Ivan van Zyl

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Ivan van Zyl
Ivan van Zyl during the third place final of 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Cremona (Italy).
Date of birth (1995-06-30) 30 June 1995 (age 28)
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight82 kg (12 st 13 lb; 181 lb)
SchoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Saracens
Youth career
2008–2016 Blue Bulls
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2021 Blue Bulls 41 (30)
2015–2018 Blue Bulls XV 17 (20)
2016–2021 Bulls 46 (20)
2021– Saracens ()
Correct as of 13 September 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 South Africa Under-20 5 (0)
2018 South Africa 6 (0)
Correct as of 21 July 2019

Ivan van Zyl (born 30 June 1995) is a South African rugby union player for Saracens.[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

Career[edit]

Youth[edit]

Van Zyl represented the Blue Bulls as early as primary school level, appearing at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2008. In July 2013, he also played for them at the premier South African high school rugby competition, the Under-18 Craven Week held in Polokwane. He made three appearances and scored two tries in a personal haul of 25 points.[2]

Van Zyl joined the Blue Bulls Academy after finishing high school and represented the Blue Bulls U19 side in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting ten matches and making two substitute appearances as they reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated 26–33 by Western Province U19.[3]

Under-20[edit]

Van Zyl was named in a 37-man training squad for the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team[4] and featured for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.[5] He was also included in the squad that embarked on a two-match tour of Argentina.[6] He came on as a replacement in their 25–22 victory over Argentina[7] and started their 39–28 victory a few days later.[8]

Upon the team's return, Van Zyl was named in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[9] He started all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; a 33–5 win against hosts Italy,[10] a 40–8 win against Samoa[11] and a 46–13 win over Australia[12] to help South Africa finish top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record pool stage of all the teams in the competition. Van Zyl started their semi-final match against England, but could not prevent them losing 20–28 to be eliminated from the competition by England for the second year in succession[13] and also started their third-place play-off match against France, helping South Africa to a 31–18 win to secure third place in the competition.[14]

Senior level[edit]

Van Zyl made his first class debut for the Blue Bulls on 6 March 2015, starting their 2015 Vodacom Cup match against the Falcons in Kempton Park, helping them to a 37–13 victory.[15] He also started their next three matches in the competition, against the Leopards XV,[16] Golden Lions[17] and Pumas.[18]

In June 2015, Van Zyl extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2017.[19] He was included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division and named in the matchday squad for all eleven of their matches in the competition. He made his Currie Cup debut by playing off the bench in their 57–19 victory against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in their opening match of the season.[20] After appearing as a replacement in their next two matches against Griquas[21] and Western Province,[22] he made his first Currie Cup start in their Round Four match against the Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria.[23] He appeared as a replacement in five of their remaining six matches during the regular season of the season, helping the Blue Bulls finish in second position to qualify for the play-offs. He played off the bench in their semi-final match against Western Province, but could not prevent the side from Cape Town winning 23–18[24] to eliminate the Blue Bulls from the competition.

In 2016, Van Zyl was included in the Bulls' squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season.[25]

On 23 February 2021, Van Zyl signed for Saracens ahead of the 2021–22 season.[26] He helped Saracens win the Premiership title in 2023, scoring a try in the final as Saracens defeated Sale Sharks.[27]

Springbok debut[edit]

Van Zyl made his Test debut for the senior Springboks on 2 June 2018 against Wales in Washington, D.C. at the age of 22 years.

Honours[edit]

  • Super Rugby Unlocked winner 2020
  • Currie Cup winner 2020–21
  • Pro14 Rainbow Cup runner-up 2021
  • Premiership Rugby runner up 2021-22
  • Premiership Rugby winner 2022-23

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Van Zyl to become a Saracen". Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2013 U18 Craven Week". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U19 33–26 Blue Bulls U19". South African Rugby Union. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Junior Bok training squad confirmed". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Varsity Cup XV 24–31 South Africa U/20". South African Rugby Union. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  6. ^ "SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour". South African Rugby Union. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22". Unión Argentina de Rugby (in Spanish). 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28". Unión Argentina de Rugby (in Spanish). 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy". South African Rugby Union. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  10. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Italy U20 5–33 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 40–8 Samoa U20". South African Rugby Union. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 46–13 Australia U20". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  13. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa U20 20–28 England U20". South African Rugby Union. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  14. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – France U20 18–31 South Africa U20". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  15. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Hino Valke 13–37 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  16. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 46–25 Leopards XV". South African Rugby Union. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  17. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 24–12 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  18. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 20–18 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Vodacom Blue Bulls name Absa Currie Cup squad" (Press release). Bulls. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  20. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State 19–57 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  21. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 36–12 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  22. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 47–29 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  23. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 24–17 Toyota Free State". South African Rugby Union. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  24. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 18–23 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Vodacom Bulls Team (2016)". Bulls. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Saracens secure signing of South Africa international Ivan van Zyl". Talking Rugby Union. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller". BBC. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

External links[edit]