Do you remember former Springbok captain Corné Krige?

Corné Krige, the former Springbok captain, made his Springbok debut in 1999 at the age of 24. He played professional rugby from 1996 to 2005. Apart from leading The Springboks, he also captained Western Province and The Stormers. What is he up to now?

Staying outdoors

After retiring from rugby, Corné Krige ventured into the world of advertising. He now owns an advertising company called CK Outdoor, established in 2007. It includes various forms of outdoor advertising such as transit, airport, and billboard advertising. He also founded Oncon Advertising, which focuses on branding in over a thousand taverns in various townships across South Africa and Namibia.

Krige’s entrepreneurial path began while he was still playing for the Stormers. He co-owned a restaurant/bar in Newlands, Cape Town. The other owners were Bob Skinstad, Robbie Fleck, and Peter Dickson.

Surviving more than the rugby field

Krige participated in the reality TV show Survivor SA, which further elevated his celebrity status. The show was filmed on an island in China. In an interview with IOL, he mentioned that the show was completely authentic, nothing was staged, and that it was extremely challenging. “For 18 days, until I left the island, we had no toothbrush, toothpaste, or toilet paper. Jeepers we were dirty,” he said. He also talked about the lack of food and how hungry the contestants were most of the time. He lost 17 kg while on the island.

Former Springbok captain at home

Corné Krige is an avid cyclist and enjoys playing golf. In an interview with Compleat Golfer, he mentioned that he plays around five to 10 rounds of golf per year. It depends on how many golf days he is invited to. Because of his busy schedule, he must often choose between spending hours on the golf course or cycling and most of the time, he chooses cycling.

He participated in the Absa Cape Epic, an annual mountain bike stage race held in the Western Cape, in 2013. Earlier this year, he took part in his 10th Cape Town Cycle.

Corné Krige lives on the beachfront in the tranquil town of Melkbosstrand on the west coast of South Africa with his wife, Justine, and their three children Sophia, John, and Peter. Both he and his wife enjoy outdoor activities like jogging, and with the beach right on their doorstep, it is very convenient. Krige was born in Zambia and turned 49 in March.

Zebra Press published an autobiographical book about Corné Krige in 2005. The book is titled The Right Place at the Wrong Time. It covers his Western Province career, injuries that plagued him, his captaincy of the Springboks and playing English club rugby. The book includes his take on controversial topics such as the racial issues in South African rugby and the politics behind the game.