bit emotional. They’ve been my life for five years; I’d been part of the woodwork. So there was sadness, but at the same time it felt fitting to leave in the fashion I did, winning the cup and helping with two tries. It’s never easy leaving anything successful but I know I’ve made the right decision for me, Bryan … don’t forget I’d made up my mind two and a half months ago. The Bulls has been an unbelievable chapter of (my life); I was saying goodbye to a family. I’m moving on to one of the most beautiful places in the world and something different and exciting.
Is it correct to observe that the Bulls players and fans have generally accepted your decision to go with good grace?
Look, a couple of guys up there might still feel I haven’t made the right decision, but the send-off I’ve had in the last month and the sentiments I’ve received from players and supporters alike have really been amazing. I’ve given everything I could possibly give to the Bulls for five years, and hopefully the memories I’ve left will mean something to them. I think they really respect me as a rugby player, never mind any Bulls or Western Province jersey.
Is it accurate to say that Newlands acquires a player very much at the peak of his powers?
Ja, I said to Rassie (Erasmus) that I’m not coming here to be some sort of “saving grace†that WP might be looking for. There’s guys like Jaque Fourie also coming down so there’s heaps of potential … Province were one high tackle away from getting into a home final, remember. Taking aside my presence, there are strong ingredients in this recipe; Jaque and I will just add to it. It’s been a good year, 2009 … the previous one wasn’t quite what I was looking for by my standards, I guess. With the help of the guys I’ve had around me over the last 16 months or so I’ve been able to find myself again and I’m enjoying my rugby. I want to make a difference here.
There’s a lobby who may always contend that, considering your talents, you are occasionally “wasted†out on the left wing: with Rassie Erasmus not afraid of positional experimentation, might you be seen sometimes in other spots on the park for the Stormers and WP?
I don’t think the plan for me will change too much. There are a lot of fantastic players in various positions here – you’ve got a guy like Fabian Juries having signed up. I believe he was one of the exciting finds of the Currie Cup, even if he’s a little bit older. Jaque Fourie is probably the best centre in the world at the moment, and Juan de Jongh was most promising player of the year. Joe Pietersen had a great Currie Cup and was highly recommended as player of the year. So I’m here to lend as much experience and know-how as I can; help some youngsters. I believe that someone like Dewaldt Duvenage is in the same sort of mould as Fourie du Preez and given the right mentoring can become one of the best scrumhalves in the country and world. So there’s lots of potential, but I definitely see myself personally as a wing at the moment. Hopefully my work-rate both on and off the field really assists players in other positions.
If you had to choose one team as main stumbling block to the Stormers in 2010, would it still be the Bulls?
(Laughter) Yeah, it’s going to be tough playing them at Newlands in the Super 14! But the Stormers showed at Loftus in this year’s competition, with a great performance by Luke Watson, that they’ve really overcome any mindset issues by only losing by four points to a full-strength Bulls at a packed stadium. Of course they showed in the Currie Cup what they are capable of, too. But any team in the world is going to find it difficult playing the Bulls … ask the Chiefs in the 2009 final. But the Province-Bulls sort of rivalry goes back decades, so it’s not a special stumbling block, even if the Bulls are probably the best rugby team in the world at the moment.
Does the favourable Super 14 draw for the Stormers, with the extra home match and shorter tour next year, give you extra hope they’ll be semi-finalists?
You don’t want to (jump the gun). I’ve learnt through past experience in Super rugby that you can’t look beyond your next game. Let’s first get into camp in December and see how it goes … I’ve first got to meet up with all the players. I’m coming here as an uncapped Province player, the ‘newby’: even Juan de Jongh has 20-odd more Currie Cup caps! I’ve got to learn to be a part of this set-up and embrace this culture. Whether the draw is favourable or unfavourable … I mean, the Bulls have won the title off two unfavourable draws. It emphasises my game-for-game point.
Was there any feeling of “new respect†in the Bulls dressing room after Province had come so close in the Currie Cup semi?
Definitely. The guys’ bodies were certainly a bit sore and we were really happy about having that extra week off before the final against the Cheetahs. Province really ran out that day and proved their worth. They showed, for instance, that that old “softest tight five in the country†(label) was really not the case at all. A lot of respect was given and, like I said, Province were one high tackle away from the final. They’re developing a great squad, with some nice signings, if you throw in young Lionel Cronje from the Free State as well. It’s a good mix.
From a lifestyle point of view, what will be the biggest impact on you in terms of adjustment to Cape Town culture?
