We’d like to wish one of our favourite Sharks a very happy 26th birthday.
Jon-Paul Roger Pietersen, these days known simply JP (or “Paula” to his team mates) was born on this day back in 1986. As part of the extended rugby dynasty that produced former Natal wing Christy Noble, he was probably always destined for greatness, although lost his way somewhere between his family home in Stellenbosch and Generaal Hertzog High School in Witbank, where he matriculated.
It was thanks to the talent-spotting genius of erstwhile Sharks coach Dick Muir that JP was plucked from the obscurity of club rugby – where he was playing lock – and turned into an international hero at initially fullback and later wing. Pietersen has played for the Boks in 45 test matches since 2006, scoring 14 tries in the process.
To celebrate the run-up to his big day, JP has scored tries in each of his last three games and I guess we can offer him no better wish for the day than for him to cap off a memorable week with another one this weekend. Veëls geluk, JP!
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Happy happy Japes! Enjoy the day @ BMW!
All the best JPP. Enjoy it.
May your BDay be blessed with a hatrick of tries against the cheetahs!!!!!
Happy birthday JP!
Been a huge fan since he first appeared as a lanky teenage fullback with pace, power and verve. Nowadays he is really standing up as a senior back and being the go-to man in the tough situations.
Look forward to many more years for him in the Black and White.
Happy B-Day JP!!!!!
Lekker verjaar JP, Druk vir ons ‘n hattrick Saterdag!
Happy birthday JP, make sure you have a reason to celebrate after the game.
Hell but time flies, it feels like yesterday that we wished him for his last birthday.
Happy birthday JP! Hope there are many more Shark and Bok tries in your future!
Met him at the Shark cage when he was 18/19 years old. Very humble and likeable young man. Wow can’t believe it was 7 years ago. Happy B-day JP hope we see you in the Black&White and Green&Gold for many years to come!!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday JPP – wishing you lots of blessings and happiness.
Happy Birthday JP! All the best for the rest of your day and career with the Sharks
Wow, so much experience in such a young package. The Sharks and Boks are very lucky that they will get many more years of service from JPP. Congratulations young man, you are showing leadership and maturity beyond your years, a true veteran of the game before his time.
@uzail (Comment 11) :
Love your avatar!!
Happy birthday to my all-time favourite Sharks winger!
Happy birthday JP.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 12) : Yup it’s very hard to believe that he’s only 26 now.
Both JPP and Frans Steyn have a good chance of playing in 4 RWCs, Lambie could easily follow in their footsteps.
@Culling Song (Comment 14) : Not Cabous or James Small ?!
@Original Pierre (Comment 17) : I think he said last time that his all time favourite Sharks winger is Dean Hall!
@Original Pierre (Comment 17) : @Ben (Comment 18) : In my all-time favourite Sharks team, James Small would be right wing, JPP left wing, and Dean Hall would be winging it away to another continent, preferably with Marius Joubert in tow
Now that the party is over, its the next morning and all that left is the knowledge that you are one year older
Happy B-day JP… May this saeson be a record try-scoring blessed one….
@Culling Song (Comment 19) :
No Tony Watson??
@Pokkel (Comment 21) : Tony Watson was excellent, and benefits from having scored a crucial score in an iconic game, but measured across a career, I don’t think he’s better than either JPP or James.
@Culling Song (Comment 22) : Yes but it was one hellofa match to score one of the best ever Sharks tries! Just for that Tony Watson deserve to be atleast on the bench behind JP and James.
@JD (Comment 23) : Fair enough!