Brian Skosana

Mthangala Brian Skosana is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the SWD Eagles.[1] His regular position is centre or wing.

Brian Skosana

Full name	Mthangala Brian Skosana
Date of birth	(1991-12-05) 5 December 1991
Place of birth	Johannesburg
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	89 kg (196 lb; 14 st 0 lb)
School	St Andrew's College
University	Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Winger Current team SWD Eagles Youth career 2009 Eastern Province Country Districts 2010 Golden Lions 2010–2011 Sydney Roosters (rugby league) 2012 Eastern Province Kings Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–present NMMU Madibaz 8 (10) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2014 Eastern Province Kings 19 (15) 2014–present SWD Eagles 19 (50) Correct as of 8 October 2015 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 South Africa Schools Correct as of 5 April 2013

Career

Early career

While attending St. Andrew's College in Grahamstown, he played for Eastern Province Country Districts at the 2009 Craven Week which earned him a call-up to the South African Schools team that season. His performances there lead to a move to the Golden Lions academy, but he was also noticed by Australian rugby league team Sydney Roosters and he joined their academy in August 2010, alongside fellow South African JP du Plessis.[2]

Eastern Province Kings

He returned to South Africa at the start of 2012, joining Eastern Province Kings and playing for their Under–21 team that year in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He made eight appearance in the competition and scored a hat-trick of tries in his fifth match, a 41–3 victory over the Pumas U21 side.[3]

The following season, he was included in the senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup.[4] After being an unused substitute in their match against the Sharks XV,[5] Skosana made his first class debut the following week when he started their match against the Boland Cavaliers in Malmesbury,[6] the first of two starts during the season.

Later in the same season, Skosana also made his Currie Cup debut. He came on as a substitute in the Kings' 44–18 victory over the Falcons in Brakpan.[7] After four more substitute appearances, Skosana made his first Currie Cup start on 13 September 2013 against Western Cape side the Boland Cavaliers, which also saw Skosana score his first senior try in the 18th minute of the match.[8]

He made a total of ten appearances in the 2013 Currie Cup and returned to Vodacom Cup action in 2014, scoring two tries in seven appearances.

SWD Eagles

Prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, Skosana was not one of the players in coach Carlos Spencer's plans for the competition and he joined George-based side SWD Eagles on a deal until the end of 2015.[9]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Brian Skosana". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "Sydney Roosters' South African Recruits". SAbona. 1 August 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province KIngs 41-3 Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
4. "EP Kings Team announced to play Sharks". Rugby15. 16 April 2013. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 27-23 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Regent Boland Cavaliers 23-27 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 18-44 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Regent Boland Cavaliers 19-40 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
9. "Skosana sit nou met huis in Baai, maar kontrak in George" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.