I suppose getting to grips with the weather! A little bit wetter and colder than the Highveld. But it’s an amazing, cosmopolitan city, one of the nicest on the planet on a great day. You don’t get much better. I’ll probably miss the thunderstorms and the quick, 45-minute rain showers up north … but there have got to be reasons so many international people set up homes in Cape Town. It’s a vibrant and happening place, and we’re very excited about the switch.
Bryan Gary Habana (born 12 June 1983 in Benoni, Gauteng) is a South African rugby player who is a wing for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, the Bulls in Super 14, and the Springboks internationally. He played outside centre and scrumhalf in provincial and age group rugby, but once he was moved to the wing a vast improvement was seen. Prior to his first year of Super Rugby he was selected into the South African Springbok side, ominously scoring a try with his first touch of the ball in test rugby in the end of year test against England in Twickenham in 2004.
Habana’s speed is legendary: he has been timed as the fastest winger in South African rugby and has demonstrated on many occasions at all levels of professional rugby his lethal finishing ability. In addition, he is an effective defender, especially in covering line breaks due to his great speed and ability to run down players in the open field. He has a great tackling technique, taking the legs out from under the attacker, and driving them into the ground.
Habana won international acclaim for his championship-winning try in the 2007 Super 14 final, as one sportswriter put it: “It was one of the most amazing finales to a major game ever seen… Habana’s swerving run was brilliant”.
Habana, developed by the Golden Lions and educated at King Edward VII School and Rand Afrikaans University (now a part of the University of Johannesburg), made his first senior international appearances as a member of the South African Sevens side in the 2003-04 World Sevens Series. He made his Currie Cup debut for the Lions in 2004, doing well enough to be voted the country’s most promising player that year. That November, he made his Test debut against England at Twickenham as a 21 year-old. Though the game was lost 32 points to 16, Habana came on as a reserve to score a try on debut against the then World Champions. The following week Habana was moved into the starting line up, where he contributed two tries to the 45 to 10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. The next week, he was selected in the same position, on the left wing, in that year’s final match against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Although he did not score any tries in the Argentina game, his current record stood at three tries from three tests.
In 2005, he moved to the Blue Bulls and Bulls. Following the 2005 Super 12 season, Habana was, as expected, including in the 2005 Springboks squad. He played on the left wing in South Africa’s opening match of 2005 against Uruguay, who the Springboks soundly defeated 134 points to three, with Habana scoring a double. South Africa then hosted France for a two test series; drawing the first 30-all, and winning the second 27 to 13, with Habana, scoring two tries in both games. In the lead-up to the 2005 Tri Nations, Habana played in two tests against Australia, the first, a loss at Telstra Stadium, and then a 33 to 20 win at home at Ellis Park, with Habana scoring in the second test.
Habana made his Tri Nations debut on July 30 against the Wallabies at the Bulls’ home of Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. South Africa won the match 22 points to 16. The subsequent match against the All Blacks at Newlands was also a win for South Africa. In the second match against Australia in Perth, Habana scored two tries in the 22 to 19 win. The All Blacks won the last match of the series, a thrilling 31 to 27 win for the New Zealanders at Carisbrook. Though South Africa did not win the series, Habana had fully emerged as force on the international stage, finishing as the tournament’s highest try-scorer, tying with New Zealands’ Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko. In the Currie Cup, the Blue Bulls made it to the final, which was played at home at Loftus Versfeld, against the Free State Cheetahs. The Cheetahs, somewhat underdogs, won the final. In November of that year, Habana earned caps for South Africa against Argentina, Wales and France, scoring two tries in the Welsh match. Habana was named to the five-man shortlist for 2005 IRB World Player of the Year, and was also selected by SA Rugby as 2005 South Africa Player of the Year.
In April 2007 Habana competed against a cheetah in a 100 meter race to help raise awarness on the in imminent danger of the cheetah being classified as an endangered species, according to De Wildt officials.
Habana’s most dramatic act of the 2007 Super 14 season was his last minute try in the final, enabling flyhalf Derick Hougaard to make an easy conversion and giving the Bulls a dramatic 20-19 victory over the Sharks.
The Springbok wing gave short, separate interviews – supervised by his father and manager Bernie – to selected journalists, including Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing, who asked him:
After hoisting the Currie Cup with the Blue Bulls last weekend, were you tempted toward any feeling of “what have I done?†by quitting such a successful franchise?
Yeah, obviously it was a little bit emotional. They’ve been my life for five years; I’d been part of the woodwork. So there was sadness, but at the same time it felt fitting to leave in the fashion I did, winning the cup and helping with two tries. It’s never easy leaving anything successful but I know I’ve made the right decision for me, Bryan … don’t forget I’d made up my mind two and a half months ago. The Bulls has been an unbelievable chapter of (my life); I was saying goodbye to a family. I’m moving on to one of the most beautiful places in the world and something different and exciting.
