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Tristan Blewett
Tristan James Blewett (born 26 August 1996) was a South African professional rugby union player for the New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby in the United States.[1] His regular position is centre, but he can also play as a winger or fullback. Early life and schoolboy rugbyBlewett was born in Johannesburg, but grew up in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. He attended Hilton College, where he was included in various KwaZulu-Natal provincial teams. In 2012, he represented them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in Johannesburg,[2] starting all three matches in the inside centre position.[3] He also started all three matches for a KwaZulu-Natal team that hosted the 2013 Under-18 Academy Week at Glenwood High School in Durban,[4] and at the Under-18 Craven Week – South Africa's premier rugby union tournament at high school level – held in Middelburg in 2014.[5] 2015–2018: SharksAfter school, Blewett joined the academy of KwaZulu-Natal's professional rugby team, the Sharks. He was included in the Sharks U19 squad that participated in the 2015 Under-19 Provincial Championship,[6] and started each of their twelve matches in the competition. He scored tries in matches against Free State U19,[7] Eastern Province U19[8] and Golden Lions U19 – in both their home[9] and away[10] clashes – before ending the season with two tries in their final match against Free State U19.[11] Despite Blewett's six tries (and a single conversion for a season tally of 32 points),[12] the Sharks endured a poor season, winning just one match and finishing bottom of the log.[13] Blewett started the 2016 by participating in the 2016 Varsity Shield for UKZN Impi. He featured in all eight of their matches, scoring seven tries; he scored one try in their opening round victory over Wits[14] and one a fortnight later against UFH Blues[15] before getting two tries in a 63–30 win over TUT Vikings in his fourth appearance.[16] One try followed in a 16–44 defeat to UWC[17] before another two-try haul in their 97–0 win over the UFH Blues.[18] Blewett's total of seven tries was the second-most by any player in the competition, behind team-mate Thobekani Buthelezi,[19] and helped UKZN Impi to second spot on the log.[20] However, the Varsity Cup Executive Committee ruled that UKZN Impi fielded an ineligible player throughout the season and imposed a twelve points deduction, which cost UKZN Impi a place in the Varsity Shield final and a Varsity Cup promotion play-off against UCT Ikey Tigers.[21] After the Varsity Shield, Blewett linked up with the Sharks XV squad that participated in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.[22] He made his first class debut on 23 April 2016, coming on as a replacement in their 48–18 victory over Namibian side the Welwitschias,[23] and made a second appearance four weeks later in a 16–53 defeat to a Golden Lions XV.[24] He spent the rest of the season playing in the 2016 Under-21 Provincial Championship for the Sharks U21 team, where he scored six tries in six appearances to end as the joint-top try scorer in the competition.[25] He scored single tries in matches against Eastern Province U21[26] and Leopards U21[27] before scoring two tries against Blue Bulls U21[28] and Free State U21.[29] The team finished in sixth spot to miss out on the title play-offs.[30] At the end of October 2016, Blewett was included in the Sharks Super Rugby squad for the 2017 season.[31] 2018: Southern KingsIn September 2018, Blewett moved to Port Elizabeth to join the Southern Kings for a short stint during the 2018–19 Pro14 season,[32] where he made two appearances, plus one appearance for the Eastern Province Elephants in the Currie Cup. 2018–2020: New Orleans GoldBlewett moved to the United States to join Major League Rugby side New Orleans Gold on a two-year deal.[33] Blewett returned to South Africa in 2020. 2021: Worthing RaidersAs of 2021, Blewett was playing for National League 2 South side Worthing Rugby Football Club[34] References
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