Fijian international Aloisio Butonidualevu moved to France in 2008 to join French Federale 1 club Lons-le-Saunier.
It wasn't long before Butonidualevu's searing pace and superb vision caught the eye of clubs in the top flight with the powerful inside centre making his way through Federale 1 and Pro D2 before playing Top 14 rugby with Grenoble.
A physical inside centre with great hands and an elusive step, Butonidualevu's versatility allows him to slot in comfortably at both outside centre and on the wing.
Date of Birth: 21/10/83
Position: Centre
Height: 1.84m
Weight: 103kg
Currently contracted to: Grenoble
A former South Africa Under-21 star, Ronnie Cooke moved to France in 2007 and has established himself as a regular in the Brive lineup.
Skillful and with excellent vision, Cooke made his professional debut with the Leopards in the Currie Cup, in 2004, before graduating to Super rugby with the Cheetahs in 2006.
Cooke adapted very well to life in France and has gained further European experience in both the European Challenge Cup and the Heineken Cup in recent seasons.
Date of Birth: 01/05/85
Position: Centre
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 85kg
Currently contracted to: EP Kings
Dynamic outside centre Marius Delport represented South Africa at age-group level featuring in the IRB Junior World Championships from 2003 - 2006.
A strong runner with great feet and fantastic vision, Delport was a key member of a highly successful Blue Bulls team from 2006 to 2009. In 2007, after winning the Super Rugby competition with the Blue Bulls, Delport was chosen to represent the SA Emerging side at the IRB Nations Cup.
Although outside centre is his preferred position, Delport is equally comfortable playing at fullback or wing. After taking a year off from rugby in 2012, Delport has returned to the game and has signed with French Pro D2 club Dax.
Date of Birth: 06/03/1985
Position: Centre / Wing / Fullback
Height: 194cm
Weight: 96kg
Currently contracted to: Dax
Cheetahs midfield star Barry Geel has enjoyed a good career to date, establishing himself in the top flight of South African rugby, with both the Leopards and then Griquas.
A strong centre with the superb ability to run great lines, Geel played a significant role in the Cheetahs' 2010 & 2011 Super Rugby campaigns.
Date of Birth: 30/04/82
Position: Centre
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 93kg
Currently contracted to: Cheetahs
Bayonne centre Sam Gerber started his career with Eastern Province and has gained a wealth of top-flight experience with both the Sharks and the Pumas before moving to France.
A powerful ball carrier, Gerber has played some of his professional career on the wing but has is predominantly a dynamic No.12.
Gerber has established himself in France with Bayonne and, since the 2006/07 season, has soaked up both Top 14 and European Challenge Cup experience.
Date of Birth: 05/02/81
Position: Inside Centre
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 98kg
Currently contracted to: Bayonne
Hanekom came through the ranks at Western Province, representing the Cape Town-based franchise at U19, U21 and senior level.
In 2009, the strong outside centre was also chosen to represent South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championships.
Hanekom has been an integral part of a Maties side that has been so successful over the last few years.
A powerful centre with a great step and superb vision, Hanekom joined the SWD Eagles in 2012 where he made an immediate impact for the Currie Cup First Division side.
Date of Birth: 17/05/89
Position: Centre
Height: 1.93m
Weight: 101kg
Currently contracted to: Lions
Dynamic outside centre Mark Hodgskiss has improved markedly since his debut for the Maties in 2011, going on to represent the SA Students side in 2012.
A powerful runner with superb vision and the ability to run great lines, Hodgskiss has been in outstanding form for the Maties in 2013.
Date of Birth: 27/12/89
Position: Centre
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 92kg
Currently contracted to: Maties
A product of Grey College, Alwyn Hollenbach was a stand out performer for the famous rugby school. After matriculating in 2003, Hollenbach's superb form was rewarded with a call up to the South African U19 team that came third in the 2004 IRB Junior World Championships.
A gifted rugby player, Hollenbach is equally comfortable at playing both inside and outside centre. A strong runner with great hands and fantastic running lines, Hollenbach has had an impressive career to date having represented both the Cheetahs and the Lions in Super Rugby.
Hollenbach is currently contracted to the Lions, where his vision and uncompromising defence have made him a valuable asset to the Johannseburg- based franchise.
Date of Birth: 14/06/85
Position: Centre
Height: 1.89m
Weight: 99kg
Currently contracted to: Lions
Griquas centre Wilmaure Louw made his Currie Cup debut for the Kimberley- based side in 2009 and impressed enough to earn himself a spot in the Cheetahs' Super Rugby squad in 2010 and 2011.
