Gerbrandt Grobler

Douw Gerbrandt Grobler (born 6 February 1992) is a South African rugby union player, who plays for Stade Français. His regular position is lock.[1]

Gerbrandt Grobler
Full nameDouw Gerbrandt Grobler
Date of birth (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992
Place of birthNelspruit, South Africa
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight120 kg (19 st; 260 lb)
SchoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Stade Français
Youth career
2010 Blue Bulls
2011–2012 Western Province
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014 Western Province 17 (0)
2013 Stormers 5 (0)
2016–2017 Racing 92 20 (25)
2017–2018 Munster 11 (5)
2018–2020 Gloucester 35 (35)
2020– Stade Français 0 (0)
Correct as of 1 July 2020

Career

Youth

He went to Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria and represented the Blue Bulls at the 2010 Craven Week.[2]

He then moved to Cape Town to join Western Province. He played for the Western Province U19 team in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship and for the Western Province U21 team in the 2012 and 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championships.

Western Province / Stormers

He was included in the Western Province squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup and made his debut in their 42–31 Quarter Final victory over the Free State XV.[3]

He made three more first class appearances for Western Province in the 2013 Vodacom Cup before being included on the bench for the Stormers' Super Rugby game against the Cheetahs.[4] He remained unused for that match, but made his Super Rugby debut the following week, playing off the bench in a 22–15 victory over the Sharks in Cape Town.[5] After another spell with the Vodacom Cup side, where he made a further four starts, he returned to the Super Rugby side to make his first start in the competition against the Reds[6] and eventually making a total of five appearances in the competition.

He made his Currie Cup debut in August 2013, starting in Western Province's 24–24 draw with the Blue Bulls in the opening round of the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[7] He made a further six appearances as a reserve in the remainder of the tournament, but then suffered an ankle injury that ruled him out of the play-off stages, as well as the majority of the 2014 season.

He made his return to the side in October 2014, starting their final regular season match against the Sharks.[8] He also played off the bench in the final, helping Western Province win the title by beating the Golden Lions 19–16.[9]

Drugs ban

In February 2015, it was revealed that Grobler received a two-year ban from the sport after failing a drugs test. The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport confirmed that Grobler tested positively for the anabolic steroid drostanolone after a match in October 2014 during the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. Grobler admitted his guilt and received a ban for two years, effective until October 2016.[10][11][12][13]

Racing 92

After his serving his two-year ban, Grobler left South Africa to sign for top French club Racing 92 in the Top 14 for the 2016-17 season.[14]

Munster

In July 2017, it was announced that Grobler had joined Irish Pro14 side Munster on a one-year contract.[15] On 24 August 2017, Grobler made his non-competitive debut for Munster when he started alongside compatriot Jean Kleyn against Worcester Warriors in a pre-season friendly in Sixways Stadium.[16] During the game, Grobler suffered an ankle injury which he subsequently had to undergo surgery for.[17] He was ruled out until early 2018.[18] Grobler finally made his competitive debut for Munster on 10 February 2018, coming off the bench in the provinces' 33–5 win against Zebre in the 2017–18 Pro14.[19]

Gloucester

Grobler joined English Premiership side Gloucester ahead of the 2018–19 season.[20]

Stade Français

Grobler returned to the Top 14 with Stade Français on a two-year contract ahead of the 2020–21 season.[21]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Gerbrandt Grobler". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 23-20 Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 42-31 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. "Stormers stick with Jantjies". Sport24. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Stormers 22-15 Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Stormers 20-15 Reds". South African Rugby Union. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 24-24 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 20-28 Cell C Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 19-16 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  10. "WP se steroïed-skok" (in Afrikaans). Netwerk24. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  11. "Stormers rocked by drug shock". SuperSport. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  12. "Drug shock overwhelms WP fête". Rugby365. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  13. "WP Rugby statement – 03/02/15". Western Province. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  14. "SA lock to join Racing after drugs ban". All Out Rugby. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  15. "New Additions Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  16. "Preseason Win At Sixways". Munster Rugby. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  17. "Player Injury Update". Munster Rugby. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  18. "Squad Update". Munster Rugby. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  19. "Bonus-Point Win Over Zebre". Munster Rugby. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  20. "South African lock Grobler links up with Cherry and Whites". Gloucester Rugby. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  21. "South African lock Gerbrandt Grobler leaves Gloucester to join Stade Francais". Gloucestershire Live. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
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