Thinus Delport Explained

Thinus Delport
Birth Name:Gehardus Martinus Delport
Birth Date:2 February 1975
Birth Place:Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height:6.2feet
Weight:15.7st
Ru Position:Wing, Fullback
Amatteam1:Old Patesian veterans
Ru Amupdate:13 July 2014
Repteam1:South Africa
Repyears1:2000–2003
Repcaps1:18
Reppoints1:15
Ru Ntupdate:13 July 2014
Years1:2002–2004
Years2:2004–2008
Years3:2008–2010
Clubs1:Gloucester Rugby
Clubs2:Worcester Warriors
Clubs3:Kobelco Steelers
Apps1:35
Apps2:109
Points1:30
Points2:112
Ru Clubupdate:13 July 2014
Ru Currentclub:retired
Superyears1:1998-2001
Superyears2:2002
Super1:Cats
Super2:Sharks
Superapps1:39
Superapps2:4
Superpoints1:35
Superpoints2:5
Super14update:13 July 2014
Province1:Golden Lions
Province3:Valke (loan)
Provinceyears1:1997-2001
Provinceyears2:2002
Provinceyears3:2003
Provinceapps1:63
Provinceapps2:3
Provincepoints1:210
Provincepoints2:22
Ru Provinceupdate:13 July 2014
Coachteams1:Stourbridge
Coachyears1:2010–2011
Ru Coachupdate:13 July 2014
School:Linden High School
University:RAU

Thinus Delport (born 2 February 1975, in Port Elizabeth) is a South African ex rugby union player who played at wing or fullback for Worcester Warriors and South Africa.

He started his career playing for the Lions from U21 level and he made his senior debut in 1997. Playing in the Super 12 for the Lions formerly known as The Cats.

Delport began his English career at Gloucester. Whilst there he started the 2003 Powergen Cup Final in which Gloucester defeated Northampton Saints.[1] Delport joined Worcester from Gloucester in 2004. Delport left Worcester Warriors in 2007 and became a television rugby presenterHe made his international debut on the Springboks' 1997 European tour. However, it was three years before he made his test debut against Canada in East London (2000).

Delport also played in the Tsunami Memorial game representing the southern hemisphere alongside some of the world's greatest players.

It was announced in March 2008 that Delport would be moving to Japanese Side Kobelco Steelers at the end of the season, to pursue a new rugby career there.[2]

On 24 June 2010 it was announced Delport had signed a 1-year deal at National 1 outfit Stourbridge as a player coach.

After retirement he has also played an amateur game for the Old Patesian veterans, a local Gloucestershire club, in which they beat their rivals: Smiths Industries, in the third team's cup.

In 2014 Delport became an ambassador for Project Zulu, a UK based charity running the educational development projects in the Madadeni township, KZN, South Africa. In February 2015 he visited the Madadeni township to host their first schools tag rugby tournament.

Delport is also an ambassador and active member of Rugby for Heroes, a UK based charity helping active and retired service men and women make the transition to civilian life, using Rugby as a medium. He works alongside patrons Mike Tindall OBE and Nick Knowles to build up the profile of the charity.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gloucester given hope by cup win amid financial ruins . The Guardian. 7 April 2003. 8 September 2016.
  2. News: Delport to quit Sixways for Japan. 2008-05-08 . BBC Sport . 5 March 2008.