Nic Groom

Nicholas James Groom (born 21 February 1990) is a South African rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half for Edinburgh in the Pro14.

Nic Groom
Full nameNicholas James Groom
Date of birth (1990-02-21) 21 February 1990
Place of birthKing William's Town, South Africa
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Weight81 kg (12 st 11 lb; 179 lb)
SchoolRondebosch Boys' High School
UniversityUniversity of Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Edinburgh
Youth career
2008–2011 Western Province
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011 UCT Ikey Tigers 8 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2015 Western Province 69 (50)
2011–2016 Stormers 57 (25)
2016–2018 Northampton Saints 49 (35)
2018–2019 Lions 21 (15)
2018 Golden Lions 4 (5)
2019–present Edinburgh 10 (5)
Correct as of 4 February 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Barbarians 1 (0)
2016 South Africa 'A' 1 (0)
Correct as of 27 May 2018

Career

A winner of the Varsity Cup with UCT in 2011, Groom received a swift call up to the Stormers side at the tail-end of the Super Rugby season to replace the injured Dewaldt Duvenhage and Ricky Januarie and he made a couple of substitute appearances. The next 18 months were to see him limited to Western Province appearances and he was a Currie Cup winner with the Streeptruie in 2012. 2013 saw the departure of Duvenhage and Groom was now in a one-on-one fight with Louis Schreuder for the Stormers and Province number 9 jersey and as a result he saw much more game time. He was a Currie Cup runner up in 2013 and he largely had to make do with appearances from the substitutes bench as Schreuder stole a march in the battle to be first choice scrum-half. However, he was to become a Currie Cup winner again in 2014, this time against the Golden Lions in a season which had seen him edge ahead of Louis Schreuder both at Super Rugby level where he started 12 of 16 games in a tough campaign and also domestically where he started 7 of 9 games and scored 1 try in the process.

He signed a contract to join English Premiership side Northampton Saints at the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season and has since become a regular started for the Midlands side.[1]

Groom has been a regular feature in the Saints' starting side and was instrumental in them securing European Champions Cup rugby for the 2017/18 season, featuring heavily in both the European Champions Cup play-off games where Saints saw off both Connacht Rugby and Stade Francais to secure their spot in the competition for the following season.[2] On 3 April 2018, it was announced that Groom would leave Northampton with immediate effect to join the Super Rugby team the Lions.[3]

On 27 June 2019, Groom returned to the UK with Pro14 side Edinburgh in Scotland from the 2019-20 season.[4]

International rugby

On 28 May 2016, Groom was included in a 31-man South Africa squad for their three-test match series against a touring Ireland team.[5] After training with the national team for a few days, he joined the South Africa 'A' squad for their two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[6] He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,[7] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[8]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 9 June 2020
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesPoints
2011 Stormers202350000
2012 Stormers0
2013 Stormers9453711500
2014 Stormers161249240000
2015 Stormers1613395521010
2016 Stormers1410476521000
2017In Europe with Northampton Saints
2018 Lions85331521000
2019 Lions13765791500
Total785127394984010
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References
  1. "DHL Stormers to bid Groom farewell" (Press release). Stormers. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2017/may-2017/saints-23-stade-francais-22-friday-night-may-lights-strike-again/
  3. "Nic Groom to leave Saints with immediate effect" (Press release). Northampton Saints. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. "Edinburgh sign South African scrum-half Groom". Edinburgh Rugby. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  5. "Squad of 31 ushers in new era of Springbok rugby". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  6. "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  7. "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. [{{{archiveurl}}} Archived] Check |archiveurl= value (help) from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24-32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
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