Keanu Vers
{{Short description|South African rugby player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Keanu Vers
| image =
| fullname = Keanu Armandio Vers
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|02|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Middelburg Midros, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.75}}
| weight = {{cvt|85|kg|lb stlb}}
| occupation =
| school = Grey High School, Port Elizabeth
| university = Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
| relatives =
| position = Fullback / Winger / Centre
| currentclub = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| youthyears1 = 2009–2017
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| years1 = 2016–2018
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| apps1 = 22
| points1 = 35
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| apps2 = 2
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2019
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| apps3 = 7
| points3 = 25
| years4 = 2022–
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Griffons}}
| apps4 =
| points4 =
| amatyears1 = 2016
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|NMMU Madibaz}}
| amatapps1 = 7
| amatpoints1 = 5
| repyears1 = 2014
| repteam1 = South Africa Schools
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 10
| repyears2 = 2016
| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps2 = 2
| reppoints2 = 0
| clubupdate = 30 March 2022
| repupdate = 27 June 2016
}}
Keanu Armandio Vers (born 4 February 1996) is a South African professional rugby union player for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} in the Currie Cup.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=48956 | name=Keanu Vers | date=27 May 2016}} He is a utility back that can play as a fullback, winger or centre.
Rugby career
=2009–14: Schools rugby=
Vers represented his local provincial union, Eastern Province, at all youth levels throughout his school career. In 2009, he played for them at the Under-13 Craven Week tournament held in Kimberley, scoring tries in victories over the Golden Lions{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17296 | homeid=7453 | awayid=7454 | leagueid=725 | hometeam=Lions | homescore=7 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=EP | matchdate=29 June 2009 | date=27 May 2016}} and KwaZulu-Natal.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18043 | homeid=7458 | awayid=7454 | leagueid=725 | hometeam=KZN | homescore=0 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=EP | matchdate=30 June 2009 | date=27 May 2016}} In 2012, he played for them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, again scoring two tries during the tournament in matches against South Western Districts{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=111151 | homeid=14201 | awayid=14211 | leagueid=1391 | hometeam=EP | homescore=24 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=SWD | matchdate=2 July 2012 | date=27 May 2016}} and Boland.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112631 | homeid=14201 | awayid=14291 | leagueid=1391 | hometeam=EP | homescore=31 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Boland | matchdate=5 July 2012 | date=27 May 2016}}
He was chosen to represent them at the foremost schools rugby union competition in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week, in both 2013 and 2014. In the 2013 event in Polokwane, Vers scored a try in a 29–18 victory over the Falcons{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112634 | homeid=14064 | awayid=14024 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Eastern Province | homescore=29 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=13 July 2013 | date=27 May 2016}} and he kept up his record of scoring in each tournament when he got a try in their 19–5 victory over Free State in the 2014 tournament in Middelburg,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=132324 | homeid=21914 | awayid=21934 | leagueid=2094 | hometeam=Eastern Province | homescore=19 | awayscore=5 | awayteam=Free State | matchdate=17 July 2014 | date=27 May 2016}} helping Eastern Province to victories in all three of their matches, including a 25–7 win over South Western Districts in the main match on the final day to finish the tournament as unofficial champions.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=132604 | homeid=21804 | awayid=21914 | leagueid=2094 | hometeam=SWD | homescore=7 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Eastern Province | matchdate=19 July 2014 | date=27 May 2016}}
After the tournament, Vers was also included in a South Africa Schools that participated in the Under-18 International Series against teams from France, Wales and England. He was an unused replacement in their 28–13 victory over France,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133414 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23084 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=28 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=France U18 | matchdate=15 August 2014 | date=27 May 2016}} but was promoted to the starting line-up for their 40–15 win over Wales in their second match.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133444 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23094 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=40 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Wales U18 | matchdate=19 August 2014 | date=27 May 2016}} He retained his spot for their final match against England and repaid the faith by scoring two tries in the match, but still ended on the losing side as England won 30–22 in the match played in Stellenbosch.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=133474 | homeid=23074 | awayid=23064 | leagueid=2164 | hometeam=SA Schools | homescore=22 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=England U18 | matchdate=23 August 2014 | date=27 May 2016}}
=2015: Eastern Province Under-19=
Vers joined the Eastern Province Academy for 2015 and was included in the {{Rut|Eastern Province U19}} squad that competed in Group A of the 2015 Under-219 Provincial Championship, their second season since winning promotion from Group B at the end of 2013. Vers' first appearance at this level came in a match against the {{Rut|Sharks U19}} and he took just 47 minutes to score his first try in a 26–7 win.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=146934 | homeid=27654 | awayid=27634 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Eastern Province U19 | homescore=26 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=Sharks U19 | matchdate=29 August 2015 | date=27 May 2016}} He scored another try in their next match against {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147504 | homeid=27664 | awayid=27654 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Golden Lions U19 | homescore=22 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=Eastern Province U19 | matchdate=5 September 2015 | date=27 May 2016}} and made three more starts, helping Eastern Province to finish top of the log, winning eleven of their twelve matches.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2594 | comp=2015 Absa Under 19 Competition | date=27 May 2016}} He started their 31–15 win over {{Rut|Free State U19}} in the semi-final{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147674 | homeid=27654 | awayid=27644 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Eastern Province U19 | homescore=31 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Free State U19 | matchdate=16 October 2015 | date=27 May 2016}} and also started the final, playing the entire 80 minutes of their 25–23 victory over the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}s,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147694 | homeid=27654 | awayid=27674 | leagueid=2594 | hometeam=Eastern Province U19 | homescore=25 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=24 October 2015 | date=27 May 2016}} helping his side win the Under-19 Provincial Championship for the first time in their history.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3251444 | leagueid=2594 | title=WP young guns, EP clinch junior titles | date=25 October 2015 | accessdate=11 April 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3251444&leagueid=2594 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531072609/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3251444&leagueid=2594 | url-status=dead | archivedate=31 May 2016}}
