Dries Swanepoel

Andries Ebenaezer Swanepoel (born 19 February 1993 in Delareyville) is a South African rugby union player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup.[1] His regular position is centre.

Dries Swanepoel
Full nameAndries Ebenaezer Swanepoel
Date of birth (1993-02-19) 19 February 1993
Place of birthDelareyville, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight97 kg (15 st 4 lb; 214 lb)
SchoolGrey College, Bloemfontein
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Current team Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs
Youth career
2005–2006 Leopards
2009–2011 Free State
2012–2013 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016 UP Tuks 11 (40)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2018 Blue Bulls 30 (55)
2016–2018 Bulls 11 (10)
2016–2018 Blue Bulls XV 8 (10)
2018–present Free State Cheetahs 9 (10)
2019–present Cheetahs 10 (5)
Correct as of 21 October 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 South Africa Schools 1 (0)
2013 South Africa Under-20 4 (5)
Correct as of 29 April 2014

Career

Youth

Swanepoel played for the Leopards at primary school level, representing them at the 2005 and 2006 Under-13 Craven Week competitions. He then went to Grey College in Bloemfontein, where he played schoolboy rugby next to future Springbok Jan Serfontein[2] He represented the Free State Cheetahs at Under-16 level at the 2009 Grant Khomo Week and at Under-18 level at the 2011 Craven Week. This led to his inclusion in the South African Schools side in 2011, where he also acted as vice-captain.[3]

In 2012, he moved to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls. He made four starts for them in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, scoring three tries. In 2013, he earned a call-up to the South Africa Under-20 side that played in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship.[4] After making substitute appearances against the United States[5] and England,[6] he started the final pool match against France[7] – scoring a first-minute try to help them top their pool – and the semi-final loss to Wales.[8]

He returned to domestic action at the end of the year, scoring five tries in fourteen appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He scored a try in the final, but it wasn't enough to help the Blue Bulls secure the title, losing 30–23 to Western Province U21.[9]

He played for university side UP Tuks during the 2014 Varsity Cup, scoring six tries in six starts.

Blue Bulls

Swanepoel's first class debut came in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. He started in their match against Griquas in Kimberley[10] It took him just eleven minutes to score his first senior try, setting Blue Bulls on their way to a 40–32 win. He made a further five appearances in the competition, scoring a total of six tries, the joint seventh-highest in the competition.[11]

Cheetahs

In July 2018, Swanepoel returned to the Cheetahs prior to the 2018–19 Pro14, signing a two-year deal with the Bloemfontein-based side.[12]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Dries Swanepoel". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "Serfontein and Swanepoel: SA's next great centre pairing?". Arena Sport. 15 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. "SA Schools and SA Academy Teams Announced". Rugby15. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. "Steenkamp leads powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 97-0 USA". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 31-24 England". South African Rugby Union. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – France 19-26 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17-18 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 30-23 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 32-40 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  12. "Dries Swanepoel joins Toyota Cheetahs" (Press release). Cheetahs. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
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