CJ Stander

Christiaan Johan Stander (born 5 April 1990) is a South African-born Irish international rugby union footballer. He can play either as a Flanker or Number 8. He represented the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, and is currently playing for Irish province Munster in the Pro12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. Internationally, Stander now plays for Ireland after qualifying through residency.

Stander was born in George, South Africa, where his family owned a farm. He first began playing rugby at the age of 9. Stander first played as a Fly-half before shifting to Number 8 at the age of 14. Prior to focusing on rugby, Stander was a champion discus thrower as a teenager.

In his debut Super Rugby season for the Bulls, Stander played in the first 13 games, scoring 4 tries.

2012–13

In June 2012, Stander signed a deal to join Irish province Munster on a two-year contract at the end of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season. As Munster could not sign any more internationally capped players, he was signed as a project player. This means that Stander would be eligible to play for Ireland under IRB residency laws if he stayed with Munster for three years. He arrived in Ireland to join up with the Munster squad on 30 October 2012. Stander made his debut for Munster on 25 November 2012, coming on as a replacement in the Pro 12 fixture against Scarlets. He made his first start for Munster against Glasgow Warriors in Thomond Park on 1 December 2012, scoring two tries in a Man-of-the-Match winning performance. Stander was ruled out for a month after breaking a bone in his hand during the Glasgow game. He made his comeback from the injury on 5 January 2013, in a Pro 12 game against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park. As he was ineligible to represent Munster in the Heineken Cup, Stander instead turned out for Munster A in the British and Irish Cup, playing at Number 8 against Aberavon RFC and Plymouth Albion, scoring a try against the latter. Stander scored his third try in just four appearances for Munster on 9 February 2013, when he made his second start for the club against Edinburgh.

2013–14

Stander scored his first try in his second season at Munster during an uncapped pre-season friendly against Gloucester Rugby on 24 August 2013. He scored two tries in his first full appearance of the season, against Zebre, on 13 September 2013. Stander made his Heineken Cup debut on 12 October 2013, coming off the bench against Edinburgh in Munster's opening pool game. He came off the bench against Gloucester during Munster's 26–10 victory on 19 October 2013. Stander was also a replacement during Munster's 36–8 win against USA Perpignan on 8 December 2013. He came off the bench in the 7–20 away win against Gloucester on 11 January 2013, a win that secured quarter-final qualification. In January 2014, Stander signed a new two-year contract that will see him remain with Munster until June 2016. Stander scored his seventh try for Munster in a Pro 12 fixture against Cardiff Blues on 8 February 2014. He came on as a replacement after 18 minutes for injured captain Peter O'Mahony in Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse on 5 April 2014, scoring his first Heineken Cup try in the 47–23 win and earning the Man-of-the-Match award. Stander started in Munster's 24–16 semi-final defeat to Toulon on 27 April 2014.

2014–15

Stander scored two tries in Munster's 13–14 defeat against Edinburgh in their opening Guinness Pro12 game on 5 September 2014. He also scored a try in Munster's win against Treviso on 12 September 2014. Stander started in Munster's first 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup game against Sale Sharks on 18 October 2014, earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the 26–27 away win. He started against Saracens F.C. in Round 2 of the Champions Cup on 24 October 2014. Stander started the Round 3 game against ASM Clermont Auvergne on 6 December 2014. He also started in the reverse fixture against Clermont on 14 December 2014. Stander scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 28–13 win against Leinster on 26 December 2014. He also scored a try in the 7–31 away win against Zebre on 10 January 2015, again winning the Man-of-the-Match award. Stander started against Saracens on 17 January 2015, but went off with an injured ankle in the first-half. The injury ruled Stander out for 4 to 6 weeks. He returned from the injury on 21 February 2015, starting in the game against Scarlets. Stander scored a try in Munster's 22–10 win against Glasgow Warriors on 28 February 2015. He won his fifth Man-of-the-Match award of the season in Munster's 42–20 win against Connacht on 28 March 2015. Stander scored a try in Munster's 3–34 win against Edinburgh on 11 April 2015. He won the 2015 Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award in April 2015, becoming the first overseas player to do so. He scored a try in the 30–19 win against Treviso on 25 April 2015. Stander won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 23–23 draw against Ulster on 9 May 2015. He was named in the 2014–15 Pro12 Dream Team, alongside teammate Tommy O'Donnell. He scored a try in Munster's 50–27 win against Newport Gwent Dragons on 16 May 2015. Stander was named Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 21–18 play-off semi-final win against Ospreys on 23 May 2015. He started in the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final against Glasgow Warriors on 30 May 2015.

