View source for Joel Stransky

{{short description|South Africa international rugby union player}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name               = Joel Stransky
| image              = 
| birth_name         = Joel Theodore Stransky
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1967|7|16|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
| height             = {{height|m=1.79|precision=0}}
| weight             = 
| school             = [[Maritzburg College]]
| university         = [[University of Natal]]
| ru_currentposition = 
| ru_currentteam     = 
| position           = [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
| amatyears1         = 1988–1990
| amatteam1          = [[University of Pretoria]] 
| amatteam2          = [[University of Natal]]
| years1             = 1991–1992 
| years2             = 1992–1993 
| years3             = 1997–1999
| clubs1             = [[L'Aquila Rugby|L'Aquila]] 
| clubs2             = [[Rugby San Donà|San Donà]] 
| clubs3             = [[Leicester Tigers]]
| apps1              = 
| apps2              = 
| apps3              = 73
| points1            = 
| points2            = 
| points3            = 896
| superyears1        = 
| super1             = 
| superapps1         = 
| superpoints1       = 
| provinceyears1     = 1987–1993 
| provinceyears2     = 1994–1996
| province1          = {{Rut|Natal}} 
| province2          = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]]
| provinceapps1      = 78
| provinceapps2      = 54
| provincepoints1    = 903
| provincepoints2    = 518
| repyears1          = 1993–1996
| repteam1           = {{Nrut|South Africa}}
| repcaps1           = 22
| reppoints1         = 240
| repsevensyears1    = 
| repsevenscomp1     = 
}}

'''Joel Theodore Stransky''' (born 16 July 1967) is a South African former [[rugby union]] player. A [[Fly-half (rugby union)|fly-half]], he is known for scoring all of South Africa's points, including the winning [[drop goal]], against New Zealand in the [[1995 Rugby World Cup final]].

==Early life==
Stransky was born in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_42.html|title=Joel Stransky drop kicked his way into boks rugby legend| access-date=16 November 2025 }}</ref> to a family from England and Czechia. He was raised in [[Reform Judaism]] and had a ''[[bar mitzvah]]'' ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_42.html |title=A JEWISH TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER |first=Alex Harris webmaster@jewishtelegraph.com - Jewish |last=The Telegraph |website=www.jewishtelegraph.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325212053/http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_42.html |archive-date=25 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/boot_against_apartheid |title=A Boot Against Apartheid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315133849/http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/boot_against_apartheid |archive-date=15 March 2012}}</ref> He was educated at [[Maritzburg College]] where he was coached by Dave Dell,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2024/08/01/rugby-maritzburg-1985/|title=maritzburg college 1985 unforgettable First XV|website=www.pinnacle-schools.com|access-date=16 November 2025 }}</ref> a well-known figure in schoolboy rugby. After his military conscription in Pretoria, he returned to Natal to study at the [[University of Natal]].

==Playing career==
In 1990 he was part of the {{Rut|Natal}} team that beat [[Northern Transvaal]] to win the [[Currie Cup]] for the first time. He then moved to Italy where he played for [[L'Aquila Rugby|L'Aquila]] during the 1991–92 season, and for [[Rugby San Donà|San Donà]] in 1992–93. Between 1993 and 1996, he won 22 caps for South Africa.

In 1995 he was part of the first South Africa team to play in a [[1995 Rugby World Cup|Rugby World Cup]] – the country had been banned from the previous World Cups because of the Apartheid regime. He played an integral part in the tournament and scored all 15 points for his team in the [[1995 Rugby World Cup final|final against New Zealand]], including a winning drop goal in the second period of extra time. This was the first Rugby World Cup final that went into extra time.

In 1997, he moved to [[Leicester Tigers]], where he played for two seasons, winning the [[1996–97 Pilkington Cup]] and the [[1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership]], and then became backs coach.

In the buildup to the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]], it was suggested that Stransky could play for [[England national rugby union team|England]], but he discovered that he was not qualified to do so.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_union/287808.stm |title=BBC News {{!}} Rugby Union {{!}} Stransky's England dream over |website=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref> On 20 June 1999, Stransky played for the [[Czech Republic national rugby union team|Czech Republic]] in an exhibition game against [[Penguin International RFC]], scoring 17 points.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historie českého ragby devadesátá léta (1990 - 1999) |url=http://www.ceskeragby.sportovnilisty.cz/retro/historie-ceskeho-ragby-devadesata-leta-1990-1999/?style=mobile |website=České ragby |publisher=SPORT ONLINE MEDIA s.r.o. |access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref>

In 2002, he was engaged by [[Bristol Rugby]] as a coach, but the offer was subsequently withdrawn. Stransky took legal action and was compensated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/2565891.stm |title=BBC SPORT &#124; Rugby Union &#124; English &#124; Bristol to pay Stransky damages |date=11 December 2002 |access-date=2006-11-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040204232803/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/2565891.stm |archive-date=4 February 2004}} BBC Report on court case.</ref>