=2016: NMMU Madibaz, Eastern Province Kings and South Africa Under-20=
At the start of 2016, Vers played in the 2016 Varsity Cup competition with {{Rut|NMMU Madibaz}}. He scored one try in their 19–46 defeat to the {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=156764 | homeid=30244 | awayid=30284 | leagueid=2784 | hometeam=FNB UFS SHIMLAS | homescore=46 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=FNB NMMU MADIBAZ | matchdate=22 February 2016 | date=27 May 2016}} in a disappointing season for NMMU that saw them finish second-last in the competition.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2784 | comp=2016 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=27 May 2016}} After the Varsity Cup, Vers joined an {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} side that suffered serious financial problems which saw a number of first team regulars leave the union{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/69935-kings-facing-player-exodus | title=Kings facing player exodus? | work=Rugby365 | date=11 November 2015 | accessdate=11 November 2015}} and he was among a number of youngsters that were included in their squad for the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=30864 | team=EP Kings | compid=2824 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Qualifying | accessdate=3 June 2016}} He was named in the starting lineup for their first match of the season against the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}{{SA Rugby Article | id=3471374 | leagueid=2824 | title=EP Kings team announced for SWD Eagles match | date=5 April 2016 | accessdate=7 April 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3471374&leagueid=2824 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407142936/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3471374&leagueid=2824 | url-status=dead | archivedate=7 April 2016}} and made his first class debut by playing the first 50 minutes of the 14–37 defeat before being substituted.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158164 | homeid=30864 | awayid=30744 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=EP Kings | homescore=14 | awayscore=37 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=9 April 2016 | date=11 April 2016}} He was named on the bench for their third match of the season against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} and came on as a replacement in the 56th minute.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158274 | homeid=30864 | awayid=30854 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=EP Kings | homescore=14 | awayscore=28 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=23 April 2016 | date=27 May 2016}}
However, he missed most of the competition due to his selection in the South Africa Under-20 squad. In March 2016, Vers was included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3455814 | leagueid=2904 | title=Large group invited to Junior Springbok trials camp | date=24 March 2016 | accessdate=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3455814&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531082024/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3455814&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archivedate=31 May 2016}} and made the cut to be named in a reduced provisional squad a week later.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3466224 | leagueid=2904 | title=Theron names provisional Junior Springbok squad | date=1 April 2016 | accessdate=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3466224&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531083247/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3466224&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archivedate=31 May 2016}} On 10 May 2016, he was included in the final squad for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship tournament to be held in Manchester, England.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3521484 | leagueid=2904 | title=Ward to lead Junior Springboks in England | date=10 May 2016 | accessdate=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3521484&leagueid=2904 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531082028/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3521484&leagueid=2904 | url-status=dead | archivedate=31 May 2016}} He came on as a replacement during their opening match in Pool C of the tournament as South Africa came from behind to beat Japan 59–19,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161584 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31604 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=59 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Japan U20 | matchdate=7 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}} before dropping out of the matchday squad for their next pool match as South Africa were beaten 13–19 by Argentina.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161594 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31624 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=13 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Argentina U20 | matchdate=11 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}} He was an unused replacement in their final pool match as South Africa bounced back to secure a 40-31 bonus-point victory over France in their final pool match{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=161604 | homeid=31594 | awayid=31614 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=South Africa U20 | homescore=40 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=France U20 | matchdate=15 June 2016 | date=20 June 2016}} to secure a semi-final place as the best runner-up in the competition. He was also an unused as a replacement in the semi-final, as South Africa faced three-time champions England in the semi-finals, with the hosts proving too strong for South Africa, knocking them out of the competition with a 39–17 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=163854 | homeid=32184 | awayid=31594 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=England U20 | homescore=39 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=20 June 2016 | date=27 June 2016}} He was again named on the bench against Argentina in the third-place play-off final, this time coming on for the final 20 minutes as Argentina beat South Africa – as they did in the pool stages – convincingly winning 49–19{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=163904 | homeid=31624 | awayid=31594 | leagueid=2904 | hometeam=Argentina U20 | homescore=49 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=South Africa U20 | matchdate=25 June 2016 | date=27 June 2016}} and in the process condemning South Africa to fourth place in the competition.
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vers, Keanu}}
Category:People from Middelburg, Eastern Cape
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fullbacks
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:Alumni of Grey High School
Category:Rugby union players from the Eastern Cape
Category:Griquas (rugby union) players