Chris Cloete

Christopher Anthony Cloete (born 15 February 1991) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership. His regular position is flanker.

Chris Cloete
Full nameChristopher Anthony Cloete
Date of birth (1991-02-15) 15 February 1991
Place of birthEast London, South Africa
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight106 kg (16.7 st; 234 lb)
SchoolSelborne College
Notable relative(s)Wesley Cloete (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Youth career
2004–2009 Border Bulldogs
2009–2012 Sharks
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Old Selbornians ()
2014 NMMU Madibaz 8 (40)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 Sharks XV 7 (5)
2013 Western Province 4 (25)
2014–2015 Kandy ()
2015 Western Province 8 (0)
2016–2017 Southern Kings 23 (30)
2016–2017 Pumas 6 (5)
2017–2022 Munster 65 (55)
2022– Bath 12 (10)
Correct as of 6 May 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 South Africa Schools 2 (0)
2017 South Africa A 1 (10)
Correct as of 10 July 2017

Early life

Cloete grew up in East London and was included in a number of youth provincial sides; he represented them at the 2004 Under-13 Craven Week, the 2006 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week and at the Under-18 Craven Week competitions in both 2008 and 2009.

He was also included in the 2009 South African Schools side. He came on as a replacement in their 86–3 victory against Italy[1] and started their 13–45 defeat to England[2] in two matches played in August 2009.

Career

Sharks

After high school, Cloete moved to Durban to join the Sharks Academy. He made appearances for the Sharks U19 side in the 2009 and 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championships, before suffering a broken leg in their 2010 match against the Griffons[3] which ruled him out of action for a year.

He returned to action for the Sharks U21s in 2011, scoring three tries in fourteen appearances in the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

In 2012, he was included in the Sharks XV Vodacom Cup squad for the first time and he made his first class debut in his hometown of East London, coming on as a replacement in a 42–0 victory against former side Border Bulldogs.[4] He played off the bench in a 15–17 defeat to Western Province a week later to make his home debut[5] and then made his first start in his next match, also marking the occasion by scoring his first try in a 51–38 victory over the Free State XV.[6] He made one more start and three appearances off the bench in the remainder of the competition and started a six matches for the Sharks U21s in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship in the second half of 2012.

Western Province

In 2013, Cloete moved to Cape Town to join Western Province. He made his debut for Western Province in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their match against Western Cape rivals Boland Cavaliers and scoring a try in a 17–17 draw between the sides in Ceres.[7] He started their next match against the Sharks,[8] as well as their match after that, a 43–18 win against the Eastern Province Kings, with Cloete getting a first-half hat-trick in the match.[9] He also started their 22–13 victory over the Border Bulldogs, scoring his fifth try of the competition[10] to finish as Western Province's top try scorer in the competition.[11]

Varsity Cup

In 2014, Cloete joined Port Elizabeth-based university side NMMU Madibaz. He played in all eight of their matches during the 2014 Varsity Cup, which saw the Madibaz reach their second consecutive semi-final in the competition. Cloete was the top try scorer in the competition, scoring eight tries in his eight appearances.[12] This included five tries in their opening match of the campaign, a 45–29 victory over three-times champions, Maties.[13]

Kandy

After the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, Cloete moved to Sri Lanka to join Dialog Rugby League and Clifford Cup side Kandy.[14] He helped the side win the competition, beating Navy in a two-legged final.[15] Cloete was the top try scorer in the league (and also scored a try in the final),[15] but sustained an injury prior to their 2015 Clifford Cup and returned to South Africa to have an operation.[16]

Return to Western Province

Upon his return to South Africa, Cloete joined Hamilton rugby club.[17] He was included in Western Province squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division and named on the bench for their opening match of the season against Griquas.[18]

Pumas, Southern Kings & South Africa A

He joined Nelspruit-based side the Pumas for the 2016 season.[19] On 23 June 2017, Cloete started for South Africa 'A' in their second test against the French Barbarians, scoring two tries in his sides 48–28 win in Orlando Stadium, Soweto.[20]

Munster

In July 2017, it was announced that Cloete had joined Irish United Rugby Championship side Munster on a three-year contract.[21] He made his debut for the province on 3 November 2017, starting against Welsh side Dragons in a 2017–18 Pro14 fixture and helping Munster to a 49–6 win.[22] Cloete earned the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 36–19 away win against Zebre on 26 November 2017.[23] He scored his first try for Munster in their 36–10 win against Ospreys on 2 December 2017.[24] Cloete made his European Rugby Champions Cup debut on 9 December 2017, starting in the Pool 4 fixture against Leicester Tigers in Thomond Park and scoring a try in the provinces' 33–10 win.[25]

He suffered a fractured forearm during Munster's 21–10 win against Glasgow Warriors on 23 February 2018.[26] Having returned to training after rehabilitating the forearm injury, Cloete then suffered a groin injury which caused him to miss Munster's 2018–19 pre-season fixtures and the opening two rounds of the 2018–19 Pro14.[27][28] Cloete made his return from injury on 14 September 2018, starting in Munster's Pro14 round 3 fixture against Ospreys and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 49–13 win.[29] He extended his contract with Munster by an additional two years in October 2018.[30] After five seasons with province, Cloete left Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season.[31]

Bath

Cloete joined English Premiership Rugby club Bath ahead of the 2022–23 season, where former Munster head coach Johann van Graan also moved as the clubs new head coach.[31]

Personal

He is the younger brother of prop Wesley Cloete.

References
  1. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SA Schools U18 86–3 Italy Schools U18". South African Rugby Union. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SA Schools U18 13–45 England Schools U18". South African Rugby Union. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks 73–6 Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border Bulldogs 0–42 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 15–17 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 38–51 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Regent Boland Cavaliers 17–17 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 23–24 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 18–43 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 22–13 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB NMMU 45–29 FNB MATIES". South African Rugby Union. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  14. "Cloete at Kandy". Union Sports Magazine. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  15. "Kandy champs despite Sailor spoiler". Mirror Sports. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  16. Marikar, Hafiz (19 March 2015). "Kandy SC to miss services of Chris Cloete". Daily News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  17. "Hamilton dominate Track Derby". Hamilton SP RFC. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  18. "Dobson shows his hand for Kimberley opener". Western Province. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. "Steval Pumas 2016 signings". Rugby15. 2 November 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  20. "South Africa 'A' thrash French Barbarians in Soweto to wrap up series 2-0". timeslive.co.za. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  21. "New Additions Confirmed". Munster Rugby. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  22. "Too much firepower for Dragons". Munster Rugby. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  23. "Bonus-Point Win For Munster In Zebre". Munster Rugby. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  24. "Munster Overpower Ospreys For Bonus Point Win". Munster Rugby. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  25. "Bonus-Point Win For Munster Over Tigers". Munster Rugby. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  26. "Squad Update". Munster Rugby. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  27. "Munster Squad Update | Pre-London Irish". Munster Rugby. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  28. "Squad Update Pre-Ospreys". Munster Rugby. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  29. "Report | Munster Beat Ospreys In Cork". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  30. "Player Contract Boost Continues". Munster Rugby. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  31. "Chris Cloete to depart Munster after 5 seasons". The42. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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