Deon Carstens

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use South African English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Deon Carstens | image = | fullname = Pieter-Deon Carstens | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|06|03|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Goodwood, Cape Town]], South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.84}} | weight = {{convert|116|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Boland Agricultural High School | university = | relatives = | position = [[Rugby union positions#Prop|Prop]] | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2001–2009 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}} | apps1 = 94 | points1 = 50 | years2 = 2001–2010 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks}} | apps2 = 84 | points2 = 20 | years3 = 2010–2011 | clubs3 = [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] | apps3 = 19 | points3 = 5 | years4 = 2012 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps4 = 13 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2012 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps5 = 5 | points5 = 0 | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | repyears1 = 1998 | repteam1 = South Africa Under-19 | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repyears2 = 2000 | repteam2 = South Africa Under-21 | repcaps2 = | reppoints2 = | repyears3 = 2002–2009 | repteam3 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repcaps3 = 10 | reppoints3 = 0 | clubupdate = 14 April 2013 | repupdate = 14 April 2013 }}

'''Deon Carstens''' (born 3 June 1979) is a former South African rugby union footballer. He played rugby for the {{Rut|Sharks}} and {{Rut|Stormers}} in [[Super Rugby]] and for {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} and {{Rut|Western Province}} in the [[Currie Cup]] and [[Vodacom Cup]] competitions. He also played for [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] in the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|English Premiership]].

Carstens announced his retirement in 2013 after an ongoing back injury.<ref name="Deon Carstens forced to retire">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Deon-Carstens-forced-to-retire-20130415 | title=Deon Carstens forced to retire | work=Sport24 | date=15 April 2013 | access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>

==Career== Carstens attended Franschoek Primary and Boland High School and represented the South African Under-19 side in 1998 at tight head prop.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Deon Carstens">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=19900 | name=Deon Carstens | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> Carstens made his senior provincial and Super rugby debut in 2001 for the Sharks. He was selected to tour Europe with the South African national side in 2002 and made his test debut on that tour, against Scotland on 16 November 2002. Scotland won the match by a record score of 21 points to 6.<ref name="South Africa 6 Scotland 21">{{cite web | url=http://www.genslin.us/bokke/GameData.aspx?GameID=295 | title=South Africa 6 Scotland 21 | work=Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame | author=Enslin, Grundlingh}}</ref> He is a versatile player who can cover either side of the front row. In April 2010 it was announced that Carstens had agreed to join the [[Saracens FC]] for the 2010–11 season. In November 2011, it was announced that he returned to South Africa to join the [[Stormers]] for the [[2012 Super Rugby season]].<ref name="WP/Stormers player movement">{{cite news | url=http://www.supersport.com/rugby/sa-rugby/news/111110/WPStormers_player_movement | title=WP/Stormers player movement | work=SuperSport | date=10 November 2011 | access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> Carstens has won the Currie Cup 3 times, twice with Natal (2008 & 2010) and once with Western Province (2012). He was also part of the Saracens squad that won the [[2010–11 English Premiership (rugby union)|2010–11 English Premiership]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carstens, Deon}} [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Afrikaner people]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town]] [[Category:Rugby union props]] [[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Saracens F.C. players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]