Courtney Winnaar

Winnaar attended Dale College Boys' High School in King William's Town, earning provincial selections to represent the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} between 2013 and 2015. In 2013, he represented the team at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week held in Vanderbijlpark, scoring one try in the tournament in their 15–13 victory over Free State.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108204 | homeid=13724 | awayid=13734 | leagueid=1384 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=13 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=1 July 2013 | date=17 June 2016}} He played in the premier South African high schools competition, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2014 and 2015. He again scored a try in each of these tournaments; in the 2014 event held in Middelburg, he scored a late try against the {{Rut|Griffons}} (before also converting the try),{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126354 | homeid=21784 | awayid=21794 | leagueid=2094 | hometeam=Griffons | homescore=47 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=14 July 2014 | date=17 June 2016}} while in the 2015 event held in Stellenbosch, he scored a try against the {{Rut|Falcons}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=153714 | homeid=27564 | awayid=27514 | leagueid=2584 | hometeam=Border U18 | homescore=28 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Valke U18 | matchdate=18 July 2015 | date=17 June 2016}} after also kicking five points in their match against Boland three days earlier.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=153624 | homeid=27594 | awayid=27564 | leagueid=2584 | hometeam=Boland U18 | homescore=20 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Border U18 | matchdate=15 July 2015 | date=17 June 2016}}

In 2016, Winnaar joined the Eastern Province Academy. He was included in the squad for the {{Rut|NMMU Madibaz}} – a university rugby team that is affiliated with Eastern Province's Academy – for the 2016 Varsity Cup. He was named on the bench for their match against {{Rut|UJ}} in Johannesburg, but failed to make an appearance.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=156694 | homeid=30264 | awayid=30284 | leagueid=2784 | hometeam=FNB UJ | homescore=19 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=FNB NMMU MADIBAZ | matchdate=8 February 2016 | date=17 June 2016}}

Winnaar was amongst a large contingent of youngsters that were included in the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=30864 | team=EP Kings | compid=2824 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Qualifying | accessdate=3 June 2016}} He was named on the bench for their first match of the season against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{SA Rugby Article | id=3471374 | leagueid=2824 | title=EP Kings team announced for SWD Eagles match | date=5 April 2016 | accessdate=7 April 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3471374&leagueid=2824 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407142936/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3471374&leagueid=2824 | url-status=dead | archivedate=7 April 2016}} and replaced Keanu Vers shortly after half-time to make his first class debut in a 14–37 defeat.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158164 | homeid=30864 | awayid=30744 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=EP Kings | homescore=14 | awayscore=37 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=9 April 2016 | date=11 April 2016}} He was promoted to the starting lineup for their second match of the season against the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in Wellington and was also handed the kicking duties. He kicked two penalties in the first half of the match and scored his first senior try just before the hour mark in an eventual 18–37 defeat.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158224 | homeid=30734 | awayid=30864 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Boland Cavaliers | homescore=37 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=EP Kings | matchdate=16 April 2016 | date=24 May 2016}} He scored a second try in their next match against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} the following week – also kicking a conversion in a 14–28 loss{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158274 | homeid=30864 | awayid=30854 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=EP Kings | homescore=14 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=23 April 2016 | date=17 June 2016}} – and made it three tries in three matches when he scored the second of the EP Kings' five tries in a 31–18 victory over Namibian side the {{Rut|Welwitschias}} in Windhoek.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158334 | homeid=30844 | awayid=30864 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Windhoek Draught Welwitschias | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=EP Kings | matchdate=30 April 2016 | date=17 June 2016}}

After those four Currie Cup appearances, Winnaar joined the {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}} team for their 2016 Under-19 Provincial Championship campaign.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=32024 | team=EP U19 | compid=2874 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Under 19 Competition | accessdate=17 June 2016}}

In 2017 Winnaar was voted Sharks Under 21 Player of the Year {{cite web | accessdate=1 June 2018 | url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/coenie-scoops-prestigious-sharks-award-20171102| title=Sharks Awards 2017 | website=www.sport24.co.za}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Winnaar, Courtney}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:Eastern Province Elephants players

Category:Rugby union fly-halves

Category:Rugby union fullbacks

Category:Rugby union players from East London, South Africa

Category:South African rugby union players

Category:Southern Kings players

Category:21st-century South African sportsmen

Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players

Category:Sharks (rugby union) players

Category:Rugby union wings

Category:Tel Aviv Heat players

Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Israel

Category:South African expatriate rugby union players

Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Israel

Category:Alumni of Dale College Boys' High School