South Africa international rugby union player
Rugby player
Werner Swanepoel
Date of birth (1973-04-15 ) 15 April 1973 (age 51) Place of birth Bloemfontein , South Africa Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Weight 168 lb (12 st 0 lb) School Grey College University University of Pretoria Children Megan, Mikah, Kian, and Kai
Werner Swanepoel (born 15 April 1973) is a former South African rugby union player. He played as a scrum half for the Springboks from 1997 to 2000. His appearances for the Springboks were curtailed by virtue of his career coinciding with that of Joost van der Westhuizen . For the toothy grin he often flashed on the rugby field, he was given the nickname, "Smiley".[ 1]
Career
Swanepoel attended Grey College in Bloemfontein and played for the Free State Craven Week team from 1989 to 1991 and was selected for the South African Schools team in 1991. His senior provincial debut for the Free State was in 1993, whereafter he also played for Northern Transvaal , the Golden Lions and the Cats .[ 2]
Swanepoel made his debut for the Springboks in 1997 against the British Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. He represented South Africa in the 1999 Rugby World Cup , scoring a try in their pool match against Spain.[ 3] In 2001, he was a replacement for The Barbarians in their match against Australia in Cardiff .[ 4] His career was ended unexpectedly when he contracted viral meningitis while he was playing with the English club, Worcester .[ 5]
Test history
No.
Opposition
Result (SA 1st)
Position
Tries
Date
Venue
1.
British Lions
35–16
Replacement
5 Jul 1997
Ellis Park , Johannesburg
2.
Australia
62–32
Replacement
23 Aug 1997
Loftus Versfeld , Pretoria
3.
France
36–32
Replacement
15 Nov 1997
Stade de Gerland , Lyon
4.
France
52–10
Scrumhalf
22 Nov 1997
Parc des Princes , Paris
5.
England
29–11
Scrumhalf
1
29 Nov 1997
Twickenham , London
6.
Scotland
68–10
Scrumhalf
6 Dec 1997
Murrayfield , Edinburgh
7.
Ireland
33–0
Replacement
20 Jun 1998
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
8.
Wales
96–13
Replacement
27 Jun 1998
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
9.
England
7–13
Replacement
5 Dec 1998
Twickenham, London
10.
Italy
74–3
Scrumhalf
12 Jun 1999
Boet Erasmus Stadium , Port Elizabeth
11.
Italy
101–0
Replacement
19 Jun 1999
Kings Park , Durban
12.
Wales
19–29
Scrumhalf
1
26 Jun 1998
Millennium Stadium , Cardiff
13.
Australia
6–32
Scrumhalf
17 Jul 1999
Suncorp Stadium , Brisbane
14.
Spain
47–3
Scrumhalf
1
10 Oct 1999
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
15.
New Zealand
22–18
Replacement
4 Nov 1999
Millennium Stadium , Cardiff
16.
Australia
23–44
Scrumhalf
1
8 Jul 2000
Colonial Stadium , Melbourne
17.
New Zealand
12–25
Scrumhalf
22 Jul 2000
Jade Stadium , Christchurch
18.
Australia
6–26
Scrumhalf
29 Jul 2000
Stadium Australia , Sydney
19.
New Zealand
46–40
Scrumhalf
2
19 Aug 2000
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
20.
Australia
18–19
Scrumhalf
26 Aug 2000
Kings Park, Durban
See also
References
External links