Dirk Grobbelaar
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Dirk Grobbelaar
| image =
| fullname = Hendrik Grobbelaar
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|02|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Benoni, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.87}}
| weight = {{cvt|110|kg|lb stlb}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoërskool Hans Strijdom, Mookgophong
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Flanker / Number eight
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2008
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}}
| youthyears2 = 2012–2013
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| years1 = 2013–2016
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| apps1 = 15
| points1 = 10
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps2 = 2
| points2 = 0
| clubupdate = 9 December 2016
}}
Hendrik Grobbelaar (born 8 February 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played with the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=44952 | name=Dirk Grobbelaar | date=9 December 2016}} His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Rugby career
=2006: Limpopo=
Grobbelaar was born in Benoni, but grew up in Mookgophong (known as Naboomspruit until 2006) in the Limpopo province. He was selected to represent Limpopo at the 2008 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week held in Ermelo,{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=6799 | team=Limpopo | compid=628 | comp=2008 U18 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week | accessdate=8 December 2016}} where he started two of their three matches.
=2012–2016: Griffons=
In 2012, he was included in the Welkom-based {{Rut|Griffons}}' Under-21 squad for their Under-21 Provincial Championship campaign.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=12181 | team=Griffons | compid=1261 | comp=2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition | accessdate=9 December 2016}} He started all six of their matches in the number eight jersey, scoring a try against {{Rut|Pumas U21}} in a 40–43 defeat,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106891 | homeid=12161 | awayid=12181 | leagueid=1261 | hometeam=Pumas | homescore=43 | awayscore=40 | awayteam=Griffons | matchdate=28 September 2012 | date=9 December 2016}} but could not help his side to a victory, as they lost all six matches to finish bottom of the log.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1261 | comp=2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition | date=9 December 2016}}
Grobbelaar made his first class debut in March 2013, coming on as a replacement in the {{Rut|Griffons}}' 2013 Vodacom Cup match against the {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}} in Polokwane.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103774 | homeid=11924 | awayid=11654 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls | homescore=14 | awayscore=50 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=9 March 2013 | date=9 December 2016}} He made his first start a week later against {{Rut|Griquas}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103914 | homeid=11654 | awayid=11664 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=12 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=16 March 2013 | date=9 December 2016}} but failed to feature for the Griffons for the remainder of 2013. He made a single appearance in the 2014 Vodacom Cup – as a replacement in a 10–49 defeat to the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118204 | homeid=17484 | awayid=17454 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=10 | awayscore=49 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=11 April 2014 | date=9 December 2016}} – before making his Currie Cup debut, playing off the bench in the Griffons First Division match against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}, helping his team to a 37–32 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133264 | homeid=23034 | awayid=23044 | leagueid=2154 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=37 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=6 September 2014 | date=9 December 2016}}
Grobbelaar got marginally more playing time in 2015, making three appearances off the bench in the Griffons' Vodacom Cup season before starting against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} during the Currie Cup First Division regular season{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154174 | homeid=29584 | awayid=29614 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=27 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=25 September 2015 | date=9 December 2016}} and against the same opposition in their 40–47 semi-final loss a week later.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154334 | homeid=29614 | awayid=29584 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=40 | awayscore=47 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=3 October 2015 | date=9 December 2016}}
Grobbelaar made two starts and four appearances off the bench in the Griffons' 2016 Currie Cup qualification campaign, and scored his first senior try in their 101–0 victory over Namibian side the {{Rut|Welwitschias}} in his third appearance of the season.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=159104 | homeid=30844 | awayid=30784 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Windhoek Draught Welwitschias | homescore=0 | awayscore=101 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=28 May 2016 | date=9 December 2016}} The Griffons finished ninth, to qualify to the Currie Cup First Division.
=2016: Eastern Province Kings=
Grobbelaar signed a contract to play for the Port Elizabeth-based {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} in the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.{{cite news | url=http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/currie-cup/74498-ferreira-leads-kings-into-battle | title=Ferreira leads Kings into battle | work=Rugby365 | date=9 August 2016 | accessdate=9 August 2016}} He made his EP Kings – and Currie Cup Premier Division – debut in their Round Two match against the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=166144 | homeid=33714 | awayid=33634 | leagueid=3044 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=10 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=12 August 2016 | date=9 December 2016}} His only other appearance came as he started their rescheduled midweek match against {{Rut|Griquas}} in a 24–47 defeat.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=167394 | homeid=33694 | awayid=33714 | leagueid=3044 | hometeam=Griquas | homescore=47 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Eastern Province Kings | matchdate=31 August 2016 | date=9 December 2016}} and his side eventually lost all eight of their matches in the competition to finish bottom of the log.{{SA Rugby Log | id=3044 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Premier Division | date=9 December 2016}}