Johan Meyer (rugby union)

Johan Gert Meyer (born 26 February 1993 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a retired South African born rugby union player, who played with Italian side Zebre in the Pro14 and European Rugby Challenge Cup, and for the Italian national team after qualifying through residency.[1] His regular position was flanker or number eight.[2]

Johan Meyer
Full nameJohan Gert Meyer
Date of birth (1993-02-26) 26 February 1993
Place of birthPort Elizabeth, South Africa
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight104 kg (16 st 5 lb; 229 lb)
SchoolQueen's College, Queenstown
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Number eight
Youth career
2006–2011 Border Bulldogs
2012–2014 Sharks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2015 Sharks (Currie Cup) 25 (15)
2015–2023 Zebre 100 (90)
Correct as of 23 Jan 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2021 Italy 14 (10)
Correct as of 7 May 2021

Youth

Meyer represented Eastern Cape side the Border Bulldogs at several youth tournaments. In 2006, he played for their Under-13 side at the Craven Week competition. He played for them at two Under-18 Craven Week competitions – in 2010 and again in 2011, when he scored three tries for the Border U18 side, including two in their match against Griquas Country Districts.[3]

After school, Meyer moved to Durban where he joined the Sharks Academy. He was a member of the Sharks U19 squad that played in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship (although he never played for them) and the Sharks U21 squads in 2013 and 2014.

Sharks

Meyer made his first class debut during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, making his first of 5 appearances off the bench in the Sharks XV's 72–6 victory over his former side the Border Bulldogs in Durban.[4]

He was once again involved in the Sharks XV 2014 Vodacom Cup campaign, this time appearing in all eight of their matches; four times in the run-on side and four times off the bench. His first start came in their Round Three match against the Free State XV in Bloemfontein[5] and two weeks later he scored his first senior try in their match against the Boland Cavaliers in Ceres to help the Sharks XV to a 43–27 win.[6] He scored another try in their match against Kenyan invitational side Simba XV in a 40–3 victory in Cape Town and another in the quarter-final, which wasn't enough to see the Sharks XV lose 27–20 to eventual losing finalists the Golden Lions to be eliminated from the competition.

Meyer was then named in the Sharks squad for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition and named on the bench for their Round Two match against the Pumas.[7]

Zebre

Meyer joined Italian Pro12 side Zebre for the 2015–16 Pro12 season.[8] He played 17 games, starting 16, playing 1269 minutes, scoring 3 tries contributing 15-point in the Pro 12 series. [9] He played 5 games in the European Rugby Challenge Cup contributing 5 points.[10] On the 23rd of March 2023 Mayer announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2022-2023 season for the consequences of a critical injury.[11][12]

International

He has represented Italy on 14 occasions, with 2 tries, from 2018 to 2021, qualifying on residency grounds.

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Johan Meyer". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "Johan Meyer". Zebre Parma (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Griquas CD 12–33 Border". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 72–6 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 22–23 Cell C Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Regent Boland Cavaliers 27–43 Cell C Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. "Pat is back" (Press release). Sharks. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  8. "L'utility back Beyers e la terza linea Meyer completano la rosa 2015–16" (Press release) (in Italian). Zebre. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  9. "Statzone". Guinness Pro12. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  10. "Player Profiles". ITS Rugby. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  11. "LE ZEBRE SALUTANO JOHAN MEYER". Zebre Parma. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  12. "TREDICI ATLETI E UN COMPONENTE DELLO STAFF TECNICO DELLE ZEBRE SALUTANO IL CLUB". Zebre Parma. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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