Springbok no. 649 · Flank

Rassie Erasmus

Johan Erasmus · Cheetahs, Lions

36Tests

7Tries

4Tours

24Age at debut

Test career

199719992001

First test

5 Jul 1997, age 24 · Flank v Britain, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Last test

23 Jun 2001, age 28 · Flank v France, Kings Park, Durban

Biography

Rassie Erasmus was an intelligent, analytical flanker who played 36 Tests between 1997 and 2001 and captained South Africa once. Born in Despatch on 5 November 1972, he played for the Orange Free State and the Lions.

He was part of the 1998 Tri Nations-winning side and played at the 1999 World Cup. As a coach and director of rugby he later led the Springboks to World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023.

Test history

36 tests · 1 as captain · 35 points

Date	Opponent	Venue	Position	Result	Province
05 Jul 1997	Britain	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 35–16	Cheetahs
23 Aug 1997	Australia	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	W 61–22	Cheetahs
08 Nov 1997	Italy	Dall'Ara Stadium, Bologna	Flank	W 62–31	Cheetahs
15 Nov 1997	France	Stade de Gerland, Lyon	Flank	W 36–32	Cheetahs
22 Nov 1997	France	Parc des Princes, Paris	Flank	W 52–10	Cheetahs
06 Dec 1997	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 68–10	Cheetahs
13 Jun 1998	Ireland	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	Flank	W 37–13	Cheetahs
20 Jun 1998	Ireland	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	W 33–0	Cheetahs
27 Jun 1998	Wales	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	W 96–13	Cheetahs
04 Jul 1998	England	Newlands, Cape Town	Flank	W 18–0	Cheetahs
18 Jul 1998	Australia	Subiaco Oval, Perth	Flank	W 14–13	Cheetahs
15 Aug 1998	New Zealand	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	W 24–23	Cheetahs
22 Aug 1998	Australia	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 29–15	Cheetahs
14 Nov 1998	Wales	Wembley, London	Flank	W 28–20	Cheetahs
21 Nov 1998	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 35–10	Cheetahs
28 Nov 1998	Ireland	Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin	Flank	W 27–13	Cheetahs
05 Dec 1998	England	Twickenham, London	Flank	L 7–13	Cheetahs
12 Jun 1999	Italy	Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth	Flank	W 74–3	Lions
19 Jun 1999	Italy	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	W 101–0	Lions
26 Jun 1999	Wales	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Flank	L 19–29	Lions
17 Jul 1999	Australia	Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park), Brisbane	Flank (C)	L 6–32	Lions
07 Aug 1999	New Zealand	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Eighthman	L 18–34	Lions
14 Aug 1999	Australia	Newlands, Cape Town	Eighthman	W 10–9	Lions
03 Oct 1999	Scotland	Murrayfield, Edinburgh	Flank	W 46–29	Lions
15 Oct 1999	Uruguay	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Flank	W 39–3	Lions
24 Oct 1999	England	Stade de France, Paris	Flank	W 44–21	Lions
30 Oct 1999	Australia	Twickenham, London	Flank	L 21–27	Lions
04 Nov 1999	New Zealand	Millennium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff	Flank	W 22–18	Lions
10 Jun 2000	Canada	Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London	Flank	W 51–18	Lions
17 Jun 2000	England	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	Flank	W 18–13	Lions
08 Jul 2000	Australia	Docklands Stadium, Melbourne	Flank	L 23–44	Lions
22 Jul 2000	New Zealand	Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch	Flank	L 12–25	Lions
19 Aug 2000	New Zealand	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	W 46–40	Lions
26 Aug 2000	Australia	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	L 18–19	Lions
16 Jun 2001	France	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Flank	L 23–32	Cheetahs
23 Jun 2001	France	Kings Park, Durban	Flank	W 20–15	Cheetahs