Coenie Oosthuizen

Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen (born 22 March 1989), nicknamed 'Coenie' or 'Shrek', is a professional rugby union player for in the English Premiership. He previously represented the and in the Currie Cup, the and in Super Rugby and also was chosen for the Springboks squad in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making his test debut in the first test against England in Durban in 2012.

Rugby career

Oosthuizen went to Laerskool Gustav Preller in Roodepoort for his primary education and attended Grey College in Bloemfontein.

Oosthuizen plays in the loose-head prop position, although he can play both sides of the scrum. He boasts surprising pace for a man of his colossal weight (127 kg). He ended the 2010 Currie Cup season as the Cheetahs top try scorer. Oosthuizen is known for his strong runs and work rate around the pitch but has often struggled in the scrum against the more technical scrummagers.

In 2010 Coenie scored a hat trick of tries for the Free State Cheetahs in a Currie Cup game against the neighbouring Griquas team. It is after a stand-out season for the Cheetahs during the 2010 Currie Cup domestic rugby season that Coenie was selected as part of the Springbok squad for the November 2010 tour of Europe.

Oosthuizen made his first test appearance on 9 June 2012 against England in Durban.

On 13 May 2019, it was announced that he had signed a 3-year deal with Sale Sharks, and would join them after the conclusion of the 2019 Super Rugby season.

In 2016, Oosthuizen was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team. He came on as a replacement in their first match in Bloemfontein, but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners. He also played off the bench in the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.

International tries

Squads Coenie Oosthuizen is/was involved in the following squads: 2014 Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) Springboks (2014 mid-year rugby union tests ) 2013 Springboks (Outgoing Tours – British Isles & France) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) Springboks (2013 mid-year rugby union tests and 2013 Rugby Championship) 2012 Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) Springboks (one call-up against England) 2011 Toyota Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) Springboks (Tri-Nations (rugby union)) 2010 Springboks (Outgoing Tours – British Isles) Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) 2009 Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) South Africa National Under-20 (IRB Junior World Championship) Cheetahs (Super Rugby) 2008 Free State U21 (ABSA Under 21 Competition) Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup) Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (Vodacom Cup) Shimlas (FNB Varsity Cup) 2007 Free State U/19 (ABSA U/19 Competition) SA Schools (SA Schools) Free State (U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week) 2006 Free State (U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week) 2005 Free State (U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week) 2002 Golden Lions (U/13 Coca-Cola Craven Week)