Cecil Afrika facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cecil Afrika

Afrika in 2012
Date of birth	(1988-03-03) 3 March 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Weight	65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb)
School	Hentie Cilliers, Virginia
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Current team South Africa Sevens Youth Career 2004–2007 Griffons Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–2009 Griffons 48 (187) 2017 Free State XV 1 (0) 2017 Free State Cheetahs 4 (10) 2017 Cheetahs 2 (0) 2021– San Diego Legion 15 (19) Correct as of 15 July 2021 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2006 South Africa Schools () 2008 South Africa Under-20 4 (5) 2009–2020 South Africa Sevens 345 (1,462) Correct as of 23 April 2021

Cecil Sebastian Afrika is a famous South African rugby sevens player. He was born on March 3, 1988. He played for the South Africa national team, often as a flyhalf. He also played for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR).

Cecil Afrika was part of the South African Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Early Life and Junior Rugby

Cecil Afrika went to Hentie Cilliers High School. This school is in Virginia, South Africa. In 2006, he played for the South African Schoolboys team. He was also part of the South African Under-20 squad. This team played in the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. They finished in third place.

Playing for the National Sevens Team

Cecil Afrika started playing for the South African sevens team in 2009. His first big game was in Dubai. He quickly became a key player.

In 2011, he was the top try-scorer and point-scorer. This was for the 2010–11 IRB Sevens World Series. He scored 40 tries and 385 points. That same year, he won a big award. He was named the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year.

Commonwealth Games Success

Cecil Afrika helped his team win medals at the Commonwealth Games.

2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi

In October 2010, Cecil Afrika played in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. He helped the South African team win a bronze medal. This was a big moment for him. It showed everyone how talented he was.

2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Cecil was chosen for the team again in 2014. This time, the games were in Glasgow. South Africa wanted to beat New Zealand. New Zealand had won every Sevens gold medal since 1998. The Rugby sevens at the 2014 Commonwealth Games was a huge success for South Africa. They won the gold medal!

2016 Summer Olympics in Rio

Cecil Afrika was part of the 12-player squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

He played a big role in the tournament. In their first game, he scored two tries. South Africa won 24–0 against Spain. He also helped his team beat France 26–0.

In the quarter-finals, South Africa played Australia. Cecil helped them win 22–5. They then played Great Britain in the semi-finals. South Africa lost this game 5–7.

For the bronze medal match, South Africa played Japan. Cecil Afrika scored two tries. He also kicked five conversions. South Africa won 54–14. This victory earned them a bronze medal.

Career Achievements

Cecil Afrika has many great achievements in rugby:

• He played 345 matches for South Africa.
• He holds the record for most points for South Africa. He scored 1465 points.
• He won the 2010/2011 IRB International Sevens Player of the Year award.
• He won a Bronze Medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
• He won a Gold Medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
• He won a Bronze Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Retirement and New Role

Cecil Afrika retired from international sevens rugby in June 2020. He was South Africa's all-time leading scorer in the World Series.

After his long career, he became an ambassador. In 2021, he was named the International Rugby Board 'Keep Rugby Clean' Ambassador for sevens. This role helps promote fair play in rugby.

Club Rugby Career

Before joining the national sevens team, Cecil Afrika played for the Griffons. This team is part of the South African Currie Cup. In 2017, he also played a short time for the Cheetahs. They were in their first season of the Pro14 league.

In 2021, Cecil Afrika joined the American team San Diego Legion. He played as a fullback for them.