Bjorn Basson

Bjorn Alberic Basson (born 11 February 1987) is a South African professional rugby union player playing as a wing or full-back for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR).

He previously played for Enisei-STM in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Professional career

Griquas and Cheetahs

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

As a Griquas player, he could also play Super Rugby for the . He was included in the in the 2009 Super 14 season, scoring one try in five appearances. He also scored one try in his three appearances for in the 2009 Vodacom Cup. He started twelve matches for 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.

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

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.

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.

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

Stormers

Oyonnax

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

Southern Kings

Basson returned to South Africa in 2018 to join the ahead of the 2018–19 Pro14.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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