EW Viljoen
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = EW Viljoen
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|05|09}}
| birth_place = Bloemfontein, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.92}}
| weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| occupation =
| school = Grey College, Bloemfontein
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Fullback / Winger / Centre
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2008–2013
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| youthyears2 = 2014–2016
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| years1 = 2014–2019
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| apps1 = 37
| points1 = 65
| years2 = 2017–2019
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| apps2 = 29
| points2 = 35
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Leicester Tigers}}
| apps3 = 4
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2020–2022
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Lions}}
| apps4 = 15
| points4 = 19
| years5 = 2020–2022
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| apps5 = 9
| points5 = 5
| repyears1 = 2013
| repteam1 = South Africa Schools
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2015
| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps2 = 3
| reppoints2 = 0
| clubupdate = 16 September 2022
| repupdate = 18 April 2018
}}
EW Viljoen (born 9 May 1995 in Bloemfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player playing for the Johannesburg based {{Rut|Lions}}. He previously played for the {{Rut|Stormers}} in Super Rugby and {{Rut|Western Province}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge, while also representing the {{Rut|Leicester Tigers}}. It was announced on the 14th of July 2020 that Viljoen would be joining the {{Rut|Lions}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=45438 | name=EW Viljoen | date=29 May 2016}} He is a utility back that can play as a fullback, winger or centre.
Career
=Youth=
Viljoen was noticed at primary school level, when he was selected in the Free State squad for the Under-13 Craven Week tournament in 2008. He then went to Grey College in Bloemfontein, where he was called up to a number of youth tournaments. He played at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2011, where he scored 18 points in two matches against {{Rut|Western Province}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20788 | homeid=8721 | awayid=8728 | leagueid=818 | hometeam=WP | homescore=6 | awayscore=11 | awayteam=Free State | matchdate=5 July 2011 | date=5 July 2016}} and the {{Rut|Falcons}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20796 | homeid=8728 | awayid=8731 | leagueid=818 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=22 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=7 July 2011 | date=5 July 2016}}
In 2012, he was included in the Free State's Under-18 Craven Week squad, scoring a try against KwaZulu-Natal{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110921 | homeid=13741 | awayid=13751 | leagueid=1401 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=24 | awayscore=48 | awayteam=KZN | matchdate=9 July 2012 | date=5 July 2016}} and he played in the competition again in 2013, this time contributing a brace in their match against the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112594 | homeid=14074 | awayid=13934 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Free State | homescore=22 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Pumas | matchdate=13 July 2013 | date=5 July 2016}}
This led to Viljoen's inclusion in the South African Schools side for the 2013 international series, where he started two matches to help the South African side to victories over England{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112684 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15704 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=19 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=England | matchdate=9 August 2013 | date=5 July 2016}} and France.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112694 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15694 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=17 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=France | matchdate=13 August 2013 | date=5 July 2016}}
At the end of 2013, he moved to Cape Town to join {{Rut|Western Province}}. He was one of the Western Province Rugby Institute players that were invited to form part of the {{Rut|Stormers}} wider training group prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://thestormers.com/contracted-players-kick-off-preparations/ | title=Contracted players kick-off preparations | publisher=Stormers | date=26 November 2013 | access-date=10 October 2014}} A knee injury ruled him out for part of the season,{{cite web | url=http://ysn.co.za/news/rugby/national/2014/unbeaten-u21-wp-get-boost-time-bulls | title=Unbeaten U21 WP Get a Boost in Time for the Bulls | publisher=Youth Sports Network | date=29 August 2014 | access-date=10 October 2014}} but he returned to action for the {{Rut|Western Province U21}} side during the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring five tries in five appearances, including a brace against the {{Rut|Leopards U21}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121064 | homeid=18504 | awayid=18474 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Leopards U21 | homescore=21 | awayscore=64 | awayteam=Western Province U21 | matchdate=27 September 2014 | date=5 July 2016}}
=Western Province=
He was included in the senior squad for the first time for the final match of the round-robin stage of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, being named in the starting line-up for their match against the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}.{{cite web | url=http://wprugby.com/brok-harris-in-charge-as-sharks-come-to-town/ | title=Experienced Harris in charge as Sharks come to town | publisher=Western Province | date=9 October 2014 | access-date=9 October 2014}}
=Leicester Tigers=
On 2 July 2019, English Premiership Rugby side Leicester Tigers announced the signing of Viljoen ahead of the 2019–20 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48839448 | title=EW Viljoen, Hanro Liebenberg & Jordan Coghlan join Premiership side | work=BBC | date=2 July 2019 | access-date=2 July 2019}}
=Lions/Golden Lions=
On 14 July 2020, Vijoen returns to South Africa to sign for Lions back into the Super Rugby competition. He will also play for Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions.{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/superrugby/ew-viljoen-signs-for-lions-as-backline-stock-bulges-20200714|publisher=News 24|title=EW Viljoen signs for Lions as backline stock bulges|date=14 July 2020|access-date=31 December 2020}}
=South Africa Under-20=
In March 2015, Viljoen was named in an extended South Africa Under-20 training group as part of their preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{SA Rugby Article | id=2925424 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names large group for Junior Bok trials | date=25 March 2015 | access-date=6 December 2016 | url-status=live | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206134230/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archive-date=6 December 2016}} He didn't feature in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=142484 | homeid=25434 | awayid=25444 | leagueid=2384 | hometeam=Varsity Cup XV | homescore=24 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U/20 | matchdate=21 April 2015 | date=5 July 2016}} or their two-match tour of Argentina,{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |title=SARU names Junior Bok squad for Argentine tour |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130080313/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |archive-date=30 January 2016 }} but was included in the final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |title=Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks at U20 World Championship in Italy |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130032506/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |archive-date=30 January 2016 }}
He wasn't named in the squad for their 33–5 win against hosts Italy in the first of their three matches in Pool B of the competition{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144364 | homeid=26544 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=Italy U20 | homescore=5 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=2 June 2015 | date=5 July 2016}} and was an unused replacement in their next match, a 40–8 win against Samoa.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144394 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26524 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Samoa U20 | matchdate=6 June 2015 | date=5 July 2016}} He started their final match, a 46–13 win over Australia{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144404 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26514 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=46 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Australia U20 | matchdate=10 June 2015 | date=5 July 2016}} 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. Viljoen 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{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146274 | homeid=26534 | awayid=26494 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=20 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=England U20 | matchdate=15 June 2015 | date=5 July 2016}} 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.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146324 | homeid=26474 | awayid=26534 | leagueid=2484 | hometeam=France U20 | homescore=18 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2015 | date=5 July 2016}}
Cricket
Viljoen was also a cricketer at school and was called up to various Free State youth cricket teams.{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/542034.html | title=Cricinfo Player Profile EW Viljoen | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | access-date=10 October 2014}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viljoen, EW}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Bloemfontein
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Western Province (rugby union) players
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:Leicester Tigers players
Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England