Brendon Groenewald

Brendon Groenewald (born 27 May 1991 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with KwaZulu-Natal club side Durban Collegians.[1][2] He is a utility forward that can play as a lock, flanker or number eight.

Brendon Groenewald
Date of birth (1991-05-27) 27 May 1991
Place of birthJohannesburg, South Africa
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
SchoolGlenwood High School, Durban
UniversityCentral University of Technology, Bloemfontein
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Number eight / Lock
Current team Durban Collegians
Youth career
2007–2009 Sharks
2010–2011 Free State Cheetahs
2012 Sharks
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–present Durban Collegians 4 (15)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Free State Cheetahs 8 (10)
2012 Sharks (Currie Cup) 2 (0)
2014 Free State Cheetahs 1 (0)
Correct as of 30 March 2015
Correct as of 26 August 2014

Career

School rugby

At high school level, Groenewald represented KwaZulu-Natal in provincial youth weeks in three consecutive years – he played for them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2007, the Under-18 Academy Week competition in 2008 and the Under-18 Craven Week competition in 2009.

Free State Cheetahs

In 2010, he moved to Bloemfontein, where he joined the Free State Cheetahs academy. He made just seven starts for the Free State U19 side during the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship before he was promoted to the Free State U21 side, for whom he made five appearances in 2010 and scoring three tries, including two in their match against Boland U21.[3]

He made his first class debut in 2011; he was included in the Free State XV squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup and was included in the run-on side for their opening match of the season against the Falcons. It proved to be a memorable debut, as he also scored his first senior try in the final minutes of the match as his side ran out 55–19 winners.[4] He started their first five matches of the competition (scoring one more try against Namibian side Welwitschias)[5] and played off the bench in their next two matches, as well as the quarter-final, where the Free State XV were knocked out by eventual winners, Argentinean side Pampas XV.[6]

He returned to Under-21 action in the second half of 2011, scoring two tries in nine starts for the Free State U21 side in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

Sharks / Durban Collegians

In 2012, Groenewald returned to KwaZulu-Natal when he joined the Sharks. He made two appearances for them during the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition. Still eligible to play at Under-21 level, he played in all thirteen of the Sharks U21s' matches during the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring three tries as they reached the semi-final of the competition.

He played club rugby for Durban Collegians in the 2013 Moor Cup, helping them to second place in the league and went one better in the 2014 Moor Cup when he was the top try-scorer in the league[7] to help them win the title and qualify for the 2015 SARU Community Cup.

Return to Free State Cheetahs

His performances for Durban Collegians didn't go unnoticed and Free State Cheetahs Rory Duncan brought him back to Bloemfontein as lock and loose-forward cover during the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season. Groenewald made his Currie Cup debut by coming off the bench in the Cheetahs' 37–20 victory over the Eastern Province Kings in Round Seven of the competition.[8]

Durban Collegians

In 2015, Groenewald returned to Durban to rejoin club side Durban Collegians prior to their 2015 SARU Community Cup campaign.

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References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Brendon Groenewald". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "World Artists Player Profile Brendon Groenewald". World Artists. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State 109-0 Boland". South African Rugby Union. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 55-19 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Welwitschias 13-29 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Pampas XV 41-34 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  7. "Caylib en Lappies reg vir CB-aksie". Volksblad (in Afrikaans). 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 22-37 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
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