As Springbok centre Jesse Kriel prepares for the next chapter of his professional rugby career in Japan, Alfa Romeo, part of Stellantis South Africa reflects on the six months driving one of the game’s most consistent performers and wishes him every success abroad.
Over the past six months, Alfa Romeo has been part of Kriel’s everyday routine in South Africa, with the rugby international driving the Stelvio Quadrifoglio during the final stretch of his local season. The collaboration was grounded in real-world use, fitting naturally into Kriel’s demanding training and travel schedule.
Kriel drove Alfa Romeo’s flagship performance SUV as part of his regular routine while preparing for the next phase of his professional career.
“It was an honour to have Jesse represent Alfa Romeo during this period,” said Janus Janse van Rensburg, Head of Marketing and Sales at Alfa Romeo South Africa. “What made the partnership work was its authenticity. The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is designed to perform under pressure while remaining balanced and controlled, qualities that mirror Jesse’s approach on the field.”
Kriel, who departed for Japan in December 2025 to take up club rugby commitments, described the experience as a positive one. “Driving the Stelvio Quadrifoglio was something else,” he said. “It’s sharp, comfortable and quick. I genuinely looked forward to driving it every time I got behind the wheel.”
Performance with everyday relevance
During this period, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio formed part of Kriel’s daily transport, covering travel between training sessions and other commitments. As the top-tier SUV in Alfa Romeo’s local range, the Quadrifoglio is engineered to deliver high performance in a manner that remains composed and predictable in regular driving conditions.
Powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, paired with Alfa Romeo’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. In South Africa, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is priced from R2.225 million.
Keeping the driver safe and comfortable
Alongside its performance credentials, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is equipped with a suite of driver assistance and safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
Comfort and convenience features include adaptive suspension, aluminium paddle shifters, a tilt-and-slide panoramic sunroof and heated front seats. All locally sold Stelvio Quadrifoglio models are backed by a five-year or 100 000 km factory warranty.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Janse van Rensburg added: “As Jesse begins a new chapter in Japan, we wish him every success. We are proud to have shared this part of his journey.”
With his move now complete, Kriel now turns his focus to the next stage of his playing career with the Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Glyph
On the morning of 11/11/11 South Africa needed 111 runs to win at 11:11 – South Africa vs Australia. This coincidence occurred during the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town. At 11:11, on 11/11/11, South Africa were 125 for 1 needing a further 111 runs for a win.
Gumby Train
Sport Trivia: Ghana boycotted the Olympic Games in 1976, in protest at the participation of which country? Answer: New Zealand – The 1976 Games were held in Montreal, Canada. The Ghanaian team, along with almost 30 other African nations, joined in a boycott of the Games to protest at New Zealand\’s All Blacks rugby team having toured South Africa under apartheid.