# Pieter Muller

Pieter Gysbert Muller (born 5 May 1969) is a former international South Africa rugby union player. A centre, he was known for his strength and direct running.

## Rugby union career

As a schoolboy, Muller represented Free State at the Craven Week tournaments in 1987 and 1988 and on both occasions were selected for the SA Schools team. He made his provincial debut for Free State in 1990, after spending some time playing club rugby in Ireland for Greystones R.F.C. In 1992, Muller joined Natal and was a member of the Currie Cup winning team in 1992. He suffered a serious neck injury early in 1995 that required time away from rugby, after which he tried rugby league and spent time in France playing for Toulouse. In 1997, Muller returned to the Sharks and in 2000 he joined Cardiff Blues in Wales.
His first test match for the Springboks was in 1992 against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and he scored a try on debut. Muller played 33 test matches for the Springboks and was a member of the 1999 World Cup squad. His last test match for South Africa was the third place playoff at the 1999 World Cup against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Muller also played in 19 tour matches for the Springboks and scored 7 tries.

### Test history

| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Tries | Date | Venue |
| 1. | New Zealand | 24–27 | Centre | 1 | 15 August 1992 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 2. | Australia | 3–26 | Centre | | 22 August 1992 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 3. | France | 20–15 | Centre | | 17 October 1992 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon |
| 4. | France | 16–29 | Centre | | 24 October 1992 | Parc des Princes, Paris |
| 5. | England | 16–33 | Centre | | 14 November 1992 | Twickenham, London |
| 6. | France | 20–20 | Centre | | 26 June 1993 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 7. | France | 17–18 | Centre | | 3 July 1993 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 8. | Australia | 19–12 | Centre | 1 | 31 July 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney |
| 9. | Australia | 20–28 | Centre | | 14 August 1993 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane |
| 10. | Australia | 12–19 | Centre | | 21 August 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium (SFG), Sydney |
| 11. | Argentina | 29–26 | Centre | | 6 November 1993 | Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires |
| 12. | Argentina | 52–23 | Centre | | 13 November 1993 | Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires |
| 13. | England | 15–32 | Centre | | 4 June 1994 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 14. | England | 27–9 | Centre | | 11 June 1994 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 15. | New Zealand | 14–22 | Centre | | 9 July 1994 | Carisbrook, Dunedin |
| 16. | Scotland | 34–10 | Centre | | 19 November 1994 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| 17. | Wales | 20–12 | Centre | | 26 November 1994 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
| 18. | Ireland | 37–13 | Centre | | 13 June 1998 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 19. | Ireland | 33–0 | Centre | | 20 June 1998 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 20. | Wales | 96–13 | Centre | | 27 June 1998 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 21. | England | 18–0 | Centre | | 4 July 1998 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 22. | Australia | 14–13 | Centre | | 18 July 1998 | Subiaco Oval, Perth |
| 23. | New Zealand | 13–3 | Centre | | 25 July 1998 | Athletic Park, Wellington |
| 24. | New Zealand | 24–23 | Centre | | 15 August 1998 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 25. | Australia | 29–15 | Centre | | 29 August 1998 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 26. | Italy | 74–3 | Centre | | 12 June 1999 | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
| 27. | Wales | 19–29 | Centre | | 26 June 1998 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |
| 28. | New Zealand | 0–28 | Centre | | 10 July 1999 | Carisbrook, Dunedin |
| 29. | Australia | 6–32 | Centre | | 17 July 1999 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| 30. | Spain | 47–3 | Centre | 1 | 10 October 1999 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| 31. | England | 44–21 | Centre | | 24 October 1999 | Stade De France, Paris |
| 32. | Australia | 21–27 | Centre | | 30 October 1999 | Twickenham, London |
| 33. | New Zealand | 22–18 | Centre | | 4 November 1999 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |

## Rugby league

In 1996, Muller also had an unsuccessful stint playing for Australian rugby league side Penrith Panthers, in the Winfield Cup, making only a handful of appearances in the two years of his contract. Muller then returned to South Africa and club rugby before once again representing the Springboks.

## Accolades

Muller was voted as one of the five Young Players of the Year for 1991, along with Hennie le Roux, Pieter Hendriks, Johan Nel and Jacques Olivier.

## Personal

He is the brother of Helgard Muller, also former Springboks rugby player. Muller resides in Cape Town (Hout Bay) and is closely involved with the SA Rugby Legends.