Willie Britz
Willem Stephanus Britz (born 31 August 1988) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Japanese sides the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and NTT Communications Shining Arcs in the Top League.[1]
| Full name | Willem Stephanus Britz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 31 August 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb; 234 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Diamantveld High School, Kimberley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of the Free State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
At youth level, he represented Griquas at the U18 Craven Week tournaments in 2005 and 2006. He also played for them in the U19 Currie Cup tournament in 2006 before moving to the Free State Cheetahs. He made his debut for the Cheetahs in the 2009 Vodacom Cup game against the Mighty Elephants.[2]
He then moved to the Griffons in 2010, where he became a regular in the team over the next 3 seasons. He played another 4 games for the Cheetahs during the 2011 Vodacom Cup season and also represented UFS Shimlas in the Varsity Cup during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.
He joined the Golden Lions just before the start of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season and made his Golden Lions debut in their first game of the season against his former team, the Cheetahs.[3]
He played in both legs of the Lions' promotion/relegation matches after the 2013 Super Rugby season,[4][5] which saw the Lions regain their spot in Super Rugby.
He was then included in the Lions squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[6] and made his Super Rugby debut in a 21–20 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.[7][8]
He joined the Cheetahs from the 2015 Super Rugby season onwards, but also joined Japanese Top League side NTT Communications Shining Arcs.[9]
References
- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Willie Britz". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – Mighty Elephants 21-51 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 43-20 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – Southern Kings 19-26 MTN Lions". South African Rugby Union. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Lions 18-23 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "2014 Lions Super Rugby squad" (Press release). Lions. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- "Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 20-21 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "Cheetahs loosie confirms Japan move". Sport24. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.