Joel Stransky is a former South African rugby union rugby player, most recognizable for scoring all of South Africa’s points as a fly half (including the famous winning drop goal) against New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

Joel was born in Johannesburg and attended Rondebosch Boys High and Maritzburg College. After his military conscription in Pretoria, Joel attended the University of Natal.

Joel was part of the Natal team in 1990, which beat the Northern Transvaal to win the Currie Cup for the first time. He represented Natal 80 times before joining Western Province (with 54 caps) before ending his career prematurely through injury, whilst playing for the Leicester Tigers.

He gained 22 caps for his country between 1993-1996.

Joel Stransky | Rugby Legend

In 1995, he was part of the first South African rugby union team to play in a Rugby World Cup, which had been previously banned in South Africa due to the Apartheid regime.

He played an integral part in the team earning man of the match awards in the opening match against Australia. He scored all of the points in the World Cup Final against New Zealand, including the famous drop goal in extra time.

In 1997, Joel Stransky moved to Leicester Tigers, where he played and coached for four years, winning the 1998-1999 Allied Dunbar Premiership.

He then went on to become a part time rugby union television commentator and businessman.

In 2002, Joel Stransky was engaged by Bristol Rugby as a coach. The offer was subsequently withdrawn, with Joel taking legal action and receiving compensation on his side.

Joel has run the Altech Netstar Group of companies, Hertz Car Hire SA and he has now gone into his own business in the technology space as a director and Pivotal Capital and the CEO of Pivotal Data.

In Joel Stransky spare time, he enjoys endurance sport and he has completed 4 ABSA Cape Epics, numerous half Ironman events, as well as one full Iron Man event.

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