Entienne Swanepoel
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Entienne Swanepoel
| image =
| fullname = Jacobus Christoffel Entienne Swanepoel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|03|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sasolburg, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.90}}
| weight = {{cvt|124|kg|lb stlb}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoërskool Tygerberg, Cape Town
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Tighthead prop
| currentclub = Rugby Rovigo Delta
| youthyears1 = 2011–2014
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| years1 = 2014–2015
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| apps1 = 8
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| apps2 = 1
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}
| apps3 = 13
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2017
| clubs4 = Stade Français
| apps4 = 2
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2017
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}}
| apps5 = 4
| points5 = 0
| years6 = 2018
| clubs6 = → {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| apps6 = 1
| points6 = 0
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Valsugana
| apps7 = 21
| points7 = 5
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs8 = Petrarca Padova
| apps8 = 8
| points8 = 0
| years9 = 2020–present
| clubs9 = Rovigo Delta
| apps9 =
| points9 =
| clubupdate = 30 April 2020
| ru_nationalteam = Italy A
| ru_nationalyears = 2021−2022
| ru_nationalcaps = 3
| ru_nationalpoints = 0
}}
Jacobus Christoffel Entienne Swanepoel (born 9 March 1993) is a South African born Italian rugby union player for Italian Top12 side Rugby Rovigo Delta.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=52835 | name=Entienne Swanepoel | date=29 July 2016}}{{Cite web|last=rugbyrovigodelta|title=Dettaglio news|url=http://www.rugbyrovigodelta.it/|access-date=2021-09-23|website=Rugby Rovigo Delta|language=it}} His regular position is tighthead prop.
Club career
=Western Province=
Swanepoel was born in Sasolburg, but grew up in Cape Town. He was selected to represent {{Rut|Western Province}} at the premier high schools rugby union tournament in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, held in Kimberley in 2011.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=8689 | team=WP | compid=819 | comp=2011 U18 Craven Week | accessdate=29 July 2016}}
After high school, he joined the Western Province Academy and made seven appearances for their Under-19 team in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship. However, he missed out on the title play-offs, which saw his side crowned champions by beating the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} team 22–18 in Durban.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106041 | homeid=11961 | awayid=11981 | leagueid=1251 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=22 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Blue Bulls | matchdate=27 October 2012 | date=29 July 2016}}
He made nine appearances for their Under-21 team that finished top of the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship to qualify for the semi-finals.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1434 | comp=2013 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=29 July 2016}} This time, Swanepoel did play in the play-off matches, starting their 44–41 victory over the Golden Lions in the semi-final{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110834 | homeid=15244 | awayid=15274 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=44 | awayscore=41 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=19 October 2013 | date=29 July 2016}} and their 30–23 victory over the Blue Bulls in the final.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=110854 | homeid=15244 | awayid=15294 | leagueid=1434 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=30 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=26 October 2013 | date=29 July 2016}}
At the start of the following year, Swanepoel was included in the {{Rut|Western Province}} squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=17604 | team=DHL Western Province | compid=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | accessdate=29 July 2016}} He made his first class debut in their opening match of the competition against near-neighbours {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in a 16–8 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117794 | homeid=17604 | awayid=17534 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=16 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | matchdate=8 March 2014 | date=29 July 2016}} He made a further four starts during the regular season, helping Western Province to finish in fourth position in the Southern Section.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | date=29 July 2016}} He also started in their quarter final match, where a 13–8 defeat to the {{Rut|Pumas}} ended their interest in the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118284 | homeid=17524 | awayid=17604 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Steval Pumas | homescore=13 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=2 May 2014 | date=29 July 2016}} He started in Western Province U21s' opening match of the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120734 | homeid=18474 | awayid=18484 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Western Province U21 | homescore=20 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Free State U21 | matchdate=12 July 2014 | date=29 July 2016}} but suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of the remainder of 2014.{{cite press release | url=http://wprugby.com/du-preez-back-for-wp-under-21s/ | title=Du Preez back for WP Under-21s | publisher=Western Province | date=17 July 2014 | accessdate=29 July 2016}}
He returned to action for Western Province during the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition, making two appearances; he started their 34–6 victory over the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140514 | homeid=24384 | awayid=24404 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=34 | awayscore=6 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=18 April 2015 | date=29 July 2016}} and came on as a replacement in their 47–22 win over a {{Rut|Leopards XV}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140814 | homeid=24384 | awayid=24304 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=47 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Leopards XV | matchdate=16 May 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}
He was named in their senior squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division,{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=26584 | team=DHL Western Province | compid=2494 | comp=2015 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division | accessdate=29 July 2016}} but failed to make any appearances. He was loaned to the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}, where he made his Currie Cup debut by coming on as a replacement in their 17–61 defeat to the {{Rut|Leopards}} in Potchefstroom, his only appearance in the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=141234 | homeid=24724 | awayid=24734 | leagueid=2324 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=61 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Boland | matchdate=18 July 2015 | date=29 July 2016}}
=Blue Bulls=
