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Pieter Johannes Frederik 'Piet' Greyling, born 16 May 1942 in Zastron, South Africa, is a South African rugby union player who has represented the national team, the Springboks, 43 times, captaining them once, and scoring 5 tries in total. Greyling has been described as one of the best and toughest flanks, and is best known for his pairing with Jan Ellis in 24 tests.
In 1965 Greyling moved to South Africa. Stints for the Free State (1967) and Blue Bulls teams followed, before he settled for Golden Lions, where he played for Diggers Rugby Club. Under his captaincy Transvaal shared the Currie Cup with Northern Transvaal in 1971, ending a 19-year drought, and won it outright in 1972 with a 25–19 win against Eastern Transvaal.
Greyling made his Springbok debut at flank in the first test against France at Kings Park, Durban, on 15 July 1967, which South Africa won 26–3. South African rugby administrator Danie Craven described the test as a vital one, as South Africa had lost 8 of its previous 9 test matches.
When Greyling and Jan Ellis played for the same team, they formed a formidable pair in which Greyling performed a destructive role on which Ellis could capitalise, as Barry John recalled in his 1974 autobiography.
Greyling's work ethic on the field was such that doc Craven said that for 80 minutes he drove himself like a slave.
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Categories: 1942 Births, Living People, People From Mohokare Local Municipality, Rugby Union Players From Bloemfontein, South African Rugby Union Players, South Africa International Rugby Union Players, Rugby Union Flankers, Cheetahs Players, South African Emigrants To Rhodesia, Lions Players, South Africa National Rugby Union Team Captains, 20th-century South African Sportsmen
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