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Piet van Zyl (rugby union, born 1989)

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Piet van Zyl
Full namePetrus Erasmus van Zyl
Date of birth (1989-09-14) 14 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight84 kg (13 st 3 lb; 185 lb)
SchoolGrey College, Bloemfontein
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Stade Français Paris
Youth career
2008–2010 Free State Cheetahs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2013 Free State Cheetahs 31 (30)
2011 Emerging Cheetahs 1 (0)
2012–2013 Cheetahs 32 (25)
2014–2017 Bulls 46 (45)
2014–2017 Blue Bulls 31 (40)
2018 London Irish 8 (25)
2018-2019 Stade français 25 (25)
Correct as of 13 April 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 South Africa 3 (0)
2016 South Africa 'A' 2 (5)
2016 Springbok XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 13 April 2018

Petrus Erasmus van Zyl (born 14 September 1989) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a scrum-half for Stade Français Paris rugby.

Career

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Van Zyl was born in Pretoria, however he is a product of the famous Grey College school in Bloemfontein. He made his Free State Cheetahs debut in 2010 and his impressive domestic performances saw him promoted to the Cheetahs side for the 2012 Super Rugby season. To date he has played over 50 times in all competitions for the Cheetahs.[1][2]

On 30 July 2013, the Blue Bulls announced that he would join them after the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[3] He was included in the Bulls squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[4] and made his debut in a 31–16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.[5][6]

In October 2017, Van Zyl announced that he would retire from South African rugby to return to his family farm in Vrede, although he would consider an international move.[7] In December, it was announced that he would join English side London Irish in 2018,[8] which was confirmed by his new side on 4 January.[9]

International

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Van Zyl earned his first international call up ahead of South Africa's second match in the 2013 mid-year rugby union tests, taking the place of the injured Jano Vermaak in the squad.[10] He made his Springbok debut against Scotland on 15 June replacing Ruan Pienaar in the 69th minute of the match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit in a 30–17 win for the home side.[11] He earned his second cap a week later in South Africa's 56–23 drubbing of Samoa.[12]

In 2016, Van Zyl was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[13] He came on as a replacement in their first match in Bloemfontein[14] and scored a 64th-minute try for his side, but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[15] He then started the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Piet van Zyl". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Piet van Zyl itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Vodacom Bulls sign Van Zyl". SuperSport. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Vodacom Bulls team". Bulls. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks 31–16 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Piet:'Op my beste, maar ek is klaar'". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 1 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Sewende Bok-nr. 9 oorsee". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 17 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  9. ^ "South African scrum-half Piet van Zyl pens deal with London Irish" (Press release). London Irish. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Boks call up Piet van Zyl". Sport 24. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 30–17 Scotland". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 56–23 Samoa". South African Rugby Union. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  15. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  16. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26–29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.