Carel Greeff
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Carel Greeff
| image =
| fullname = Carel Frederik Kirstein Greeff
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|05|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Klerksdorp, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|105|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Schoonspruit High School
| university = BCom Financial Management / Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Exeed College United Arab Emirates
| relatives =
| position = Flanker / Number Eight
| currentclub = Rugby Rovigo Delta
| youthyears1 = 2006–2008
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| youthyears2 = 2009
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| youthyears3 = 2011
| youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| years1 = 2011
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}
| apps1 = 1
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2013–2015
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| apps2 = 50
| points2 = 160
| years3 = 2014–2015
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| apps3 = 6
| points3 = 10
| years4 = 2016–2017
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| apps4 = 31
| points4 = 45
| years5 = 2017–2020
| clubs5 = I Medicei
| apps5 = 52
| points5 = 75
| years6 = 2020-2022
| clubs6 = Rovigo Delta
| apps6 = 18
| points6 = 40
| amatyears1 = 2013
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|Wits}}
| amatapps1 = 7
| amatpoints1 = 25
| repyears1 = 2008
| repteam1 = S.A. Elite Squad
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| clubupdate = 7 September 2019
|image_size=|alt=}}
Carel Frederick Kirstein Greeff (born 20 May 1990) is a retired South African rugby union player. His last team was Italian Top12 side Rugby Rovigo Delta.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40275 | name=Carel Greeff | date=29 May 2016}}{{Cite web|last=rugbyrovigodelta|title=Dettaglio news|url=http://www.rugbyrovigodelta.it/|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Rugby Rovigo Delta|language=it}} His regular position was loose-forward.
Career
=Youth=
He represented the {{Rut|Leopards}} at the 2006 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, 2007 Under-18 Academy Week and 2008 Under-18 Craven Week competitions. His performances in the latter also resulted in his inclusion in an Under-18 South African Elite squad in 2008.
The then joined the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} and was included in their U19 squad for the 2009 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition.
=MTN Golden Lions=
In 2011, he made his first class debut for the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} in a compulsory friendly match prior to the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division season, starting the match against the {{Rut|Falcons}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20754 | homeid=8795 | awayid=8796 | leagueid=825 | hometeam=Valke | homescore=28 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions XV | matchdate=1 July 2011 | date=1 July 2016}} He never appeared in the competition proper, instead representing the {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}} team in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, making twelve appearances.
=Varsity Cup Rugby=
He played in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition for {{Rut|Wits}}, scoring five tries in seven appearances,{{SA Rugby Try Scorers | id=1084 | comp=2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=5 May 2016}} making him the joint top try scorer in the competition.
=GWK Griquas=
He then joined {{Rut|Griquas}} before the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division. He made his debut for them in the opening match of the season, coming on as a half-time in their match against the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} in Durban.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106934 | homeid=12644 | awayid=12624 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=The Sharks | homescore=30 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=9 August 2013 | date=1 July 2016}} He scored a try in injury time to tie the score 30–30 and a Nico Scheepers conversion gave {{Rut|Griquas}} a dramatic victory.{{SA Rugby Article | id=2055724 | leagueid=1294 | title=Late score clinches dramatic Griquas win | date=9 August 2013 | accessdate=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2055724&leagueid=1294 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607192533/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2055724&leagueid=1294 | url-status=dead | archivedate=7 June 2016}}
=Toyota Free State Cheetahs=
In 2014, Greeff was included in the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season. He was named on the bench for their matches against the {{Rut|Force}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114454 | homeid=16144 | awayid=16274 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Toyota Cheetahs | homescore=16 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Force | matchdate=10 May 2014 | date=1 July 2016}} and the {{Rut|Brumbies}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114524 | homeid=16144 | awayid=16244 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Toyota Cheetahs | homescore=27 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Brumbies | matchdate=17 May 2014 | date=1 July 2016}} but didn't get playing time.
However, on 24 May 2014, he made his Super Rugby debut against the {{Rut|Stormers}} in Cape Town, coming on as a reserve flank.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114594 | homeid=16184 | awayid=16144 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=DHL Stormers | homescore=33 | awayscore=0 | awayteam=Toyota Cheetahs | matchdate=24 May 2014 | date=1 July 2016}}
=Steval Pumas=
Greeff signed a two-year contract with Port Elizabeth-based Super Rugby side the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} prior to the 2016 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/sport/rugby/2015-08-06-blitse-kan-hawies-fourie-geskenk-gee | title=Blitse kan Hawies Fourie geskenk gee | work=Netwerk24 | date=6 August 2015 | accessdate=6 August 2015 | language=Afrikaans}} However, after the side failed to pay players' salaries, allowing all players to join other teams,{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/69935-kings-facing-player-exodus | title=Kings facing player exodus? | work=Rugby365 | date=11 November 2015 | accessdate=11 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112182949/http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/69935-kings-facing-player-exodus | archive-date=12 November 2015 | url-status=dead }} Greeff moved to Nelspruit to join the {{Rut|Pumas}} on a two-year deal instead.
=Toscana Aeroporti I Medicei=
Greeff moved to Italy to join National Championship of Excellence side I Medicei in 2017.{{cite press release | url=https://www.imedicei.com/il-numero-8-sudafricano-carel-greeff-e-un-giocatore-della-toscana-aeroporti-i-medicei/ | title=Il numero 8 sudafricano Carel Greeff è un giocatore della Toscana Aeroporti I Medicei | publisher=I Medicei | date=16 September 2017 | accessdate=28 October 2017}}
He played a total of 52 games and scored 75 points for I Medicei in 3 full seasons.{{Cite web|title=Carel Greeff è della FemiCz Rovigo, è ufficiale|url=https://www.rovigooggi.it/n/98876/2020-05-05/carel-greeff-e-della-femicz-rovigo-e-ufficiale|website=www.rovigooggi.it|language=it|access-date=2020-05-07}}
=Rugby Rovigo Delta=
In 2020, Greeff signed a two-year contract with the Top12 side to officially join Rugby Rovigo Delta. In 2021 Carel Greeff scored the final tries in the Semi-Final and Final to secure a dramatic 13th Italian National Championship for Rugby Rovigo Delta. At the end of the 2022 rugby Season Carel retired from professional rugby{{Cite web|title=Carel Greeff è della FemiCz Rovigo, è ufficiale|url=https://www.rovigooggi.it/n/98876/2020-05-05/carel-greeff-e-della-femicz-rovigo-e-ufficiale|website=www.rovigooggi.it|language=it|access-date=2020-05-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://rugbyrovigodelta.it/media/news-ed-eventi/dettaglio-news/?news=626|title=IN BOCCA AL LUPO RAGAZZI!|website=Rugby Rovigo Delta}}
Retirement
After his retirement in 2022, he moved to Abu Dhabi with his wife Aloise Greeff, who is a primary school teacher and his son Benjamin. After obtaining his degree in finance and management from the University of South Africa he began working as a manager of a local goods store. He changed positions in 2023 where he began to work as a General Manager of Al Ain Amblers rugby club. As of 2023 he is also expecting his second child with wife Aloise Greeff.
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeff, Carel}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Klerksdorp
Category:Griquas (rugby union) players
Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Rugby Club I Medicei players
Category:Rugby Rovigo Delta players
Category:Pumas (Currie Cup) players
Category:University of the Witwatersrand alumni
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Italy