Lionel Cronjé

Lionel Cronjé (born 25 May 1989) is a South African rugby union footballer, currently playing for The Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup. He is a versatile back-line player who can operate as a fly-half or full-back.

Lionel Cronjé

Lionel Cronje in 2018
Born	(1989-05-25) 25 May 1989 (age 36) Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight	92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb)
School	Queen's College
University	University of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position Fly-half / Centre / Fullback Current team Sharks / Sharks Youth career 2005–2007 Border Bulldogs 2008–2009 Free State Cheetahs Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 UFS Shimlas 3 (10) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 Free State Cheetahs 0 (0) 2010–2011 Stormers 7 (32) 2010–2011 Western Province 21 (135) 2012 Blue Bulls 5 (0) 2013 Golden Lions XV 5 (19) 2013 Golden Lions 5 (0) 2014 Brumbies 10 (32) 2014–2015 Sharks (Currie Cup) 16 (81) 2015 Sharks XV 2 (8) 2015 Sharks 7 (22) 2017 Southern Kings 14 (136) 2017–2022 Toyota Verblitz 48 (438) 2021 → Sharks (Currie Cup) 8 (27) 2022– Sharks 7 (14) 2023– Sharks (Currie Cup) Correct as of 15 January 2023 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 South Africa Under-20 4 (29) 2017 South Africa 'A' 2 (4) Correct as of 22 April 2018

Career

Cronjé previously played for the Stormers and Western Province before making the move north ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby season.^[1] He could play only five matches for the Blue Bulls due to a chest injury suffered in a gruesome wrestling match outside of Hatfield Square with Trevor Nyakane February 2012.^[2]

He joined the Lions for 2013^[3] and the Brumbies for 2014.^[4]

He returned to South Africa later in 2014, signing a two-year deal with Durban-based side the Sharks.^[5] He was released by the Sharks in November 2015.^[6]

He joined Japanese Top League side Toyota Verblitz for the 2017–18 season.^[7]