Michael van der Spuy
| Full name | Michael George van der Spuy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 20 February 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Bethlehem, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 91 kg (14 st 5 lb; 201 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Grey College, Bloemfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Stellenbosch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael George van der Spuy (born 20 February 1991) is a South African former rugby union player who played Super Rugby with the Stormers and the Cheetahs, and Currie Cup rugby with Western Province, Griquas and the Free State Cheetahs.[1] His regular position was centre. He retired in 2017 on medical advice.[2]
Career
[edit]Youth
[edit]Van der Spuy played for the Western Province U19 side in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition and for Western Province U21 in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship and 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship competitions.
Western Province
[edit]Van der Spuy made his first-class debut for Western Province during the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition, starting in the match against the Pumas and scoring a try within seven minutes.[3] He made one more substitute appearance in the competition, the following week against the Leopards.[4]
Van der Spuy's Currie Cup debut came a few months later during the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division season, when he came on as a substitute in Western Province's match against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.[5] That was his only Currie Cup appearance in 2011, reverting to the U21 squad for the remainder of the season.
The following season, he made eight appearances in the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition, scoring one try. Injuries restricted his playing time in the Currie Cup season, however.[6]
Another eight appearances (and three tries) followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup[7] and he was included in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division squad.[8]
Griquas
[edit]Van der Spuy joined Kimberley-based side Griquas before the 2015 season.[9]
Free State Cheetahs
[edit]Van der Spuy signed a contract to join Bloemfontein-based side Free State Cheetahs before the 2016 season on a two-year contract.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Michael van der Spuy". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Cheetah te gou in sy spore gestuit". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 6 July 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 27–14 Ford Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 12–26 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 42–25 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ^ "Decimated WP lose another player". Rugby365. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Squad – DHL Western Province : 2013 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- ^ "Streeptruie wil Taute in nuwe rol aanwend" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ^ "Blitsbok Ruhan Nel draf op vleuel uit in Loftus-stryd". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ "Superrugby-spelers by GW ál minder". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2015.