Armandt Koster
{{short description|South African rugby union player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Armandt Koster
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|01|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vryheid, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.94}}
| weight = {{convert|114|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoërskool Pionier, Vryheid
| university = University of the Free State
| relatives =
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2011
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| years1 = 2012
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Free State XV}}
| apps1 = 2
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2015
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| apps2 = 28
| points2 = 15
| years3 = 2015–2018
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| apps3 = 15
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2016–2019
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| apps4 = 15
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Free State XV}}
| apps5 = 7
| points5 = 0
| years6 = 2018–2020
| clubs6 = Bayonne
| apps6 = 13
| points6 = 0
| amatyears1 = 2012–2015
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}
| amatapps1 = 14
| amatpoints1 = 10
| clubupdate = 22 April 2018
}}
Armandt Koster (born 20 January 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=53184 | name=Armandt Koster | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is flanker or lock.
Career
=Youth and Varsity Cup rugby=
Koster was included in the {{Rut|Free State U21}} squad for the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship, but didn't make any appearances for them. In 2012, he was included in the {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}} squad for the 2012 Varsity Cup. He played seven times for Shimlas, scoring tries in their matches against {{Rut|TUT Vikings}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=101991 | homeid=10621 | awayid=10551 | leagueid=1071 | hometeam=Shimlas | homescore=56 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=TUT | matchdate=12 March 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} and {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=102051 | homeid=10561 | awayid=10621 | leagueid=1071 | hometeam=Pukke | homescore=64 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Shimlas | matchdate=19 March 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} He returned to make two substitute appearances during the 2013 Varsity Cup and started in five matches for Shimlas during the 2014 Varsity Cup.
=Free State=
After his first season of Varsity Cup rugby, he was included in the {{Rut|Free State XV}} squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup. He made his first class debut when he played off the bench in their match against the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} in Bloemfontein.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103801 | homeid=11441 | awayid=11471 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=38 | awayscore=51 | awayteam=Sharks XV | matchdate=23 March 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} A week later, he started their next match against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} in Port Elizabeth,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103881 | homeid=11501 | awayid=11441 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=36 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=30 March 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} but that turned out to be his only two appearances for the Bloemfontein-based side.
=Griffons=
Koster joined Welkom-based side {{Rut|Griffons}} for the 2012 Currie Cup First Division competition. He made his Currie Cup debut in their 53–33 victory over the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} in East London.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105401 | homeid=11751 | awayid=11801 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Border Bulldogs | homescore=33 | awayscore=53 | awayteam=Griffons | matchdate=31 August 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} Three more appearances off the bench followed before Koster started the final two matches of the season, both of those against the {{Rut|Pumas}} – first a 39–29 victory for the Griffons in the final match of the regular season{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105531 | homeid=11741 | awayid=11801 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Ford Pumas | homescore=29 | awayscore=39 | awayteam=Griffons | matchdate=28 September 2012 | date=21 June 2016}} and then in the semi-final, where the Griffons lost 37–30.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105581 | homeid=11741 | awayid=11801 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Ford Pumas | homescore=37 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Griffons | matchdate=5 October 2012 | date=21 June 2016}}
Koster started five matches for the Griffons during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and returned for the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, where he made three appearances. He made six appearances for the {{Rut|Griffons}} during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification competition; during this competition, he scored his first senior try in their match against the {{Rut|Leopards}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119534 | homeid=18024 | awayid=18044 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=70 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=5 July 2014 | date=21 June 2016}} and followed it up with further tries in their next two matches against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119574 | homeid=18074 | awayid=18044 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Border | homescore=15 | awayscore=41 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=11 July 2014 | date=21 June 2016}} and the {{Rut|Falcons}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119614 | homeid=18044 | awayid=18084 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=29 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=18 July 2014 | date=21 June 2016}} The Griffons finished third in the competition to remain in the First Division in 2014.
Koster appeared in all seven of the {{Rut|Griffons}}' matches in the 2014 Currie Cup First Division campaign to help them finish the group stage in second place behind the {{Rut|Leopards}}. He started their semi-final match against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}, where the Griffons ran out 45–43 winners{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133374 | homeid=23034 | awayid=23004 | leagueid=2154 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=45 | awayscore=43 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=3 October 2014 | date=21 June 2016}} and was once again in the starting line-up for the final against the {{Rut|Falcons}}. He played the full 80 minutes of the match as the Griffons ran out 23–21 winners{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133384 | homeid=23034 | awayid=23054 | leagueid=2154 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=23 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=21 June 2016}} to win their first silverware for six years.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Griffons-win-First-Division-title-20141017 | title=Currie Cup Griffons win First Division title | publisher=Sport24 | date=17 October 2014 | access-date=21 October 2014}}
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2014 Currie Cup First Division, Koster was also included in the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}' wider training squad as part of their preparations for the 2015 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Cheetahs-invite-Boela-to-train-20141022 | title=Cheetahs invite Boela to train | publisher=Sport24 | date=22 October 2014 | access-date=23 October 2014}}
=Grenoble=
Koster joined French Pro D2 side {{Rut|Grenoble}},{{cite press release | url=http://fcgrugby.com/fr/articles/2017/07/07/armand-koster-derniere-recrue-de-l-ete | title=Armandt Koster, dernière recrue de l'été | publisher=FC Grenoble Rugby | date=7 July 2017 | access-date=13 August 2017 | language=French | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813045239/http://fcgrugby.com/fr/articles/2017/07/07/armand-koster-derniere-recrue-de-l-ete | archive-date=13 August 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}} but failed a medical when he was diagnosed with a cervical disc herniation and returned to South Africa for surgery.{{cite news | url=https://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Rugby/koster-sal-weer-kan-speel-na-nekoperasie-20171213 | url-access=registration | title=Koster sál weer kan speel na nekoperasie | work=Netwerk24 | date=13 December 2017 | access-date=15 December 2017 | language=Afrikaans}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koster, Armandt}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Free State Cheetahs players
Category:Griffons (rugby union) players
Category:Rugby union players from KwaZulu-Natal
Category:Aviron Bayonnais players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France