Dirk Grobbelaar | |
Fullname: | Hendrik Grobbelaar |
Birth Date: | 8 February 1992 |
Birth Place: | Benoni, South Africa |
School: | Hoërskool Hans Strijdom, Mookgophong |
Position: | Flanker / Number eight |
Youthyears1: | 2008 |
Youthyears2: | 2012–2013 |
Years1: | 2013–2016 |
Apps1: | 15 |
Points1: | 10 |
Years2: | 2016 |
Apps2: | 2 |
Points2: | 0 |
Clubupdate: | 9 December 2016 |
Hendrik Grobbelaar (born 8 February 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played with the . His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Grobbelaar was born in Benoni, but grew up in Mookgophong (known as Naboomspruit until 2006) in the Limpopo province. He was selected to represent Limpopo at the 2008 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week held in Ermelo, where he started two of their three matches.
In 2012, he was included in the Welkom-based ' Under-21 squad for their Under-21 Provincial Championship campaign. He started all six of their matches in the number eight jersey, scoring a try against in a 40–43 defeat, but could not help his side to a victory, as they lost all six matches to finish bottom of the log.
Grobbelaar made his first class debut in March 2013, coming on as a replacement in the ' 2013 Vodacom Cup match against the in Polokwane. He made his first start a week later against, but failed to feature for the Griffons for the remainder of 2013. He made a single appearance in the 2014 Vodacom Cup – as a replacement in a 10–49 defeat to the – before making his Currie Cup debut, playing off the bench in the Griffons First Division match against the, helping his team to a 37–32 victory.
Grobbelaar got marginally more playing time in 2015, making three appearances off the bench in the Griffons' Vodacom Cup season before starting against the during the Currie Cup First Division regular season and against the same opposition in their 40–47 semi-final loss a week later.
Grobbelaar made two starts and four appearances off the bench in the Griffons' 2016 Currie Cup qualification campaign, and scored his first senior try in their 101–0 victory over Namibian side the in his third appearance of the season. The Griffons finished ninth, to qualify to the Currie Cup First Division.
Grobbelaar signed a contract to play for the Port Elizabeth-based in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.[1] He made his EP Kings – and Currie Cup Premier Division – debut in their Round Two match against the . His only other appearance came as he started their rescheduled midweek match against in a 24–47 defeat. and his side eventually lost all eight of their matches in the competition to finish bottom of the log.