=== Test history ===
{{color box|gold}} [[1995 Rugby World Cup final|World Cup final]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|-
! No. !! Opposition !! Result (SA 1st) !! Position !! Points !! Date !! Venue
|-
| 1. || {{ru|AUS}} || 19–12 || [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]] || || 31 Jul 1993 || [[Sydney Football Stadium (1988)|Sydney Football Stadium]] (SFG), Sydney
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 2. || {{ru|AUS}} || 20–28 || Fly-half || 15 <small>(1 try, 2 conversions, 2 penalties)</small> || 14 Aug 1993 || [[Ballymore Stadium]], Brisbane
|-
| 3. || {{ru|AUS}} || 12–19 || Fly-half || 2 <small>(1 conversion)</small> || 21 Aug 1993 || Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 4. || {{ru|ARG}} || 29–26 || Fly-half || 9 <small>(3 conversions, 1 penalty)</small> || 6 Nov 1993 || [[Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry|Ferro Carril Oeste Stadium]], Buenos Aires
|-
| 5. || {{ru|ARG}} || 42–22 || Fly-half || 22 <small>(1 try, 4 conversions, 3 penalties)</small> || 8 Oct 1994 || [[Boet Erasmus Stadium]], Port Elizabeth
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 6. || {{ru|ARG}} || 46–26 || Fly-half || 16 <small>(1 try, 4 conversions, 1 penalty)</small> || 15 Oct 1994 || [[Ellis Park Stadium|Ellis Park]], Johannesburg
|- 
| 7. || {{ru|SAM}} || 60–8 || Fly-half || 7 <small>(1 try, 1 conversion)</small> || 13 Apr 1995 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 8. || {{ru|AUS}} || 27–18 || Fly-half || 22 <small>(1 try, 1 conversion, 4 penalties, 1 dropgoal)</small> || 25 May 1995 || [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]], Cape Town
|- 
| 9. || {{ru|ROM}} || 21–8 || Replacement || || 30 May 1995 || Newlands, Cape Town
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 10. || {{ru|CAN}} || 20–0 || Fly-half || 10 <small>(2 conversions, 2 penalties)</small> || 3 Jun 1995 || Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
|- 
| 11. || {{ru|FRA}} || 19–15 || Fly-half || 14 <small>(1 conversion, 4 penalties)</small> || 17 Jun 1995 || [[Kings Park Stadium|Kings Park]], Durban
|- bgcolor=gold
| 12. || {{ru|NZL}} || 15–12 || Fly-half || 15 <small>(3 penalties, 2 dropgoals)</small> || [[1995 Rugby World Cup final|24 Jun 1995]] || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- 
| 13. || {{ru|WAL}} || 40–11 || Fly-half || 15 <small>(3 conversions, 3 penalties)</small> || 2 Sep 1995 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 14. || {{ru|ITA}} || 40–21 || Fly-half || 20 <small>(4 conversions, 4 penalties)</small> || 12 Nov 1995 || [[Stadio Olimpico]], Rome
|- 
| 15. || {{ru|ENG}} || 24–14 || Fly-half || 9 <small>(3 penalties)</small> || 18 Nov 1995 || [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], London
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 16. || {{ru|FIJ}} || 43–18 || Replacement || || 2 Jul 1996 || [[Loftus Versfeld]], Pretoria
|- 
| 17. || {{ru|NZL}} || 11–15 || Fly-half || 6 <small>(2 penalties)</small> || 20 Jul 1996 || [[Lancaster Park|AMI Stadium]], Christchurch
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 18. || {{ru|AUS}} || 25–19 || Fly-half || 25 <small>(1 try, 1 conversion, 6 penalties)</small> || 3 Aug 1996 || [[Free State Stadium]], Bloemfontein
|- 
| 19. || {{ru|NZL}} || 18–29 || Fly-half || 8 <small>(1 conversion, 2 penalties)</small> || 10 Aug 1996 || Newlands, Cape Town
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 20. || {{ru|NZL}} || 19–23 || Fly-half || 14 <small>(1 conversion, 4 penalties)</small> || 17 Aug 1996 || Kings Park, Durban
|- 
| 21. || {{ru|NZL}} || 26–33 || Fly-half || 11 <small>(1 conversion, 3 penalties)</small> || 24 Aug 1996 || Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|- style="background: #D0E6FF;"
| 22. || {{ru|NZL}} || 32–22 || Replacement || || 31 Aug 1996 || Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|}

==Later career==
He later returned to South Africa, and is a part-time rugby union television commentator.

In January 2007, Stransky joined Altech Netstar (Pty) Ltd. as Sales & Marketing director. In January 2008, he was appointed managing director, but subsequently resigned. He was then employed by the Steinhoff Group in a marketing and promotional capacity. He founded Pivotal Capital in 2012.

==In film==
In the 2009 movie ''[[Invictus (film)|Invictus]],'' he is portrayed by [[Scott Eastwood]].

==See also==
*[[List of Jews in sports#Rugby union|List of select Jewish rugby union players]]
*[[List of South Africa national rugby union players#List|List of South Africa national rugby union players]] – Springbok no. '''592'''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18425 | name=Joel Stransky | date=10 March 2016}}
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=4778 Sporting heroes]
* [http://www.netstar.altech.co.za Altech Netstar homepage]
* [http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/JoelStransky.html Joel Stranksy bio at Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=bullfighting&ID=4 Joel Stransky bio] at Jewsinsports.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120306000103/http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_211209190400.php Book review: The Glory of the Game], about the Ten Jewish Springboks.

{{South Africa 1995 Rugby World Cup squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stransky, Joel}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Maritzburg College]]
[[Category:University of Natal alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish rugby union players]]
[[Category:Jewish South African sportspeople]]
[[Category:Leicester Tigers coaches]]
[[Category:Leicester Tigers players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Pietermaritzburg]]
[[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:South African people of Czech descent]]
[[Category:South African people of English descent]]
[[Category:South African people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:South African rugby union players]]
[[Category:Villager FC players]]
[[Category:1995 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:South African rugby union coaches]]
[[Category:Expatriate rugby union coaches]]
[[Category:Stormers players]]
[[Category:20th-century South African sportsmen]]