Eli Snyman

Eli Colin Snyman (born 25 January 1996) is a Zimbabwean rugby union player for Benetton.[1] He previously played for English Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers between 2021 and 2023. He also played for Benetton between 2019 and 2023 and for the Bulls and Blue Bulls in South Africa. His regular position is lock.

Eli Snyman
Full nameEli Colin Snyman
Date of birth (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996
Place of birthHarare, Zimbabwe
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb; 245 lb)
SchoolSt. John's College
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Benetton
Youth career
2015–2017 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 UP Tuks 8 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019 Blue Bulls XV 3 (0)
2016–2018 Blue Bulls 8 (0)
2019 Bulls 7 (0)
2019–2021 Benetton 26 (0)
2021–2023 Leicester Tigers 34 (5)
2023– Benetton 0 (0)
Correct as of 16 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009 Zimbabwe Under-13 4 (5)
2014 Zimbabwe Under-18 3 (0)
2016 South Africa Under-20 5 (0)
Correct as of 14 April 2018

Rugby career

2009–2014 : Schoolboy rugby

Snyman was born in Harare, where he attended St. John's Preparatory School. In 2009, he was selected to represent Zimbabwe's Under-13 side in the South African Craven Week competition,[2] starting all four of their matches in Kimberley.[3]

At secondary school level, he attended St. John's College, and was once again selected to represent Zimbabwe at the Craven Week competition for high schools in 2014. He started all three of their matches at the tournament held in Middelburg.[4][5]

2015 : Blue Bulls Under-19 and Under-21

Snyman's performances were noticed by the Blue Bulls and he signed an academy contract with the Pretoria-based side, joining their intake for the 2015 season.[6] He was named in the Blue Bulls Under-19 squad that participated in the 2015 Under-19 Provincial Championship,[7][8] chosen to be vice-captain[9] and started eight of their twelve matches during the regular season of the competition. He scored one try in the competition, in a 42–24 victory over the Free State U19 team,[10] helping the Blue Bulls to finish in second spot on the log to qualify for the semi-finals.[11] Snyman also made one start and one appearance as a replacement for the Blue Bulls U21 team at the end of the Under-21 Provincial Championship, but rejoined the Under-19 team for the title-ply-offs. He started their 30–29 victory over Western Province in their semi-final match,[12] as well as the final, but he could not prevent the Blue Bulls losing 23–25 the Eastern Province U19s.[13] While missing out on silverware, he received a personal accolade, being named the Under-19 Forward of the Year at the Blue Bulls' end-of-season awards ceremony.[14][15]

2016–2019 : Blue Bulls, UP Tuks and South Africa Under-20

At the start of 2016, Snyman linked up with UP Tuks – the Pretoria-based university side affiliated to the Blue Bulls academy – for the 2016 Varsity Cup competition.[16] He started all of UP Tuks' matches in the competition; he made seven appearances during the regular season which saw Tuks qualify for the title play-offs by virtue of finishing in fourth position[17] and also started the semi-final, which his side lost 11–49 to Maties in Stellenbosch.[18]

In March 2016, Snyman was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,[19][20] and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.[21] On 10 May 2016, he was included in the final squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester, England.[22][23] Snyman started all five of their matches in the competition; after a 59–19 come-from-behind victory over Japan in their opening match in Pool C of the tournament,[24] South Africa were beaten 13–19 by Argentina in their second match,[25] but bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match[26] to secure a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition. South Africa then faced three-time champions England in the semi-finals, but the hosts proved too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory.[27] Another loss in their final match – 19–49 to Argentina in the third-place play-off[28] – condemned South Africa to fourth place in the competition.

Upon his return to South African shores, Snyman was named in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series and he made his domestic first class debut by coming on as a replacement in a 95–12 victory over Namibian side the Welwitschias[29] in their final match in the competition. Snyman's debut in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup followed less than a month later, when he came on for the final thirteen minutes of their 45–26 victory over Western Province.[30]

Snyman was named in Super Rugby side the Bulls' extended training squad for the 2017 season.[31]

2019–2021 Benetton

Snyman joined Italian Pro14 side Benetton for the 2019–20 Pro14 and 2020–21 Pro14 seasons.[32][33][34]

2021– Leicester Tigers

It was announced on March 8, 2021 that Snyman would join Leicester Tigers for the 2021-22 season.[35] Snyman made his debut for Leicester on 18 September 2021 as a substitute in a 34-19 win against Exeter Chiefs.

2023 Return to Benetton

Snyman will join Italian United Rugby Championship club Benetton on a three-year contract from the 2023–24 season.[36]

References
  1. "A BIG RETURN: ELI SNYMAN WILL WEAR THE LIONS JERSEY AGAIN". benettonrugby.it/. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  2. "SA Rugby Squad – Zimbabwe : 2009 U13 Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Zimbabwe 10–35 Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  4. "2014 Zimbabwe U18 Craven Week Team". Rugby15.co.za. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Squad – Zimbabwe : 2014 U18 Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  6. "Under 19s welcomed to the Vodacom Blue Bulls family" (Press release). Blue Bulls. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Squad – Blue Bulls U19 : 2015 Absa Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  8. Machamire, Farayi (28 May 2015). "Snyman aims higher with Blue Bulls". DailyNews Live. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  9. Machamire, Farayi (12 July 2015). "Snyman named Blue Bulls vice-captain". DailyNews Live. Retrieved 14 August 2016. Towering Zimbabwe junior rugby lock Eli Snyman is over the moon after being named Blue Bulls U19 Vodacom team vice-captain for the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U19 24–42 Blue Bulls U19". South African Rugby Union. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Absa Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U19 30–29 Western Province U19". South African Rugby Union. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province U19 25–23 Blue Bulls U19". South African Rugby Union. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  14. Katanda, Chenje (2 December 2015). "John's Old Boy Eli Snyman Scoops Blues Bulls Award". School Sports Network. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  15. "Player of the year Awards" (Press release). Blue Bulls. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  16. "SA Rugby Squad – FNB UP-TUKS : 2016 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  17. "SA Rugby Log – 2016 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  18. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB MATIES 49–11 FNB UP-TUKS". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  19. Machamire, Farayi (31 March 2016). "Zim rugby set to lose Snyman". DailyNews Live. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  20. "Large group invited to Junior Springbok trials camp". South African Rugby Union. 24 March 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  21. "Theron names provisional Junior Springbok squad". South African Rugby Union. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  22. "Ward to lead Junior Springboks in England". South African Rugby Union. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  23. "Zim's Eli Snyman shines in SA". Hmetro. Zimpapers. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  24. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 59–19 Japan U20". South African Rugby Union. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  25. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 13–19 Argentina U20". South African Rugby Union. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  26. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 40–31 France U20". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  27. "SA Rugby Match Centre – England U20 39–17 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  28. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Argentina U20 49–19 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  29. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 95–12 Windhoek Draught Welwitschias". South African Rugby Union. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  30. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 45–26 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  31. "Pollard to return to training next month" (Press release). Bulls. 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  32. "Benvenuto in Biancoverde Eli Snyman" (Press release) (in Italian). Benetton Rugby. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  33. "ELI SNYMAN PASSERA' AI LEICESTER TIGERS A FINE STAGIONE" (Press release) (in Italian). Benetton Rugby. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  34. "Eli Snyman Lascia Il Benetton Rugby in Anticipo per Ragioni Familiari". 28 April 2021.
  35. "Tigers to add Snyman to Leicester pack". Leicester Tigers. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  36. "UN GRANDE RITORNO: ELI SNYMAN INDOSSERÀ ANCORA LA MAGLIA DEI LEONI". Benetton Rugby. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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