Clinton Swart

Clinton Ryno Swart (born 6 September 1992) is a professional South African rugby union player for Toyota Verblitz in the Top League in Japan.^[1] His regular position is fly-half or inside centre.

Clinton Swart

Full name	Clinton Ryno Swart
Date of birth	(1992-09-06) 6 September 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth	Standerton, South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight	98 kg (15 st 6 lb; 216 lb)^[1]
School	Standerton Hoërskool, Standerton
University	University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half / Inside centre Current team Shizuoka Blue Revs Youth career 2010–2011 Pumas 2012–2013 Blue Bulls Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2014 UP Tuks 0 (0) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014 Falcons 4 (3) 2015–2017 Griquas 41 (266) 2017–2018 Cheetahs 17 (20) 2018–2020 Toyota Verblitz 11 (60) 2020–2021 Bulls 5 (0) 2020–2021 Blue Bulls 1 (2) 2022– Shizuoka Blue Revs () Correct as of 13 September 2021

Career

Youth

Swart played first team rugby for Hoërskool Standerton between 2009 and 2011,^[2] resulting in his call-up to the Pumas squad for the Under-18 Craven Week tournament. He played in two of their matches in the competition, scoring eight points with the boot as his side beat their Griquas counterparts 38–7^[3] and a further six points in their 28–11 defeat to the Golden Lions.^[4]

In 2011, Swart became involved with the Pumas U19 side that competed in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship. Playing at inside centre, he made five appearances in the competition, scoring one try and kicking three conversions to end with a points tally of 11.

The following year, Swart moved to Pretoria where he joined the Blue Bulls and made two substitute appearances for the Blue Bulls U21 side during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He was also included in the UP Tuks' Varsity Cup squad in 2014, but failed to make any appearances for the university side.

Falcons

In 2014, Swart made the short move from Pretoria to the East Rand to join the Falcons during the 2014 Currie Cup First Division. He made his first class debut when he came on as a substitute in their 36–27 victory over Welkom-based side the Griffons.^[5] Despite a defeat in his next appearance in their final match of the regular season against the Leopards,^[6] the Falcons secured qualification to the semi-finals of the competition, where they were due to meet the same opponents. This time, the Falcons ran out 31–24 winners over the Leopards in Potchefstroom,^[7] with Swart – making his first ever senior start – being a key player in their surprise victory, setting up tries for JP Mostert and Dirk Dippenaar.^[8]

However, his inclusion in the side for the semi-final proved to be controversial, as the Leopards lodged a complaint with the South African Rugby Union regarding Swart's eligibility to play in the match. The Leopards argued that he was only available to the Falcons for the final two matches of the Currie Cup First Division competition and therefore not eligible to play in the Semi-Finals. However, SARU Judicial Officer Rob Stelzner SC, ruled that Swart fulfilled the required eligibility criteria and rejected the complaint.^[9]

Griquas

In October 2014, it was announced that Swart signed a two-year contract with Griquas to play his rugby in Kimberley in 2015 and 2016.^[10] Shortly after signing the contract Naka Drotské, the head coach of Super Rugby side the Cheetahs, released the names of his side's wider training squad prior to the 2015 Super Rugby season, with Swart included the 59-man shortlist.^[11] He did not make the final group for the competition,^[12] instead representing Griquas in the 2015 Vodacom Cup, where he made six appearances as Griquas reached the quarter final of the competition. Swart kicked twelve points on his Griquas debut in a match against the Border Bulldogs in a 37–25 victory^[13] and scored his first try for Griquas in their next match, a 62–19 win over the Boland Cavaliers in Velddrif.^[14] He played off the bench in their quarter final match against the Pumas, but could not prevent his side being eliminated from the competition after losing the match 14–28 to the eventual champions.^[15]

Swart made five appearances for Griquas during the 2015 Currie Cup qualification series. He scored one try in their top-of-the-table clash with the Leopards^[16] and one in their match against the Falcons in a 57–33 victory in Kempton Park^[17] to help Griquas win the qualifying series to secure a spot in the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division. He made his Currie Cup Premier Division debut against his former side the Blue Bulls in a 12–36 defeat in Round Two of the competition.^[18] He signed a contract extension with Griquas, committing him to the team until the end of 2017.^[19]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Clinton Swart". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Pumas 38–7 Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Lions 28–11 Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 36–27 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 50–29 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 24–31 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
8. (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
9. "Verdict delivered in Absa Currie Cup First Division eligibility complaint". South African Rugby Union. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
10. (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
11. (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
12. "2015 Toyota Cheetah Group". Cheetahs. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 37–25 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Boland Cavaliers 19–62 GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
15. "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 14–28 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
16. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 21–48 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
17. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Hino Valke 33–57 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 18 July 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 36–12 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
19. "Clinton Swart gedy in 'nuwe posisie'". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.