AJ Venter

AJ Venter
Birth name	Albertus Johannes Venter
Date of birth	29 July 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Bethulie, Free State, South Africa
Height	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	106 kg (16 st 10 lb)
School	Technical High School Louis Botha, Bloemfontein
University	Technicon Bloemfontein
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Versatile Forward
Senior career
Years	Team
1997-1998	Free State Cheetahs
1998–1999	Golden Lions
1999	Golden Lions
2000–2007	Sharks
2000–2008	Sharks
2005	Natal Wildebeest
2008	Western Province
2009	Stormers
1997–2009	Total
	Correct as of 2 November 2021
International career
Years	Team
1998, 2003	South Africa 'A'
2000–2004, 2006	South Africa (test)
2000	South Africa (tour)
2006	South Africa XV
	Correct as of 2 November 2021
Official website
	https://www.lifewithaj.net

AJ Venter (born 29 July 1973) is a retired South African rugby union footballer, who played rugby for the Sharks in the international Super Rugby competition, and the Sharks in the domestic Currie Cup competition. Venter also played for the South African national team, the Springboks.

Venter made his debut for South Africa on 26 November 2000 in a Test against Wales in Cardiff, and went on to represent the Springboks 25 times. His usual position was as flanker, but he also played at lock or No 8.

After retiring from professional rugby, Venter up-skilled himself within the financial sector and worked with institutions like ABSA and Old Mutual.

Early life and education

Playing career

In 2002, Venter, along with Richie McCaw of New Zealand, saved referee David McHugh from injury when a drunk South African fan ran onto the pitch during a 2002 Tri-Nations game between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban. McCaw wrestled the fan off the referee while Venter ran and tackled both McCaw and the fan to the ground before the rest of the players attempted to drag him off as security ran onto the field.

AJ Venter was selected for the second-string squad for the away legs of the 2007 Tri Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand as almost 20 first team players were either rested or injured. However he decided to retire from International rugby and hence withdrew from the Springboks touring squad. His retirement meant that he also missed out on a possible World Cup place with the Springboks, but he cited personal and business commitments in Durban and South Africa as his reasons for the retirement.

Venter continued playing for the Sharks until the end of the 2008 Super 14 competition.^[1]

Later in the year, Venter rekindled his passion for the game after a lack of game time, including a controversial exclusion from the Sharks semi-final team. He joined the Stormers (Western Province) on a short-term contract, before finally hanging up his boots.

Personal life

Venter is in a relationship with Danielle Oldfield, a holistic dietitian and keynote speaker from Durban, he also had two divorces in his early life.^[2] Venter has talked about going through a tough time in business post rugby and experiencing anxiety, he does a keynote on the lessons learned from these moments of hardship and runs a life skills program for school kids on how to navigate the challenging moments life throws at us.^[3]^[4]

References

^ [1]
^ "From the mag: AJ Venter on anxiety, lessons learned". sarugbymag.co.za. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
^ "Former Springbok opens up on mental health battle". rugbypass.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
^ "From the mag: AJ Venter on anxiety, lessons learned". sarugbymag.co.za. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

External links

[1] [1]

[2] "From the mag: AJ Venter on anxiety, lessons learned". sarugbymag.co.za. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

[3] "Former Springbok opens up on mental health battle". rugbypass.com. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

[4] "From the mag: AJ Venter on anxiety, lessons learned". sarugbymag.co.za. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

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