Bryan Habana facts for kids
Habana speaking at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards in 2024
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| Birth name | Bryan Gary Habana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 12 June 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | King Edward VII School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Rand Afrikaans University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bryan Gary Habana (born 12 June 1983) is a famous South African former rugby union player. He was known for his incredible speed and for scoring many tries. He usually played as a wing, a position for the fastest players on the team. Many people think he is one of the greatest rugby players of all time.
Habana was a key player for the South African team, known as the Springboks, that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. During that tournament, he scored eight tries, tying the record for the most tries in a single World Cup. Because of his amazing performance, he was named the IRB Player of the Year in 2007.
Over his career, Habana scored 67 tries in international matches, making him the second-highest try scorer in the history of test rugby. He played for several top clubs in South Africa and France before retiring in 2018.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Bryan Habana was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. His parents were big fans of the Manchester United football club and named him after two of its players, Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey. He went to King Edward VII School and later studied at Rand Afrikaans University.
As a young player, Habana played in the outside centre and scrum-half positions. He was so talented that he was chosen for the South Africa Sevens team, which plays a faster, seven-a-side version of rugby. In 2004, he made his debut in South Africa's main domestic competition, the Currie Cup, for the Golden Lions. He played so well that he was voted the country's most promising player.
His big break came in November 2004 when, at age 21, he played his first international match (or "Test") for South Africa against England. Even though South Africa lost, Habana scored a try with the very first ball he touched. This was the start of an amazing international career.
Rise to Stardom
In 2005, Habana moved to the Blue Bulls team and continued to impress. He was a star in the 2005 Tri Nations Series, a major tournament between South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. He finished as the top try-scorer of the tournament, tying with two New Zealand players. His skill and speed made him a fan favorite and one of the most exciting players to watch in the world.
In 2006, the Springboks had a tough year, but Habana continued to play well. He even played in the centre position for the first time for his country, showing how versatile he was.
Racing a Cheetah
In 2007, Habana did something very unusual for a rugby player: he raced against a cheetah! The 100-meter race was set up to raise awareness about cheetahs being an endangered species. Although Habana is incredibly fast for a human, he lost the race. Cheetahs can run up to 112 km/h (70 mph), while Habana's top speed is around 35 km/h (22 mph). The event was a fun way to bring attention to an important cause.
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup in France was the high point of Habana's career. He was in amazing form throughout the tournament. In the first game against Samoa, he scored four tries. He scored two more against the USA and another two in the semi-final against Argentina.
His eight tries in the tournament tied the record set by the legendary Jonah Lomu. Habana's incredible performance helped the Springboks win the World Cup, beating England in the final. For his efforts, he was named the IRB Player of the Year, the highest individual honor in world rugby.
A Global Rugby Icon
After the World Cup, Habana was one of the most famous rugby players on the planet. He continued to be a key player for the Springboks and his club teams.
British & Irish Lions Tour
In 2009, the British & Irish Lions—a special team made up of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—toured South Africa. This happens only once every 12 years and is a huge event. In the second match of the series, Habana scored a memorable try that helped the Springboks come from behind to win the game and the series.
Club Career in South Africa and France
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Habana played for two of South Africa's biggest Super Rugby teams, the Bulls and the Stormers. With the Bulls, he won the Super Rugby title in 2007 and 2009. In 2010, he moved to Cape Town to play for the Stormers and Western Province.
In 2013, Habana moved to France to play for the wealthy club Toulon. Playing in Europe, he won the top European club competition, the Heineken Cup, in 2014, and the renamed European Champions Cup in 2015. He also won the French Top 14 league in 2014.
Later International Career
Habana played in two more Rugby World Cups. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he scored a hat-trick (three tries) against the USA. This brought his total number of World Cup tries to 15, tying him with Jonah Lomu for the most World Cup tries ever. South Africa finished third in that tournament.
Habana played his last match for the Springboks in 2016. He retired from all rugby in April 2018, ending his career as a true legend of the sport. In 2023, he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
Honours and Awards
Habana won many trophies and awards during his career.
Team Trophies
- Rugby World Cup (with South Africa): 2007
- Tri-Nations (with South Africa): 2009
- Super Rugby (with the Bulls): 2007, 2009
- Heineken Cup/European Champions Cup (with Toulon): 2014, 2015
- French Top 14 (with Toulon): 2014
- Currie Cup (with the Blue Bulls & Western Province): 2009, 2012
Individual Awards
- IRB Player of the Year: 2007
- South African Player of the Year: 2005, 2007, 2012
- World Rugby Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2023
Personal Life
Bryan Habana married his longtime girlfriend, Janine Viljoen, in 2009. He is known for being a dedicated family man and a great ambassador for the sport of rugby.
See also
In Spanish: Bryan Habana para niños
- List of international rugby union tries by Bryan Habana