2015–16

Stander captained Munster in their opening fixture of the 2015–16 Pro12 against Treviso on 5 September 2015, scoring two tries and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in the 18–13 win for Munster. He came off the bench against Ospreys on 13 September 2015, scoring a try that leveled the scores and allowed Ian Keatley to kick the conversion that won the match for Munster. On 30 October 2015, Stander captained Munster in their 32–38 win against provincial rivals Ulster. On 4 November 2015, it was announced that, in the absence of regular captain Peter O'Mahony, Stander would captain Munster during the pool stage of the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup. He started the opening pool game of the tournament against Treviso on 14 November 2015, scoring a try and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 32–7 win. In December 2015, Stander signed a two-year contract extension with Munster, which will see him remain with the province until at least June 2018. Stander started against Leicester Tigers in the Champions Cup on 12 December 2015. On 16 January 2016, Stander scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 26–13 win against Stade Français. On 25 March 2016, immediately after returning from international duty with Ireland, Stander scored a try in Munster's 47-0 win against Zebre. In May 2016, Stander won the IRUPA Players' Player of the Year Award, just the third overseas player to do so. He also won the Irish Times-sponsored Supporters' Player of the Year Award, becoming the first overseas winner of the award and the first player to win both the Players' and Supporters' awards in the same season.. On 7 May 2016, Stander scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 31-15 win against Scarlets, a win which secured Champions Cup rugby for the following season. Stander was named in the 2015–16 Pro12 Dream Team, the second consecutive season he has achieved the accolade. In May 2016, Stander was named the Munster Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win the award in successive seasons. During the season, Stander won a total of four Man-of-the-Match awards, scored seven tries and captained Munster in 18 games.

2016–17

On 1 October 2016, Stander scored two tries in Munster's 49-5 win against Zebre in a 2016–17 Pro12 fixture. On 29 November 2016, Stander was named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year at an event in Dublin. On 10 December 2016, Stander was Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 38-0 win against Leicester Tigers in Round 3 of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. On 7 January 2017, Stander scored a try and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 7-32 away win against Racing 92. On 21 January 2017, Stander won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 22-10 win against Racing 92, a victory which secured a home quarter-final for Munster in the Champions Cup.

Having already represented the side at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship, Stander captained the South Africa Under-20 team that competed in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship, leading them to a third-place finish. He was called up to train with the Springboks squad in June 2012, but was not part of the final squad. He later revealed that a coach had told him he was too small to be a South Africa international at senior level. Left with the options of leaving the country or switching to hooker, Stander recalls "I just made the decision easy and said, 'Well boys, I'll pack up my stuff and leave'. Munster signed me and they didn't think I was too small."

In May 2015, Stander, who qualified for Ireland by residency on the day after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, told Pro12's official website, "I will have to decide [between South Africa and Ireland] but I think I have set my sights on Ireland and I think that is what I'm going to pursue."

In January 2016, Stander was called-up to Ireland's training squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship. On 20 January 2016, Stander was named in Ireland's 35-man squad for the 2016 Six Nations. On 7 February 2016, Stander made his debut for Ireland, starting against Wales in their opening match of the Six Nations and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in 16–16 draw. On 13 February 2016, Stander started against France in Ireland's second game of the Six Nations. On 12 March 2016, Stander scored his first try for Ireland in their 58–15 win against Italy.

On 25 May 2016, Stander was named in the 32-man Ireland squad to tour his native South Africa in a 3-test series. On 11 June 2016, Stander started in the first test against South Africa. He was sent off during the first half for a late hit on Patrick Lambie, the first red card of his career. In the subsequent disciplinary hearing, Stander was banned for one week. On 26 October 2016, Stander was named in Ireland's squad for the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals. On 5 November 2016, Stander started in Ireland's test against New Zealand at Soldier Field, Chicago, scoring a try in a 40-29 win that was Ireland's first ever against the All Blacks.

On 23 January 2017, Stander was named in the Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the 2017 Six Nations Championship.

Stander is married to Jean-Marié Neethling, the sister of South African olympic gold medalist Ryk Neethling. He is also the brother of Janneman Stander, a rugby union player for the SWD Eagles.