Shane Kirkwood

Shane Kirkwood
Personal information
Full name Shane Monro Kirkwood
Born (1989-09-06) 6 September 1989
Alberton, South Africa
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 120 kg (18 st 13 lb)
School(s) attended Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, Alberton
University University of Johannesburg
Club information
Playing position Lock
Current club Falcons
Youth career
2007–2010 Golden Lions
Amateur team(s)
Years Team
2011–2014 UJ 31 (15)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Pts)†
2009 Young Lions 3 (5)
2013–present Falcons 63 (65)

* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 9 October 2016.

† Appearances (Points).

Shane Monro Kirkwood (born 6 September 1989 in Alberton, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Falcons.[1] He regularly plays as a lock.

Career

Golden Lions / UJ

Kirkwood was selected to represent the Golden Lions at the 2007 Under-18 Craven Week tournament held in Stellenbosch. Later in the same year, he was also included in the Golden Lions U19 squad that played in the Under-19 Provincial Championship, a competition that he also played in in 2008.

He got his first taste of first class action during the 2009 Vodacom Cup competition when he made three appearances as a replacement for the Golden Lions. His debut came on 7 March 2009 against the Pumas in a match in Randfontein. He came on as a substitute after 54 minutes and took just 13 minutes to score his first senior try, scoring one of five tries in a 34–47 defeat.[2] He made a further two appearances in the competition in matches against the Griffons[3] and the Falcons.[4] In the second half of the year, he represented the Golden Lions U21s in the 2009 Under-21 Provincial Championship, as he did in 2010 without featuring again at first class level.

He also joined university side UJ for the 2011 Varsity Cup competition. He quickly established himself as a key player for UJ, playing in seven of their eight matches in the competition as they reached the semi-finals. Eight appearances and two tries followed in the 2012 Varsity Cup and he started all eight of their matches in the 2013 Varsity Cup, helping UJ reach the semi-finals on both occasions. He played in all seven of their matches in the 2014 Varsity Cup, where a disappointing season resulted them having to beat UKZN Impi in a relegation play-off match to retain their Varsity Cup status.

Falcons

After the 2013 Varsity Cup, Kirkwood once again became involved at provincial level, joining the Golden Lions' near-neighbours, Kempton Park-based side Falcons, for the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season. He made his Falcons debut – and his first senior match for more than four years – in their season-opening match against the Griffons. The match ended in a 30-all draw, but Kirkwood's debut was marred by a yellow card he received in the 12th minute of the match.[5] He scored his first senior try in their third match of the season, a 37–38 defeat to the SWD Eagles in Kempton Park.[6] He made a total of nine starts during their campaign as the Falcons disappointingly finished bottom of the log.

Despite missing part of the 2014 Vodacom Cup season due to his involvement in the Varsity Cup, Kirkwood made three appearances in the competition and also scored a try in his only start of the campaign, a 34–64 loss to eventual champions Griquas.[7] The Falcons then participated in the 2014 Currie Cup qualification competition; the winner of the competition would qualify to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, but the Falcons finished in sixth position to remain in the 2014 Currie Cup First Division. Kirkwood started all six of their qualification matches and also scored a try in their 52–34 victory against the SWD Eagles in George.[8] He also started all of their games in the First Division, also scoring a try against the Griffons in a 36–27 win,[9] a result that played a large part in seeing them qualify for the semi-finals of the competition. Kirkwood started the semi-final match against the Leopards in Potchefstroom, where the Falcons caused an upset by winning 31–24 to progress to the final.[10] However, they fell just short against the Griffons in the final, losing 21–23.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Shane Kirkwood". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Golden Lions vs Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Golden Lions vs Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Golden Lions vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Match Breakdown: GWK Griquas vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Match Breakdown: SWD Eagles vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Valke vs Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Leopards vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Down Touch Griffons vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
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