Gavin Passens

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Gavin Passens

| image =

| caption =

| full_name = Gavin Andrew Passens

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|05|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 180 cm

| weight = 85 kg

| occupation =

| school = Robinvale High School

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Wing

| superyears1 = 2001–02

| super1 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| superapps1 =

| superpoints1 =

| superyears2 = 2006–08

| super2 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}

| superapps2 =

| superpoints2 =

| repyears1 = 2000

| repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

}}

Gavin Andrew Passens (born 18 May 1976) is a South African former professional rugby union player.

Passens, the son of fabric makers, comes from the small town of Mamre outside Cape Town and was educated at Robinvale High School in nearby Atlantis. He is a product of the Hamlets Rugby Club.{{cite news |title=Passens' Incredible Journey |website=Rugby 365 |date=7 November 2000}}

A speedy winger, Passens got his start in the Currie Cup with the Griffons in 1999, before moving onto the Pumas for the 2000 Currie Cup, where he had an immediate impact with a competition high 10 tries.{{cite web |title=Bulls lose Passens |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/15349403/bulls-lose-passens |website=ESPN.com |language=en |date=16 February 2001}}

Passens gained selection to the Springboks for their 2000 end-of-year tours of Argentina and the British Isles. His international appearances were restricted to tour matches and included a two-try performance against an English National Divisions representative side in Worcester.{{cite news |title=Divisions Make Point |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/752665016 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=29 November 2000}}

After a career setback in 2001 when he tore knee ligaments, Passens competed for several seasons in the Super 14, initially with the Bulls and then the Cheetahs.{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Morris |title=Passens out for Bulls |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/passens-out-for-bulls-20010215 |work=News24 |date=15 February 2001}}