Ivan van Zyl

{{Infobox rugby union biography

| name = Ivan van Zyl

| image = Ivan van Zyl.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Van Zyl during the third place final of 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Cremona (Italy).

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|06|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| weight = {{convert|82|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| nickname =

| occupation =

| school = Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Scrum-half

| currentclub = {{Rut|Saracens}}

| youthyears1 = 2008–2016

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2015–2021

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps1 = 41

| points1 = 30

| years2 = 2015–2018

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls XV}}

| apps2 = 17

| points2 = 20

| years3 = 2016–2021

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| apps3 = 46

| points3 = 20

| years4 = 2021–

| clubs4 = {{Rut|Saracens}}

| apps4 = 100

| points4 = 75

| repyears1 = 2015

| repteam1 = South Africa Under-20

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 0

| repyears2 = 2018

| repteam2 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps2 = 6

| reppoints2 = 0

| clubupdate = 24 May 2025

| repupdate = 21 July 2019

}}

Ivan van Zyl (born 30 June 1995) is a South African rugby union player for Saracens.{{Cite web|title=Van Zyl to become a Saracen|url=https://www.saracens.com/van-zyl-to-become-a-saracen/|access-date=2022-02-13|language=en-GB}} His regular position is scrum-half.

Career

=Youth=

Van Zyl represented the Blue Bulls as early as primary school level, appearing at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2008. In July 2013, he also played for them at the premier South African high school rugby competition, the Under-18 Craven Week held in Polokwane. He made three appearances and scored two tries in a personal haul of 25 points.{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1394 | comp=2013 U18 Craven Week | date=5 May 2016}}

Van Zyl joined the Blue Bulls Academy after finishing high school and represented the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} side in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting ten matches and making two substitute appearances as they reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated 26–33 by {{Rut|Western Province U19}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127304 | homeid=21124 | awayid=21104 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Western Province U19 | homescore=33 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=25 October 2014 | date=2 June 2016}}

=Under-20=

Van Zyl was named in a 37-man training squad for the South Africa national under-20 rugby union team{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22116?view=news | title=Junior Bok training squad confirmed | publisher=South African Rugby Union | date=4 April 2015 | access-date=9 April 2015 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201317/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22116?view=news | url-status=dead }} and featured for them in a friendly match against a Varsity Cup Dream Team in April 2015.{{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=2 June 2016}} He was also included in the squad that embarked on a 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 |work=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 }} He came on as a replacement in their 25–22 victory over Argentina{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 25 a 22 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=12 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |archive-date=22 May 2015 }} and started their 39–28 victory a few days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |title=Los Pumitas cayeron ante Baby Boks por 39 a 28 |work=Unión Argentina de Rugby |date=16 May 2015 |access-date=21 May 2015 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |archive-date=22 May 2015 }}

Upon the team's return, Van Zyl was named 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 started all three of their matches in Pool B of the competition; a 33–5 win against hosts Italy,{{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=2 June 2016}} 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=2 June 2016}} and 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=2 June 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. Van Zyl 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=2 June 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=2 June 2016}}

=Senior level=

Van Zyl made his first class debut for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} on 6 March 2015, starting their 2015 Vodacom Cup match against the {{Rut|Falcons}} in Kempton Park, helping them to a 37–13 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140144 | homeid=24284 | awayid=24294 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Hino Valke | homescore=13 | awayscore=37 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=6 March 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} He also started their next three matches in the competition, against the {{Rut|Leopards XV}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140184 | homeid=24294 | awayid=24304 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=46 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Leopards XV | matchdate=13 March 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} {{Rut|Golden Lions}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140244 | homeid=24324 | awayid=24294 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=24 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=20 March 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} and {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140314 | homeid=24294 | awayid=24334 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=20 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=28 March 2015 | date=2 June 2016}}

In June 2015, Van Zyl extended his contract at the Bulls until October 2017.{{cite press release | url=http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/06/30/currie-cup | title=Vodacom Blue Bulls name Absa Currie Cup squad | publisher=Bulls | date=30 June 2015 | access-date=30 June 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307141123/http://thebulls.co.za/news/2015/06/30/currie-cup | archive-date=7 March 2016 }} He was included in the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division and named in the matchday squad for all eleven of their matches in the competition. He made his Currie Cup debut by playing off the bench in their 57–19 victory against the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} in Bloemfontein in their opening match of the season.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144694 | homeid=26634 | awayid=26644 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Toyota Free State | homescore=19 | awayscore=57 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=8 August 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} After appearing as a replacement in their next two matches against {{Rut|Griquas}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144714 | homeid=26644 | awayid=26574 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=36 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=ORC Griquas | matchdate=14 August 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} and {{Rut|Western Province}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144774 | homeid=26644 | awayid=26584 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=47 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=22 August 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} he made his first Currie Cup start in their Round Four match against the Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=144824 | homeid=26644 | awayid=26634 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=24 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Toyota Free State | matchdate=4 September 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} He appeared as a replacement in five of their remaining six matches during the regular season of the season, helping the Blue Bulls finish in second position to qualify for the play-offs. He played off the bench in their semi-final match against Western Province, but could not prevent the side from Cape Town winning 23–18{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=145074 | homeid=26644 | awayid=26584 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | homescore=18 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=16 October 2015 | date=2 June 2016}} to eliminate the Blue Bulls from the competition.

In 2016, Van Zyl was included in the {{Rut|Bulls}}' squad for the 2016 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/ | title=Vodacom Bulls Team (2016) | publisher=Bulls | access-date=11 February 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211113325/http://thebulls.co.za/the-team/ | archive-date=11 February 2016}}

On 23 February 2021, Van Zyl signed for Saracens ahead of the 2021–22 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/saracens-secure-signing-of-south-africa-international-ivan-van-zyl/29115.htm|publisher=Talking Rugby Union|title=Saracens secure signing of South Africa international Ivan van Zyl|date=23 February 2021|accessdate=5 April 2021}} He helped Saracens win the Premiership title in 2023, scoring a try in the final as Saracens defeated Sale Sharks.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65727086|title=Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller |publisher=BBC |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=7 June 2023}}