Sethu Tom

Siphosethu Tom (born 12 February 1992) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Border Bulldogs.^[1] He can play as a wing or at centre.

Sethu Tom

Full name	Siphosethu Tom
Date of birth	(1992-02-12) 12 February 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Weight	95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
School	Grey College, Bloemfontein
University	University of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger / Centre Current team Border Bulldogs Youth career 2005 Eastern Province Kings 2007–2013 Free State Cheetahs Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2014 UFS Shimlas 8 (10) 2016 UFH Blues 1 (0) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012–2014 Free State XV 7 (10) 2015–present Border Bulldogs 47 (30) Correct as of 25 August 2019

Personal life

Tom was born in Port Elizabeth to Kwenzekile Eric Tom and Nomamerika Yvonne Tom. His mother is from Gugulethu, Cape Town while his father is from Fort Beaufort, where the family has settled. Both of Tom's parents work at Tower Rehabilitation Hospital in Fort Beaufort.

He is the oldest of three children between his parents and has two younger sisters, Olwethu Tom and Zenande Tom, and a nephew. He also has an older brother.^{[who?][clarify]}

Rugby career

Tom began his rugby career at primary school level. He attended Fort Beaufort Primary School, and was selected to represent Eastern Province at the 2005 Under-13 Craven Week tournament.^[2]

He moved to Bloemfontein to continue his secondary education at Grey College, where he also continued to play rugby. He represented the Free State province at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournaments in both 2007 and 2008, and at South Africa's premier high school rugby union event, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2009^[3] and 2010,^[4] scoring two tries in the unofficial final against Western Province in the latter.^[5]

Tom played for the Free State U19 team in 2010 and 2011, and made his first class debut for a Free State XV in the 2012 Vodacom Cup, starting their match against the SWD Eagles in the opening of the season and scoring a late try to help his team to a 34–30 victory.^[6]

After making a single appearance for UFS Shimlas in the 2013 Varsity Cup, Tom featured in a further five matches for the Free State XV in the 2013 Vodacom Cup, scoring his second senior try in a 32–38 defeat to Argentine invitational side Pampas XV in Round Six of the competition.^[7] He also scored three tries in seven appearances for the Free State U21 team in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

He scored two tries in seven appearances for UFS Shimlas in the 2014 Varsity Cup, and made one final appearance in a Free State XV shirt in their 2014 Vodacom Cup match against the Eastern Province Kings.^[8]

Tom returned to the province of his birth, the Eastern Cape, to join East London-based Border Bulldogs for their final three matches in the 2015 Currie Cup First Division. He made his Currie Cup debut in a 19–31 defeat to SWD Eagles^[9] and scored his first try in that competition in a 30–32 defeat to the Leopards a week later.^[10]

After a single appearance for the UFH Blues in the 2016 Varsity Shield, he made nine first class appearances for the Border Bulldogs in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series, scoring tries against the Golden Lions XV^[11] and former side Free State XV,^[12] and made a further four appearances in the 2016 Currie Cup First Division.

Player statistics

First class career
Season	Main domestic			Secondary domestic			Total
	Team	Apps	Pts	Team	Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts
2012	—			Free State XV (VC)	1	5	1	5
2013	—			Free State XV (VC)	5	5	5	5
2014	—			Free State XV (VC)	1	0	1	0
2015	Border Bulldogs (CC1)	3	5	—			3	5
2016	Border Bulldogs (CC1)	4	0	Border Bulldogs (CCQ)	9	10	13	10
2012–present	Updated 16 February 2017						23	25
Competition abbreviations: CC1 = Currie Cup First Division, CCQ = Qualifiers, VC = Vodacom Cup.

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Sethu Tom". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Squad – Eastern Province : 2005 U13 Coca Cola Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
3. "SA Rugby Squad – Free State : 2009 U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
4. "SA Rugby Squad – Free State : 2010 U18 Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State 42–21 WP". South African Rugby Union. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 34–30 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – ICBC Pampas XV 38–32 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 3–31 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 19–31 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 32–30 Border". South African Rugby Union. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions XV 23–27 Border". South African Rugby Union. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 18–22 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.