Chris Ehlers

Chris Erich Ehlers (born (1988-05-22)22 May 1988 in Kroonstad, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Griffons.^[1] His regular position is lock.

Career

Youth

He went to Potchefstroom-based North-West University, where he was selected in the Leopards U19 squad that played in the 2007 Under-19 Provincial Championship.

Falcons

However, his provincial breakthrough came in 2010 when he moved to East Rand side the Falcons. He was included in their squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup and made his debut by starting their opening match of the season, a 17–52 defeat to the Pumas in Witbank.^[2] He made another start and played off the bench in their other five matches as they disappointingly finished bottom of the log, losing all seven of their matches. He also made his debut in the First Division of the Currie Cup in 2010, playing off the bench in their opening match of the season, a 8–43 loss to the Griffons in Welkom.^[3] He made a further four appearances in the competition – all as a substitute – including their only victory in the competition, a 38–37 defeat of the Border Bulldogs in East London.^[4]

He started seven of their eight matches in the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a reserve in the other as they finished sixth in the Northern Section of the competition. He also played a bigger part in the 2011 Currie Cup First Division than in 2010, starting six matches and appearing as a substitute on two further occasions. In his second start, he also scored his first career try in a 28–55 defeat to the Boland Cavaliers.^[5] Overall, however, the Falcons were much improved from 2010 and they finished in third position to qualify for the semi-finals; Ehlers featured in their semi-final match as the Falcons suffered a 17–48 defeat against the Eastern Province Kings.^[6]

Griffons

In 2012, Ehlers moved to Welkom to join the Griffons. He featured in all six of their matches in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition, but his side once again finished bottom of the log with just one victory. After two substitute appearances in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division, Ehlers started ten consecutive matches and scored tries in consecutive matches against former sides the Falcons^[7] and the Leopards^[8] as the Griffons finished in third spot to qualify for the semi-finals. Ehlers finished on the losing side of a semi-final for the second year in a row as the Pumas won 37–30 in Nelspruit.^[9] He also picked up an injury in the semi-final match which ruled him out of the entire 2013 Vodacom Cup.

He returned to action in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division, playing in all fourteen of the Griffons' matches and starting thirteen of those. He also scored a try in Round Two of the competition against eventual finalists the Eastern Province Kings^[10] as the Griffons finished the season in sixth spot. Ehlers won a personal accolade, being crowned the Griffons' Currie Cup Forward of the Year^[11] and was also named in the Cheetahs' wider training group prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season,^[12] but missed out on the final squad.

A knee injury ruled Ehlers out of the entire 2014 Vodacom Cup, as well as the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series.^[13] He returned for their 2014 Currie Cup First Division campaign, scoring one try in their final regular season match against the SWD Eagles^[14] to help his side finish in second spot. He scored another try in their semi-final match – once again against the SWD Eagles – to help them to a 45–43 victory^[15] and also started in the final against former side the Falcons, helping them to a 23–21 victory^[16] to win their first trophy for six years.^[17]

References