On 02 January 1969, Jacobus Francois Pienaar was born in Vereeniging,Transvaal (now known as Gauteng Province). Born into a working class Afrikaner family, he captained the South African national rugby team, better known as Springboks from 26 June 1993 until 10 August 1996. Many would recall for leading the Springboks to victory in the 1995 Rugby Union World Cup. Pienaar was preceded as captain by the legendary Naas Botha, and succeeded by Gary Teichmann.
2 January 1967
Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01African Success, 'Biography of Francois Pienaar', from African Success, [online], Available at www.africansuccess.org [Accesd: 28 July 2011]
- 02Sporting Heroes, 'Francois Pienaar', from Sporting Heroes, [online], Available at www.sporting-heroes.net [Accessed: 28 July 2011]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012078
South African History Online (2011) 'Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012078 (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
South African History Online, Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012078, (accessed 15 November 2026).
"Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012078. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Former Springbok rugby captain, Franscois Pienaar, is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012078.
Also on 2 January
- 1666The four corner stones of the castle (Kasteel de Goede Hoop) at the Cape are laid
- 1837Voortrekker leaders punish Mzilikazi
- 1950Richard Mzamane Mabaso is born
- 1964Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of independent Ghana escapes 5th assassination attempt
- 1968Dr Chris Barnard performs second heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital
- 1985Moses Madiba dies in Seshego, Limpopo
- 2005Six SA Tsunami survivors arrive at Lanseria
Search events by date
This day in history
What happened on your birthday?
SAHO is free because readers fund it. Donate →