In August 2015, the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} announced that they secured Swanepoel's services until October 2017.{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/08/31/nuwe-spelers | title=Established Springboks to continue careers with Blue Bulls | publisher=Blue Bulls | date=31 August 2015 | accessdate=29 July 2016 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307134937/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/08/31/nuwe-spelers | archivedate=7 March 2016 | df=dmy-all }} He made his debut for them in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series by starting in their 16–30 defeat to his former side, Western Province,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158094 | homeid=30724 | awayid=30814 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=30 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=8 April 2016 | date=29 July 2016}} making a total of ten appearances in the competition. He was then named in their squad for the 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=33654 | team=Vodacom Blue Bulls | compid=3044 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Premier Division | accessdate=19 July 2016}}
=Stade Français=
Swanepoel joined French Top 14 side Stade Français at the start of 2017.{{cite news | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Rugby/bulle-verkoop-n-droom-20170120 | url-access=registration | title=Bulle verkoop 'n 'droom' | work=Netwerk24 | date=20 January 2017 | accessdate=20 January 2017 | language=Afrikaans}}
=Southern Kings=
He returned to South Africa to join the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} for their first season in the expanded Pro14 competition.{{cite press release | url=http://www.skings.co.za/michael-willemse-to-captain-southern-kings-on-first-guinness-pro14-tour | title=Michael Willemse to captain Southern Kings on first Guinness PRO14 tour | publisher=Southern Kings | date=28 August 2017 | accessdate=29 August 2017}} He was used as a replacement in their first two matches of the season against {{Rut|Scarlets}}{{cite web | url=http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/scarlets-seal-sensational-opening-win-over-southern-kings/ | title=Scarlets seal sensational opening win over Southern Kings | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=2 September 2017 | accessdate=3 September 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904110842/http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/scarlets-seal-sensational-opening-win-over-southern-kings | archivedate=4 September 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}} and {{Rut|Connacht}},{{cite web | url=http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/connaught-up-and-running-with-victory-over-southern-kings/ | title=Connacht up and running with victory over Southern Kings | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=9 September 2017 | accessdate=10 September 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909230153/http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/connaught-up-and-running-with-victory-over-southern-kings/ | archivedate=9 September 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}} but suffered a concussion that ruled him out for their next two matches. After a further two appearances as a replacement against the {{Rut|Dragons}}{{cite web | url=http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/hallam-dee-power-dragons-comfortable-victory | title=Amos and Dee power Dragons to comfortable victory | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=30 September 2017 | accessdate=1 October 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930222615/http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/hallam-dee-power-dragons-comfortable-victory | archivedate=30 September 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}} and {{Rut|Benetton}},{{cite web | url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/report/benetton-cruise-bonus-point-triumph-southern-kings | title=Benetton cruise to bonus-point triumph over Southern Kings | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=7 October 2017 | accessdate=8 October 2017 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007221713/https://www.pro14rugby.org/report/benetton-cruise-bonus-point-triumph-southern-kings | archivedate=7 October 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}} he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out for six weeks, but he failed to make any further appearances during the season.
He made a single appearance for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} on loan from the Kings in the domestic Rugby Challenge competition, starting their opening match of the competition against {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{cite web | url=http://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/3705 | title=SuperSport Rugby Challenge - Match 6, Pool Stage | work=South African Rugby Union | date=22 April 2018 | accessdate=12 May 2018}}
=Valsugana, Petrarca, Rovigo=
In July 2018, Italian side Valsugana announced that Swanepoel would join them for their inaugural season in the Top12 following promotion from Serie A.{{cite press release | url=https://www.valsuganarugby.it/valsu/continua-a-rinforzarsi-la-whitebluearmy-per-la-prossima-stagione | title=Continua a rinforzarsi la #whitebluearmy per la prossima stagione. | publisher=Valgusana Rugby | date=9 July 2018 | accessdate=12 July 2018 | language=Italian}}{{cite press release | url=https://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12037%253Avalsugana-e-verona-promosse-in-eccellenza&catid=252%253Aslide&Itemid=811&lang= | title=Valsugana e Verona Promosse in Eccellenza | publisher=Italian Rugby Federation | date=13 May 2018 | accessdate=12 July 2018 | language=Italian}} The following season, Swanepoel signed a one-year contract with the other team from Padova, Petrarca. After the premature cancellation of the championship amidst the COVID-19 emergency, on April 30, 2020, he was subsequently drafted by Rugby Rovigo Delta for the incoming season {{cite press release | url=https://www.rugbymeet.com/it/news/mercato/rugby-rovigo-ingaggiato-il-sudafricano-entienne-swanepoel | title=Rugby Rovigo: ingaggiato il sudafricano Entienne Swanepoel - I Bersagieri si muovono in vista della stagione di Top12 2020/21 | publisher=Rugby Meet | date=30 April 2020 | accessdate=30 April 2020 | language=Italian}}
International career
On the 14 October 2021, he was selected by Alessandro Troncon to be part of an Italy A 28-man squad and on 16 December was named in Emerging Italy squad for the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals.{{cite news|date=14 October 2021|title=Italia A, gli azzurri convocati per il match contro la Spagna|language=Italian|work=FIR|url=https://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15684:italia-a-gli-azzurri-convocati-per-il-match-contro-la-spagna&catid=110:italia-a&Itemid=1023|access-date=15 October 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15865:italia-emergenti-convocato-swanepoel-per-il-match-contro-la-romania&catid=328:italia-emergenti&Itemid=1034|title=
ITALIA EMERGENTI, CONVOCATO SWANEPOEL PER IL MATCH CONTRO LA ROMANIA |work=Italy Rugby Union|date=16 December 2021|access-date=16 December 2021|language=Italian}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swanepoel, Entienne}}
Category:People from Sasolburg
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Boland Cavaliers players
Category:Western Province (rugby union) players
Category:Southern Kings players
Category:Rugby union players from the Free State (province)
Category:Petrarca Rugby players
Category:Stade Français Paris players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France