Werner Swanepoel
Date of birth (1973-04-15) 15 April 1973 (age 50)
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)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–2000 South Africa 20 (30)

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

  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. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2012.

External links

South Africa squad – 1999 Rugby World Cup third place
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