Rynier Bernardo

Rynier Mark Bernardo (born 27 August 1991) is a South African rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for the Free State Cheetahs in the South African Currie Cup.[1]

Rynier Bernardo
Full nameRynier Mark Bernardo
Date of birth (1991-08-27) 27 August 1991
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.99 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb)
SchoolFramesby High, Port Elizabeth
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs
Youth career
2007–2012 Eastern Province Kings
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2014 Eastern Province Kings 19 (0)
2013 Southern Kings 10 (0)
2014–2016 Ospreys 35 (0)
2016–2017 Scarlets 13 (0)
2017–2018 Free State Cheetahs 7 (0)
2017–2018 Cheetahs 20 (5)
2018–2020 Canon Eagles 8 (0)
2021– Free State Cheetahs 14 (0)
2021– Cheetahs ()
Correct as of 10 July 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 SA Schools Academy
Correct as of 22 April 2018

Playing career

Youth

Bernardo represented Eastern Province at various youth tournaments. In 2007, he played at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week. The following year, he played for them at the Under-18 Academy week, resulting in his inclusion in the S.A. Schools Academy team in the same year. He also played at the 2009 Under-18 Craven Week tournament.

Bernardo was included in the Eastern Province U19 squad for the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, as well as for Eastern Province U21 in the Under-21 competition in 2011 and 2012.

Eastern Province Kings

Bernardo was included in the senior squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition and made his first class debut during that competition, coming on as a third-minute substitute in their match against near neighbours Border Bulldogs.[2] He made one more substitute appearance in that competition and then started the matches against the Boland Cavaliers[3] and the quarter-final against the Pumas.[4]

His Currie Cup debut came a few months later against the SWD Eagles in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division competition.[5] He made six appearances in total in that competition and also started both promotion/relegation games against the Free State Cheetahs.

Southern Kings

Bernardo was named in the Southern Kings squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[6] He didn't play in the first three matches of the season, being behind David Bulbring, Steven Sykes and Daniel Adongo in the pecking order. However, an injury to Sykes[7] saw him included for their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch and he substituted Adongo to make his Super Rugby debut.[8] Another substitute appearance followed in their next match against the Hurricanes[9] before he made his first start in the competition in the dramatic 28–28 draw against the Brumbies in Canberra,[10] where an injury time try by Cornell du Preez plus subsequent conversion from Demetri Catrakilis secured an away draw for the Kings. He also started their next match, in Melbourne against the Rebels,[11] an equally dramatic match with a Catrakilis drop goal in injury time securing the Kings' first ever away win.

He dropped to the bench for their next match against the Bulls before returning to the starting line-up for matches against the Cheetahs and Waratahs. Three more substitute appearances followed, bringing his tally to ten matches in total. The return to fitness of Darron Nell at the end of the season saw him revert to the Eastern Province Kings side playing in the 2013 Vodacom Cup and 2013 Currie Cup First Division competitions.

Cheetahs

With the Kings not playing Super Rugby in 2014, Bernardo – along with Shane Gates – joined the Cheetahs for pre-season training prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season.[12] However, he was not named in their final squad and returned to Port Elizabeth.[13]

Ospreys

In April 2014, it was announced that Bernardo joined Welsh Pro12 side Ospreys on a deal until 2017.[14] Bernardo suffered a dislocated kneecap during the 2015–16 season and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[15]

Scarlets

In June 2016, Bernardo joined another Welsh Pro12 side, Scarlets.[16]

Free State Cheetahs

After the 2017–18 European season, Bernardo returned to South Africa to join the Free State Cheetahs for the 2017 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[17]

Canon Eagles

Bernardo joined Canon Eagles prior to the 2018–19 Top League season.[18]

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Rynier Bernardo". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 40–23 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 29–24 Regent Boland Kavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Ford Pumas 30–19 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 38–15 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Squad – Southern Kings : 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. "Prop Ferreira to lead Kings". Media24. Sport24. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Crusaders 55–20 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Hurricanes 46–30 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Brumbies 28–28 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Rebels 27–30 Southern Kings". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  12. "Bernardo and Gates join FS Cheetahs for pre-season training". Rugby15. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. "G'n plek vir 2 van Kings". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 18 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  14. "Ospreys swoop for Rynier Bernardo from Southern Kings". SkySports. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  15. "Surgery for Bernardo". Pro12 Editor. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  16. "Pro12: Rynier Bernardo joins Scarlets from rival Ospreys". BBC Sport. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  17. "Squad: Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  18. "キヤノンイーグルス 入団選手のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Top League. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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