Michael van Vuuren

Michael Thomas van Vuuren (born 28 September 1991) is an English qualified, South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is hooker.

Not to be confused with Michael van Vuren.
For the South African cricketer, see Michael van Vuuren (cricketer).

Michael van Vuuren
Full nameMichael Thomas van Vuuren
Date of birth (1991-09-28) 28 September 1991
Place of birthEast London, South Africa
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb; 254 lb)
SchoolGrey High School. Port Elizabeth
UniversityUniversity of the Free State /
UNISA
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Newcastle Falcons
Youth career
2009 Eastern Province Kings
2010–2011 Free State Cheetahs
2012–2014 Stade Français
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 UFS Shimlas 2 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 Free State Cheetahs 15 (5)
2012–2014 Stade Français 20 (10)
2014–2015 Eastern Province Kings 10 (5)
2015–2016 Leicester Tigers 3 (0)
2016–2019 Bath 21 (0)
2016–2017 → London Scottish (loan) 2 (5)
2019 → London Irish (loan) 3 (10)
2019–2020 Northampton Saints 9 (0)
2019 → Bedford Blues (loan) 1 (0)
2020 → Ampthill (loan) 4 (5)
2020–2021 Ealing Trailfinders 6 (5)
2021–2022 Wasps 11 (15)
2022–2023 Lions 6 (0)
2023 Golden Lions 5 (15)
2023–present Newcastle Falcons 5 (5)
Correct as of 15 October 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 South Africa Under-20 5 (0)
Correct as of 10 January 2014

Career

Youth and Varsity rugby

He was schooled at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and matriculated in 2009. He played in the Grey first team in 2008 and 2009, alongside Siya Kolisi who is also an Old Grey. He has also played Varsity Cup rugby for UFS Shimlas in the 2012 Varsity Cup.

Free State Cheetahs

He represented the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup in 2011 and 2012.

Stade Français

Van Vuuren joined French Top 14 side Stade Français ahead of the 2012–13 Top 14 season, signing a two-year deal until June 2014.[1]

He made his debut for Stade Francais in the French Top 14 as a replacement against Biarritz on 4 May 2013.[2]

Eastern Province Kings

Van Vuuren returned to South Africa to join Port Elizabeth-based side Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division.[3] He was named on the bench for the Eastern Province Kings' Round Three match against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria.[4] He had an eventful debut for the EP Kings as he came off the bench shortly after half-time, was sent to the sin bin within ten minutes of coming on and scored a try just after his return to the field.[5]

Van Vuuren left the Eastern Province Kings in December; financial problems and non-payment of salaries at the Eastern Province Rugby Union resulted in all players being given the option to terminate their contracts[6] and Van Vuuren exercised this option, announcing that he would leave the side and seek legal advice regarding the unpaid salaries.[7]

Leicester Tigers

Shortly after leaving the Eastern Province Kings, Van Vuuren joined Leicester Tigers for a month-long trial period,[8] and represented Leicester Tigers A in the Aviva A League.[9] Van Vuuren extended his stay at Welford Road until mid-March 2016[10] and made his debut for the Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership in a 47–20 home win against London Irish on 28 February 2016.

Bath

Van Vuuren joined Bath prior to the 2016–17 English Premiership season.[11] Van Vuuren made his debut for the club against Section Paloise on 15 October 2016.

Van Vuuren played 4 games and 104 minutes in the 2017/2018 season for Bath Rugby [12]

London Scottish

Van Vuuren joined London Scottish on loan for a single match in the 2016–17 RFU Championship, and again joined the team on loan in September 2017.[13]

Northampton Saints

Van Vuuren joined Northampton Saints ahead of the 2019/20 season.[14]

Ealing Trailfinders

He joined RFU Championship side Ealing Trailfinders ahead of the 2020–21 season.[15]

Representative rugby

Van Vuuren was a member of the South Africa Under-20 team that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.[16]

References
  1. "Van Vuuren makes the grade for top French rugby club". Weekend Post. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  2. "Biarritz v Stade Français". Yahoo! Sport / EuroSport. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  3. "Kings troef Bath om vuurvreter". Media24 (in Afrikaans). 11 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  4. "Spencer rings the changes". Sport24. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 30–25 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. "Kings facing player exodus?". Rugby365. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  7. "Kings : new contract shocker". Rugby365. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  8. "Cockerill confirms that Leicester Tigers hooker Leo Ghiraldini will leave for Toulouse". Leicester Mercury. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  9. "Team news: Aviva 'A' League tonight". Leicester Tigers. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  10. "Leicester Tigers NEWS: Tom Youngs banned as Greg Bateman returns from injury for Gloucester". Leicester Mercury. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  11. "Hooker van Vuuren to join Bath Rugby" (Press release). Bath Rugby. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. "Micheal van Vuuren This season". Bath Rugby. 10 June 2018.
  13. "van Vuuren joins London Scottish on loan" (Press release). Bath Rugby. 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  14. "Saints sign hooker Michael van Vuuren" (Press release). Northampton Saints. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  15. "Van Vuuren and Trinder to leave Northampton Saints this summer". Northampton Saints. 5 June 2020.
  16. "SA Under-20 squad named". Sport24. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
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