{{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 South African former rugby union player. His last team was Italian Top12 side Rugby Rovigo Delta.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Carel Greeff">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40275 | name=Carel Greeff | date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=rugbyrovigodelta|title=Dettaglio news|url=http://www.rugbyrovigodelta.it/|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Rugby Rovigo Delta|language=it}}</ref> 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}}.<ref name="Valke 28-25 MTN Golden Lions XV">{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref name="SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International">{{SA Rugby Try Scorers | id=1084 | comp=2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=5 May 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Sharks 30-32 GWK Griquas">{{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}}</ref> He scored a try in injury time to tie the score 30–30 and a Nico Scheepers conversion gave {{Rut|Griquas}} a dramatic victory.<ref name="Late score clinches dramatic Griquas win">{{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}}</ref>

===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}}<ref name="Toyota Cheetahs 16-23 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}}</ref> and the {{Rut|Brumbies}},<ref name="Toyota Cheetahs 27-21 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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="DHL Stormers 33-0 Toyota Cheetahs">{{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}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="Blitse kan Hawies Fourie geskenk gee">{{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}}</ref> However, after the side failed to pay players' salaries, allowing all players to join other teams,<ref name="Kings facing player exodus?">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Il numero 8 sudafricano Carel Greeff è un giocatore della Toscana Aeroporti I Medicei">{{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}}</ref>

He played a total of 52 games and scored 75 points for I Medicei in 3 full seasons.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===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<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rugbyrovigodelta.it/media/news-ed-eventi/dettaglio-news/?news=626|title=IN BOCCA AL LUPO RAGAZZI!|website=Rugby Rovigo Delta}}{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

== 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.

In 2025, Carel and Aloise parted ways and filed for divorce with joint custody. Carel is studying an MBA and is currently appointed as the Al Ain Amblers Rugby Club Head coach while being the General Manager during the day.

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeff, Carel}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1990 births Category:Rugby union players from Klerksdorp Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players Category:Griquas (rugby union) players Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union flankers 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 Category:21st-century South African sportsmen