Extremely talented Louw is quick and skillful and tipped for great things in the future.
Date of Birth: 02/02/1987
Position: Outside Centre
Height: 1.83m
Weight: 88kg
Currently contracted to: Pumas
Fiji and Exeter star Sireli Naqelevuki made his name on the IRB Sevens Circuit before then making a big move to Western Province in South Africa.
The powerful flyer enjoyed a number of seasons with both Province and the Stormers before, in the summer of 2010, signing a deal with the newly promoted Exeter Chiefs.
Big, strong and quick, Sireli played for his country in the 2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
Date of Birth: 30/09/80
Position: Wing, Centre
Height: 1.91m
Weight: 118kg
Currently contracted to: Exeter Chiefs
International Honours: Fiji, Fijian Sevens
Side.
Dewald Pretorius is a big, powerful backline player who is capable of playing both centre and wing and who is currently contracted to Pumas.
The young star made his professional debut with the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup in 2007 before, twelve months later, he got his first taste of Premier Division Currie Cup rugby.
Moving to Griquas in 2009, Pretorius made his Super rugby debut for the Cheetahs that season and has now established himself as a part of the Kimberley-based sides lineup.
A destructive ball-carrier, Pretorius is an incredibly difficult player to put down.
Date of Birth: 29/11/86
Position: Wing / Centre
Height: 1.87m
Weight:104kg
Currently contracted to: Pumas
Corne Uys began his professional career in Cape Town when he made his Currie Cup debut for Western Province in 2004.
A specialist thirteen with superb skills and a great deal of experience, Uys spent five successful years at Western Province and the Stormers, making his Super Rugby debut for the Cape-based franchise in 2007.
In 2009, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske signed the exciting playmaker who made an immediate impact, helping the Cheetahs to reach the Currie Cup finals that year.
After three more years of Super Rugby with the Cheetahs, Uys sought a new challenge and opted to sign for Aviva Premiership team Newcastle Falcons at the end of 2011. The Falcons fought hard towards the end of their 2012 campaign but were unable to avoid relegation which prompted Sale Sharks' Director of Rugby Bryan Redpath to snap up the experienced centre.
A big ball carrier and strong defender, Uys continues to put in consistent performances as he looks to become a permanent fixture at Sale.
Date of Birth: 02/10/82
Position: Centre
Height: 1.91m
Weight: 97kg
Currently contracted to: Sale Sharks
Schooled at Rondebosch Boys High, Scott van Breda was a stand out performer at fullback for the Southern Suburbs school before switching to centre the following year when he joined the Eastern Province Academy.
After a successful year with the EP Kings U21 side in 2011, the powerful centre was called up to the senior side the following year.
A tall and physical player, Van Breda runs fantastic lines and has the great ability to break tackles and hit gaps. A reliable kicker, Van Breda was also entrusted with the goal-kicking duties for the Kings for much of 2012.
An exciting young talent, Van Breda will be looking to break into the Super Rugby squad in 2013.
Date of Birth: 12/12/91
Position: Centre / Fullback
Height: 1.90m
Weight: 93kg
Currently contracted to: EP Kings
Powerful centre Walter Venter began his career with the Lions and experienced Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and Super Rugby with the Union before, in 2010, moving to the Leopards.
A member of the 2005 SA Under-21 squad, Venter remains a highly rated player in South Africa. In 2009, while still at the Lions, he played against the British and Irish Lions and impressed with his solid performance in the midfield.
After four successful years at the Lions, Venter had a short stint at the Leopards before making the move to Griquas in 2012.
Date of Birth: 07/08/84
Position: Centre
Height: 1.80m
Weight: 94kg
Currently contracted to: Griquas
After working his way through the ranks at Western Province, Tim Whitehead joined the Sharks in 2012 where he has been in outstanding form for the Durban- based Super Rugby franchise.
Whitehead's attacking prowess, combined with his skill, good pace and superb running lines, saw him burst onto the scene in 2008 during UCT's FNB Varsity Cup campaign.
Whitehead soon moved through the ranks at Western Province, representing the U21 side, at first, before playing Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and later Super Rugby for the Stormers.
Although he learned a lot from the likes of Jean de Villiers and Jacque Fourie, Whitehead was unable to get regular game-time at the Stormers, and his move to the Sharks has allowed the classy centre to showcase his exceptional talents.
With his balanced running, strong fend and technically sound defence, Whitehead possesses all the qualities of a classic inside centre.
Date of Birth: 30/05/88
Position: Centre
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 92kg
Currently contracted to: Sharks
