Johan Heunis

{{short description|South African rugby union footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Johan Heunis | image = | caption = | birth_name = Johan Wilhelm Heunis | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|01|26|df=y}} | birth_place = George, Western Cape, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{convert|1.82|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|87|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | ru_position = Fullback | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | ru_amclubcaps = | ru_amclubpoints = | ru_amupdate = | years1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | ru_clubupdate = | province1 = Eastern Province | province2 = Northern Transvaal | provinceyears1 = 1979–1980 | provinceyears2 = 1981–1989 | provinceapps1 = | provinceapps2 = 110 | provincepoints1 = | provincepoints2 = 29 | ru_provinceupdate = | ru_sevensupdate = | repteam1 = South Africa | repyears1 = 1981–1989 | repcaps1 = 14 | reppoints1 = 41 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | school = Outeniqua High School, George | university = University of Port Elizabeth }} '''Johan Wilhelm Heunis''' (born 26 January 1958 in George, Western Cape, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/9364.html|title=Johan Heunis|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=2019-10-12}}</ref>

==Playing career== Heunis started his career in Port Elizabeth while studying law at the University of Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and made his provincial debut for Eastern Province in 1979. After receiving his call up for his national service in Pretoria, he moved to Pretoria and gained Northern Transvaal colours in 1981.

Heunis made his test debut for the Springboks during the 1981 tour of New Zealand as a replacement for Gysie Pienaar in the third test on 12 September 1981 at Eden Park in Auckland. His first start for the Springboks in a test match was against the USA on 20 September 1981 at the Owl Creek Polo ground in Glenville, New York. Heunis played 14 test matches for the Springboks, scoring 41 points. He played a further 10 tour matches for the Springboks in which he scored 31 points.<ref>{{Cite book|title=South African rugby test players 1949-1995|last=Jooste, Graham K.|date=1995|publisher=Penguin|isbn=0140250174|location=Johannesburg|pages=111–124|oclc=36916860}}</ref>

=== Test history ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! No. !! Opposition !! Result (SA 1st) !! Position !! Points !! Date !! Venue |- |1. || {{ru|NZL}} || align="center"|22–25 || Replacement || || 12 September 1981|| Eden Park, Auckland |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 2. || {{ru|USA}} || align="center"|38–7 || Fullback || || 20 September 1981|| Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York |- |3. || 24px South American Jaguars ||align="center"|50–18 || Fullback || 3 (1 pen) || 27 March 1982 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 4. || 24px South American Jaguars ||align="center"|12–21 || Fullback || || 3 April 1982 || Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |- | 5. || {{ru|ENG}} || align="center"|33–15 || Fullback ||21 (3 con, 5 pen) || 2 June 1984 || Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 6. || {{ru|ENG}} || align="center"|35–9 || Fullback || 9 (3 con, 1 pen) || 9 June 1984 || Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |- | 7. || 24px South American Jaguars || align="center"|32–15 || Fullback || 4 (1 try) || 20 October 1984 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 8. || 24px South American Jaguars || align="center"|21–13 || Fullback || || 27 October 1984 || Newlands, Cape Town |- | 9. || New Zealand Cavaliers|| align="center"|21–15 || Fullback || ||10 May 1986 || Newlands, Cape Town |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 10. || New Zealand Cavaliers|| align="center"|18–19 || Fullback || ||17 May 1986 || Kings Park, Durban |- | 11. || New Zealand Cavaliers|| align="center"|33–18 || Fullback || ||24 May 1986 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 12. || New Zealand Cavaliers|| align="center"|24–10 || Fullback || ||31 May 1986 ||Ellis Park, Johannesburg |- | 13. || World XV|| align="center"|20–19 || Fullback || ||26 Aug 1989 ||Newlands, Cape Town |- style="background: #D0E6FF;" | 14. || World XV|| align="center"|22–16 || Fullback || 4 (1try) ||2 Sep 1989 ||Ellis Park, Johannesburg |} ''Legend: pen = penalty (3 pts.); con = conversion (2 pts.), drop = drop kick (3 pts.).''

==Accolades== Heunis was named the SA Rugby Player of the Year for 1989

==See also== *List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 521

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heunis, Johan}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:South African rugby union players Category:South Africa international rugby union players Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:Bulls (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union players from George, South Africa Category:20th-century South African sportsmen Category:SA Rugby Men's Player of the Year