Casper Steyn
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Casper Steyn
| image =
| caption =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|09|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = 186 cm
| weight = 94 kg
| occupation =
| school =
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Fullback / Fly-half / Wing
| years1 =
| clubs1 = Blue Bulls
| apps1 = 59
| points1 = 854
| years2 = 2001–05
| clubs2 = Viadana
| apps2 =
| points2 =
| superyears1 = 1997–01
| super1 = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| superapps1 =
| superpoints1 = 204
}}
Casper Steyn (born 13 September 1973) is a South African former professional rugby union player.{{cite news |last1=Heenop |first1=Albert |title=Wie kan skop? Toe verskyn Loftus se Spook |url=https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/wie-kan-skop-toe-verskyn-loftus-se-spook-20191208 |work=Netwerk24 |date=8 December 2019 |language=af-ZA}}
Biography
Born in Vanderbijlpark, Steyn was a versatile goal-kicking back and spent much of his career playing for the Blue Bulls, often remembered for his performance against the 1997 British Lions. He contributed 20 of his team's 35 points, kicking three conversions and three penalties, to go with one try, making Northern Transvaal (as they were them known) the first South African province to beat the Lions in the professional era. A prolific scorer for the Blue Bulls, Steyn amassed 854 points from 59 matches, including a team record 252 points in the 1999 Currie Cup.{{cite news |title=The day Bulls wing Casper Steyn upstaged the British & Irish Lions |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/the-day-bulls-wing-casper-steyn-upstaged-the-british-irish-lions-20200916 |work=News24 |date=16 September 2020}}
Steyn played his rugby in Italy with Viadana from 2001 to 2005. He scored all 19 of the team's points in the final of the 2003-04 European Shield final against Montpellier, which they ended up losing 25-19. He later returned to serve as head coach.{{cite news |title=Viadana riabbraccia Steyn: «Con i giovani ci divertiremo» |url=https://www.gazzettadimantova.it/argomenti/sport/viadana-riabbraccia-steyn-con-i-giovani-ci-divertiremo-1.12161683/amp |work=Gazzetta di Mantova |date=30 July 2015 |language=it}} He competed briefly for the Pumas in the Currie Cup, before being forced into retirement in 2006 due to a serious neck injury.{{cite news |title=Steyn stars for Pumas |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/steyn-stars-for-pumas-20060217 |work=News24 |date=18 February 2006}}{{cite news |title=Casper Steyn forced to quit rugby |url=https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/sport/casper-steyn-forced-to-quit-rugby-560748 |work=Independent Online |date=2 August 2006}}
In 2010, Steyn survived a near fatal car accident close to his home in Centurion, suffering cranial damage after being flung from his vehicle.{{cite news |title=Former Bulls player fighting for his life |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/former-bulls-player-fighting-for-his-life-687559 |work=Independent Online |date=20 October 2010}} He ended up in a coma, from which his family was advised there was only a 10 percent chance he would wake.{{cite news |title=Casper Steyn out of coma after horrific car accident |url=https://www.arrivealive.co.za/news.aspx?s=3&i=8036&page=casper-steyn-out-of-coma-after-horrific-car-accident |work=Arrive Alive |date=5 November 2010}} Able to recover, Steyn had five metal plates inserted to his face as part of his reconstructive surgery.{{cite news |title=Loftus 'ghost' fully recovered |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/loftus-ghost-fully-recovered-20111017 |work=News24 |date=17 October 2011}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steyn, Casper}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fly-halves
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Sportspeople from Vanderbijlpark
Category:Rugby union players from Gauteng
Category:Bulls (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby Viadana players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Italy