Werner Swanepoel

Werner Swanepoel 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]

Werner Swanepoel
Date of birth (1973-04-15) 15 April 1973
Place of birthBloemfontein, South Africa
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight168 lb (12 st 0 lb)
SchoolGrey College
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
ChildrenMegan, Mikah, Kian, and Kai
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–2004 Worcester ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1993, 95–98 Free State 61 (105)
1994 Northern Transvaal 8 (15)
1999 Golden Lions 16 (10)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–2001 Cats 34 (25)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–2000 South Africa 20 (30)

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.OppositionResult
(SA 1st)		PositionTriesDateVenue
1. British Lions35–16Replacement5 Jul 1997Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2. Australia62–32Replacement23 Aug 1997Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
3. France36–32Replacement15 Nov 1997Stade de Gerland, Lyon
4. France52–10Scrumhalf22 Nov 1997Parc des Princes, Paris
5. England29–11Scrumhalf129 Nov 1997Twickenham, London
6. Scotland68–10Scrumhalf6 Dec 1997Murrayfield, Edinburgh
7. Ireland33–0Replacement20 Jun 1998Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
8. Wales96–13Replacement27 Jun 1998Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
9. England7–13Replacement5 Dec 1998Twickenham, London
10. Italy74–3Scrumhalf12 Jun 1999Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
11. Italy101–0Replacement19 Jun 1999Kings Park, Durban
12. Wales19–29Scrumhalf126 Jun 1998Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
13. Australia6–32Scrumhalf17 Jul 1999Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
14. Spain47–3Scrumhalf110 Oct 1999Murrayfield, Edinburgh
15. New Zealand22–18Replacement4 Nov 1999Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
16. Australia23–44Scrumhalf18 Jul 2000Colonial Stadium, Melbourne
17. New Zealand12–25Scrumhalf22 Jul 2000Lancaster Park, Christchurch
18. Australia6–26Scrumhalf29 Jul 2000Stadium Australia, Sydney
19. New Zealand46–40Scrumhalf219 Aug 2000Ellis Park, Johannesburg
20. Australia18–19Scrumhalf26 Aug 2000Kings Park, Durban

See also

References
  1. "Presenter Profile - Werner Swanepoel". SuperSport. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. Schoeman, Chris (2001). Who's who of South African rugby 2001 - 2002 (6th ed.). Cape Town: Strobe Communications. p. 151. ISBN 0620261889.
  3. "South Africa v Spain". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. "Player Archive - W. Swanepoel". Official Home of The Barbarians. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  5. "Abrupt end wiped the grin from Werner's face". Times Live. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
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