Born and bred in the central region of South Africa, Graham Els has been described as an unheralded talent, possessing all the humility needed to break through into the professional ranks. Widely reputed to be a disciplined and a highly intelligent student of the game, his selfless ‘team first’ attitude and old-fashioned values have made Els a favourite amongst teammates and coaches alike. Blessed with size as well as speed, Graham’s willingness to carry the ball flat to the line does not only succeed in earning valuable running metres, but also draws the attention of numerous defenders.

The fleet-footed first receiver is always seen carrying the ball in two hands, putting his outside backs into gaps, and distributing with the smarts of a player well beyond his years. Els’ ability to organize a backline has seen him don the number twelve jersey on numerous occasions, where his brutal defensive displays have grabbed the attention of coaches within the senior professional ranks. Described by many as a ‘late developer’, his all-round skillset can be attributed to a promising tennis career where he went toe-to-toe with some of the best in the business. With that said, there is no doubt that Graham Els is a young man destined for higher honours in the game of rugby union.