{{Short description|South Africa international rugby union player}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Werner Greeff | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Werner Greeff | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|07|14}} | birth_place = [[Bellville, Western Cape|Bellville]], South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} | position = [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]] or [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]] | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 = | amupdate = | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] | repyears1 = 2002–2003 | repcaps1 = 12 | reppoints1 = 31 | repupdate = 2 January 2008 | years1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | super1 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 2000–2006 | superapps1 = 43 | superpoints1 = 43 | superupdate = 2 January 2008 | currentclub = | province1 = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] | provinceyears1 = 1999–2006 | provinceapps1 = 62 | provincepoints1 = 52 | ru_provinceupdate = 2 January 2008 | occupation = Businessman | school = [[D.F. Malan High School|Hoërskool D.F. Malan]] }}

'''Werner Greeff''' (born 14 July 1977 in [[Bellville, Western Cape]]) is a former South African [[rugby union]] player. He played for [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] in the [[Currie Cup]] and for the [[Stormers]] in the [[Super Rugby|Super 14]] until a neck injury forced him into retirement in January 2007.<ref name="retire">{{cite news| url=http://www.six-nations.com/3237_1404.php | title=Greeff announces retirement | access-date=2 January 2008 | publisher=Scrum.com |date=22 January 2007}}</ref> Greeff also played 12 Tests for {{nrut|South Africa}}.

Greeff was a talented utility back, but his career was blighted by a succession of injuries: a broken hand, damaged shoulder, injured knee, and, finally, a career-ending neck injury. He made his international debut in June 2002, when he came on as a substitute against {{nrut|Argentina}}, and went on to win a further 11 caps, all but one as a starter. The only time he did not start as a [[Fullback (rugby union)|fullback]] was in his last international appearance, against [[Georgia national rugby union team|Georgia]] in the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]], when he played [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]].

Although Werner Greeff scored only four [[Try (rugby)|tries]] for his country, one of them, against {{nrut|Australia}} in a [[Tri Nations (rugby union)|Tri Nations]] match at [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]], Johannesburg, on 17 August 2002, was voted the South African try of that year.<ref name="try">{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200211/s716529.htm | title='Big Joe' named Sth African rugby player of year | access-date=2 January 2008 | publisher=ABC News |date=1 November 2002}}</ref> The Springboks, who had gone behind 0&ndash;9 after conceding three kickable [[penalty (rugby)|penalties]] in the first 20 minutes, scored four tries to take a 26&ndash;9 lead with 20 minutes remaining. Australia responded with three tries and a drop-goal and led 26&ndash;31 as time expired on the clock. The Springboks played the last ten minutes with only 14 men after [[Marius Joubert]] had been shown a red card. Just before full-time they launched a last, desperate counter-attack which concluded with Werner Greeff hitting the Australian defence at full speed on a perfect angle and powering his way over the line for a try that levelled the scores; with the last kick of the match, he then converted his own try to give South Africa a dramatic win.<ref name="Australia2002">{{cite web| url=http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/rugby_2002.htm |title=South African rugby in 2002 |last=Morgan |first=Brad |publisher=southafrica.info |access-date=3 January 2008 |year=2002}}</ref>

In March 2006, Greeff underwent neck surgery that involved the fusion of two vertebrae.<ref name="Surgery">{{cite web| url=http://www.greeff.info/tng01/memorablepeople.php#Werner |title=5. Werner Greeff |publisher=greeff.info |access-date=3 January 2008 |last=de Koning |first=Jan}}</ref> After spending six months in rehabilitation, he returned to play one game for [[Stellenbosch University]] second XV (the Victorians) against the [[University of Cape Town]] in September 2006 and scored a try within the first 20 seconds.<ref name="Vics">{{cite web|url=http://student.sun.ac.za/rugby/teams/newsitem.asp?ItemID=173&TeamID=89 |title=Vics Defeat UCT |publisher=Stellenbosch RFC |access-date=5 January 2008 |last=Venter |first=Gustav |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014090607/http://student.sun.ac.za/rugby/Teams/newsitem.asp?ItemID=173&TeamID=89 |archive-date=14 October 2006 }}</ref> He made his return to first-class rugby as a starter in Western Province's home game against [[Griquas (rugby)|Griquas]] in the 2006 Currie Cup, and started again a week later, when WP lost in the semi-final to the [[Blue Bulls]]. He was named in the Stormers' squad for the 2007 Super 14, but, after playing in a pre-season warm-up game against a [[Boland Cavaliers|Boland]] team, continuing concerns about the neck injury forced him to announce his retirement from rugby on 22 January 2007. Already the owner of a fast-food outlet in [[Cape Town]], he indicated that it was his intention to pursue his business interests.<ref name="retire"/>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{cite web| title=Werner Greeff |url=http://www.scrum.com/1200_1205.php?player=12515&includeref=dynamic |publisher=scrum.com |access-date=3 January 2008}} *{{cite web| url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1673 |title=Werner Greeff |publisher=sporting-heroes.net |access-date=3 January 2008}}

{{South Africa Squad 2003 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeff, Werner}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Bellville, South Africa]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:2003 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]