Nic Groom

Nicholas James Groom (born 22 February 1990) is a South African rugby union player. He plays as a scrum-half.

Nic Groom
Full nameNicholas James Groom
Date of birth (1990-02-21) 21 February 1990
Place of birthKing William's Town, South Africa
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight81 kg (12 st 11 lb; 179 lb)
SchoolRondebosch Boys' High School
UniversityUniversity of Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Edinburgh
Youth career
2008–2011 Western Province
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011 UCT Ikey Tigers 8 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2015 Western Province 69 (50)
2011–2016 Stormers 57 (25)
2016–2018 Northampton Saints 49 (35)
2018–2019 Lions 21 (15)
2018 Golden Lions 4 (5)
2019–2021 Edinburgh 22 (25)
2021 London Irish 4 (0)
2021 Tel Aviv Heat 0 (0)
Correct as of 4 February 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Barbarians 1 (0)
2016 South Africa 'A' 1 (0)
Correct as of 27 May 2018

Career

A winner of the Varsity Cup with UCT in 2011, Groom received a swift call up to the Stormers side at the tail-end of the Super Rugby season to replace the injured Dewaldt Duvenhage and Ricky Januarie and he made a couple of substitute appearances. The next 18 months were to see him limited to Western Province appearances and he was a Currie Cup winner with the Streeptruie in 2012. 2013 saw the departure of Duvenhage and Groom was now in a one-on-one fight with Louis Schreuder for the Stormers and Province number 9 jersey and as a result he saw much more game time. He was a Currie Cup runner up in 2013 and he largely had to make do with appearances from the substitutes bench as Schreuder stole a march in the battle to be first choice scrum-half. However, he was to become a Currie Cup winner again in 2014, this time against the Golden Lions in a season which had seen him edge ahead of Louis Schreuder both at Super Rugby level where he started 12 of 16 games in a tough campaign and also domestically where he started 7 of 9 games and scored 1 try in the process.

He signed a contract to join English Premiership side Northampton Saints at the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season and has since become a regular started for the Midlands side.[1]

Groom has been a regular feature in the Saints' starting side and was instrumental in them securing European Champions Cup rugby for the 2017/18 season, featuring heavily in both the European Champions Cup play-off games where Saints saw off both Connacht Rugby and Stade Francais to secure their spot in the competition for the following season.[2] On 3 April 2018, it was announced that Groom would leave Northampton with immediate effect to join the Super Rugby team the Lions.[3]

On 27 June 2019, Groom returned to the UK with Pro14 side Edinburgh in Scotland from the 2019-20 season.[4] He was released on 22 April 2021[5] and subsequently signed for Premiership Rugby team London Irish until the end of the 2020–21 season.[6]

International rugby

On 28 May 2016, Groom was included in a 31-man South Africa squad for their three-test match series against a touring Ireland team.[7] After training with the national team for a few days, he joined the South Africa 'A' squad for their two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[8] He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,[9] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[10]

Super Rugby statistics
As of 9 June 2020
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesPointsYellow cardRed card
2011Stormers202350000
2012Stormers0
2013Stormers9453711500
2014Stormers161249240000
2015Stormers1613395521010
2016Stormers1410476521000
2017In Europe with Northampton Saints
2018Lions85331521000
2019Lions13765791500
Total785127394984010

References
  1. "DHL Stormers to bid Groom farewell" (Press release). Stormers. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. "Northampton Saints Vs Stade Francais Paris | European Cup".
  3. "Nic Groom to leave Saints with immediate effect" (Press release). Northampton Saints. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. "Edinburgh sign South African scrum-half Groom". Edinburgh Rugby. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  5. "Duo depart Edinburgh Rugby". Edinburgh Rugby. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  6. "Nic Groom agrees short-term deal | 5th May 2021 | News". London Irish. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. "Squad of 31 ushers in new era of Springbok rugby". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
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