Is it correct to observe that the Bulls players and fans have generally accepted your decision to go with good grace?
Look, a couple of guys up there might still feel I haven’t made the right decision, but the send-off I’ve had in the last month and the sentiments I’ve received from players and supporters alike have really been amazing. I’ve given everything I could possibly give to the Bulls for five years, and hopefully the memories I’ve left will mean something to them. I think they really respect me as a rugby player, never mind any Bulls or Western Province jersey.
Is it accurate to say that Newlands acquires a player very much at the peak of his powers?
Ja, I said to Rassie (Erasmus) that I’m not coming here to be some sort of “saving grace†that WP might be looking for. There’s guys like Jaque Fourie also coming down so there’s heaps of potential … Province were one high tackle away from getting into a home final, remember. Taking aside my presence, there are strong ingredients in this recipe; Jaque and I will just add to it. It’s been a good year, 2009 … the previous one wasn’t quite what I was looking for by my standards, I guess. With the help of the guys I’ve had around me over the last 16 months or so I’ve been able to find myself again and I’m enjoying my rugby. I want to make a difference here.
There’s a lobby who may always contend that, considering your talents, you are occasionally “wasted†out on the left wing: with Rassie Erasmus not afraid of positional experimentation, might you be seen sometimes in other spots on the park for the Stormers and WP?
I don’t think the plan for me will change too much. There are a lot of fantastic players in various positions here – you’ve got a guy like Fabian Juries having signed up. I believe he was one of the exciting finds of the Currie Cup, even if he’s a little bit older. Jaque Fourie is probably the best centre in the world at the moment, and Juan de Jongh was most promising player of the year. Joe Pietersen had a great Currie Cup and was highly recommended as player of the year. So I’m here to lend as much experience and know-how as I can; help some youngsters. I believe that someone like Dewaldt Duvenage is in the same sort of mould as Fourie du Preez and given the right mentoring can become one of the best scrumhalves in the country and world. So there’s lots of potential, but I definitely see myself personally as a wing at the moment. Hopefully my work-rate both on and off the field really assists players in other positions.
If you had to choose one team as main stumbling block to the Stormers in 2010, would it still be the Bulls?
(Laughter) Yeah, it’s going to be tough playing them at Newlands in the Super 14! But the Stormers showed at Loftus in this year’s competition, with a great performance by Luke Watson, that they’ve really overcome any mindset issues by only losing by four points to a full-strength Bulls at a packed stadium. Of course they showed in the Currie Cup what they are capable of, too. But any team in the world is going to find it difficult playing the Bulls … ask the Chiefs in the 2009 final. But the Province-Bulls sort of rivalry goes back decades, so it’s not a special stumbling block, even if the Bulls are probably the best rugby team in the world at the moment.
Does the favourable Super 14 draw for the Stormers, with the extra home match and shorter tour next year, give you extra hope they’ll be semi-finalists?
You don’t want to (jump the gun). I’ve learnt through past experience in Super rugby that you can’t look beyond your next game. Let’s first get into camp in December and see how it goes … I’ve first got to meet up with all the players. I’m coming here as an uncapped Province player, the ‘newby’: even Juan de Jongh has 20-odd more Currie Cup caps! I’ve got to learn to be a part of this set-up and embrace this culture. Whether the draw is favourable or unfavourable … I mean, the Bulls have won the title off two unfavourable draws. It emphasises my game-for-game point.
Was there any feeling of “new respect†in the Bulls dressing room after Province had come so close in the Currie Cup semi?
Definitely. The guys’ bodies were certainly a bit sore and we were really happy about having that extra week off before the final against the Cheetahs. Province really ran out that day and proved their worth. They showed, for instance, that that old “softest tight five in the country†(label) was really not the case at all. A lot of respect was given and, like I said, Province were one high tackle away from the final. They’re developing a great squad, with some nice signings, if you throw in young Lionel Cronje from the Free State as well. It’s a good mix.
From a lifestyle point of view, what will be the biggest impact on you in terms of adjustment to Cape Town culture?
I suppose getting to grips with the weather! A little bit wetter and colder than the Highveld. But it’s an amazing, cosmopolitan city, one of the nicest on the planet on a great day. You don’t get much better. I’ll probably miss the thunderstorms and the quick, 45-minute rain showers up north … but there have got to be reasons so many international people set up homes in Cape Town. It’s a vibrant and happening place, and we’re very excited about the switch.