Bjorn Basson

Bjorn Alberic Basson (born 11 February 1987 in King William's Town) is a South African professional rugby union player[1] playing as a wing or full-back for Enisei-STM in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Bjorn Basson
Full nameBjorn Alberic Basson
Date of birth (1987-02-11) 11 February 1987
Place of birthKing William's Town, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight87 kg (13 st 10 lb; 192 lb)
SchoolDale College
Notable relative(s)Logan Basson (brother),
Cody Basson (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Full-back
Current team Enisei-STM
Youth career
2005–2006 Border Bulldogs
2007 Griquas
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2010 Griquas 56 (235)
2009–2010 Cheetahs 9 (30)
2011–2016 Bulls 86 (145)
2011–2016 Blue Bulls 26 (105)
2015–2016 Honda Heat 6 (10)
2016 Blue Bulls XV 1 (0)
2017 Stormers 6 (15)
2017 Western Province 6 (20)
2017–2018 Oyonnax 6 (10)
2018–2019 Southern Kings 17 (40)
2019 Griquas 3 (0)
2019–present Enisei-STM 6 (15)
Correct as of 26 January 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2009 Emerging Springboks 4 (5)
2009 Highveld XV 1 (0)
2010–2013 South Africa 11 (15)
Correct as of 18 April 2018

Professional career

Griquas and Cheetahs

After playing for the Border U19 side in 2005 and 2006, he then moved to Kimberley to join Griquas. He made his debut in the 2008 Vodacom Cup competition, starting the match against former side Border Bulldogs in East London and scoring a try to help Griquas to a 15–5 win.[2] He played in eight matches, scoring five tries.[3] His first-ever Currie Cup season in 2008 saw him score a further six tries in eleven matches.[4]

As a Griquas player, he could also play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs. He was included in the Cheetahs in the 2009 Super 14 season, scoring one try in five appearances. He also scored one try in his three appearances for Griquas in the 2009 Vodacom Cup. He started twelve matches for Griquas in the 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division, as well as one substitute appearance and scored six tries to once again feature in the top ten try scorers list.[5]

2010 was Basson's most prolific season of all. He scored five tries in just four starts for the Cheetahs in the 2010 Super 14 season, six tries in his seven matches in the 2010 Vodacom Cup for Griquas, finishing joint third overall try scorer in the competition.[6] and two tries in a compulsory friendly match against SWD Eagles prior to the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division season[7]

He then broke the record for the most number of tries scored in a single Currie Cup season, scoring no less than 21 for Griquas in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division.[8]

Bulls

Basson signed a two-year contract with the Blue Bulls Company on 19 September 2010. He later extended his contract, signing on until October 2016.[9]

In 2011, Basson was the joint top try scorer in the 2011 Super Rugby season with eleven tries for the Bulls, along with Sean Maitland and Sarel Pretorius.[10]

Oyonnax

Basson joined French Top 14 side Oyonnax in December 2017, signing as a medical joker for the injured Matt Hopper.[11]

Southern Kings

Basson returned to South Africa in 2018 to join the Southern Kings ahead of the 2018–19 Pro14.[12]

National team

Emerging Springboks

In 2008, Basson was chosen to represent the Emerging Springboks team, which went on to win the 2008 IRB Nations Cup in Romania.[13]

During the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, he twice played against the Lions; once for the Royal XV[14] and again for the Emerging Springboks.[15]

South African national team

Basson was selected for the Springboks tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2010. He made his test debut on 5 June 2010 against Wales in Cardiff.[16]

On 15 November 2010 he and Chiliboy Ralepelle were suspended and sent home from the Northern Hemisphere tour after testing positive for a banned substance after the game against Ireland on 6 November 2010. Both players tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a "non-specified stimulant" on the prohibited substances list of WADA.[17]

Basson played in two tests during the 2012 mid-year series for the Springboks: their 36–27 win over England[18] and their 14–14 draw with England.[19]

Honours
  • 2010 – Award: Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Bjorn Basson". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 5-15 Wildeklawer Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2008 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2008 ABSA Currie Cup Premier Div". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2009 ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2010 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SWD 12-50 GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  8. "Basson breaks record". Times Live. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  9. "Basson to keep running with the Bulls" (Press release). Bulls. 27 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2011 Vodacom Super Rugby". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  11. "Björn Basson rejoint l'US Oyonnax Rugby comme joker médical de Matthew Hopper" (Press release) (in French). USO Rugby. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  12. "Kings get injection of firepower". Herald Live. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  13. "SA Rugby Squad – Emerging South Africa : 2008 IRB Nations Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Royal XV 25-37 British & Irish Lions". South African Rugby Union. 30 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Emerging Springboks 13-13 British & Irish Lions". South African Rugby Union. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Wales 31-34 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  17. "South Africa pair Ralepelle and Basson fail drug tests". BBC Sport. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 36-27 England". South African Rugby Union. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  19. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 14-14 England". South African Rugby Union. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
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