{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Ben Venter | image = | fullname = Benjamin Christoffel Gerhardus Venter | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|05|15|df=y}} | birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.96}} | weight = {{convert|121|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | occupation = | school = Hoërskool Hennenman, Hennenman | university = University of the Free State (2006) <br/> Northern Cape Urban FET College Marketing Management (2007–2008) <br/> Toulouse Business School, Toulouse, France, Honours degree in Business Management (2017 - 2018) | relatives = | position = Lock / Flanker | currentclub = Montauban | youthyears1 = 2006–2008 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Griquas}} | years1 = 2010 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Griquas}} | apps1 = 6 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2010–2012 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} | apps2 = 43 | points2 = 15 | years3 = 2013–2014 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} | apps3 = 31 | points3 = 10 | years4 = 2014–2015 | clubs4 = Chambéry | apps4 = 10 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = → Bordeaux Bègles | apps5 = 5 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2015–present | clubs6 = Montauban | apps6 = 15 | points6 = 0 | clubupdate = 9 February 2016 }}

'''Benjamin Christoffel Gerhardus Venter''' (born 15 May 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with French Pro D2 side Montauban.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Ben Venter">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=41667 | name=Ben Venter | date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="It's Rugby Player Profile Ben Venter">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_18960.html | title=It's Rugby Player Profile Ben Venter | work=It's Rugby | accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> His regular position is lock or flanker.

==Career==

===Youth===

He represented the {{Rut|Griquas U19}} side in the 2006 Under-19 Provincial Championship and the {{Rut|Griquas U21}} side in the 2007 and 2008 Under-21 Provincial Championships. That {{Rut|Griquas U21}} team won the Championships in both 2007 and 2008. Venter played most of his youth rugby on the Wing.

===Griquas===

Ben was part of the 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division squad and signed a senior professional contract with {{Rut|Griquas}} at the end of 2008. He was named in the {{Rut|Griquas}} senior professional squad for the 2009 Vodacom Cup and 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division competitions, but missed most of that season due to injury. Venter was also named in the {{Rut|Griquas}} senior professional squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup and 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division competitions.<ref name="Golden Lions 45-5 Griquas">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18644 | homeid=7984 | awayid=7988 | leagueid=765 | hometeam=Golden Lions | homescore=45 | awayscore=5 | awayteam=Griquas | matchdate=26 March 2010 | date=29 June 2016}}</ref>

===Border Bulldogs===

Venter joined East London-based side {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} later in 2010. He was included in their squad for the 2010 Currie Cup First Division season and, after playing in a compulsory friendly match against the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}},<ref name="Border Bulldogs 7-45 Vodacom Free State Cheetahs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18664 | homeid=7996 | awayid=7997 | leagueid=766 | hometeam=Border Bulldogs | homescore=7 | awayscore=45 | awayteam=Vodacom Free State Cheetahs | matchdate=3 July 2010 | date=29 June 2016}}</ref> he started nine of the Bulldogs' matches during the season, scoring one try against {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}, helping his side win the match 50–46.<ref name="Boland 46-50 Border">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18867 | homeid=8049 | awayid=8043 | leagueid=768 | hometeam=Boland | homescore=46 | awayscore=50 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=13 August 2010 | date=29 June 2016}}</ref>

He played in sixteen matches during the 2011 Vodacom Cup and 2011 Currie Cup First Division competitions, weighing in with one try in each competition. He had more game time in 2012, making eighteen appearances during the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions.

In May 2012, he was named in the South African Barbarians (South) squad that faced {{nrut|England}} during the 2012 England rugby union tour of South Africa,<ref name="SA Barbarians teams named">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SA-Barbarians-teams-named-20120528 | title=SA Barbarians teams named | publisher=Sport24 | date=28 May 2012 | accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="SA BaaBaas forced to change">{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/article/47964-sa-baabaas-forced-to-change | title=SA BaaBaas forced to change | publisher=Rugby365 | date=11 June 2012 | accessdate=16 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="SA Barbarians South 26-54 England">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110871 | homeid=13661 | awayid=10881 | leagueid=1141 | hometeam=SA Barbarians South | homescore=26 | awayscore=54 | awayteam=England | matchdate=13 June 2012 | date=29 June 2016}}</ref>

===Boland Cavaliers===

At the end of 2012, Venter moved to Wellington-based{{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}.<ref name="Boland kry 2 Bulldogs; Kom wys tande in Vodacom">{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2012/11/08/KS/28/SBSport004-main.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140616163555/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2012/11/08/KS/28/SBSport004-main.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 June 2014 | title=Boland kry 2 Bulldogs; Kom wys tande in Vodacom | publisher=Die Son | date=8 November 2012 | accessdate=16 June 2014 | language=Afrikaans }}</ref> Venter featured prominently during the 2013 and 2014 Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions.

===Chambéry===

Venter moved to France during 2014 to join Fédérale 1 side Chambéry prior to the 2014–2015 season.<ref name="Recrutement 2014/2015 : Les arrivées et départs">{{cite web | url=http://www.soc-rugby.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=403:recrutement-20142015-les-arrivees&catid=1:accueil | title=Recrutement 2014/2015 : Les arrivées et départs | publisher=SO Chambéry | accessdate=11 October 2014 | language=French}}</ref><ref name="Ben Venter, fort comme un buffle">{{cite web | url=http://www.ledauphine.com/sport/2014/09/27/ben-venter-fort-comme-un-buffle | title=Ben Venter, fort comme un buffle | publisher=ledauphine.com Sports | date=27 September 2014 | accessdate=11 October 2014 | language=French}}</ref>

===Bordeaux Bègles===

In January 2015, he joined Bordeaux Bègles in the French Top 14 as a Medical Joker.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

===Montauban===

On 16 April 2015, Venter signed a permanent contract with French Pro D2 club Montauban for three seasons (2015 - 2018), prior to the 2015–2016 season.<ref name="Ben Venter s'annonce à Montauban">{{cite web | url=http://rugby-scapulaire.com/breves/8609-ben-venter-sannonce-a-montauban | title=Ben Venter s'annonce à Montauban | work=Rugby Scapulaire | date=16 April 2015 | accessdate=9 February 2016 | language=French}}</ref>

'''Coaching'''

Venter suffered a career ending injury while playing for Montauban and his career was cut short at the end of 2016. He has since devoted himself to coaching.

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venter, Ben}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1987 births Category:Rugby union players from Johannesburg Category:Rugby union locks Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Boland Cavaliers players Category:Border Bulldogs players Category:Griquas (rugby union) players Category:Union Bordeaux Bègles players Category:US Montauban players Category:South African rugby union coaches Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century South African sportsmen