Lambert Groenewald
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Lambert Groenewald
| image =
| fullname = Lambert Smith Groenewald
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|02|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = Worcester, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.89}}
| weight = {{convert|113|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Paul Roos Gymnasium
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Flanker
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2007
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| youthyears2 = 2008–2010
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| years1 = 2010–2011
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps1 = 14
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2011
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps2 = 1
| points2 = 0
| years3 = 2011–2012
| clubs3 = Brescia
| apps3 =
| points3 =
| years4 = 2012–2013
| clubs4 = AMPO Ordizia
| apps4 =
| points4 =
| years5 = 2013
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| apps5 = 6
| points5 = 0
| years6 = 2014
| clubs6 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}
| apps6 = 1
| points6 = 0
| years7 = 2015–2017
| clubs7 = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| apps7 = 37
| points7 = 45
| clubupdate = 18 May 2018
}}
Lambert Smith Groenewald (born 1 February 1989 in Worcester) is a South African-born Zimbabwean rugby union player who most recently played for the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=43630 | name=Lambert Groenewald | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is flanker.
Career
=Youth=
At youth level, he captained his high school team at Paul Roos Gymnasium and represented {{Rut|Western Province}} at the 2007 Under-18 Academy Week and Craven Week tournaments before moving to the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}. He represented them at Under-19 and Under-21 level between 2008 and 2010.
=Sharks=
He made his first class debut for the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} in the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition. He started the opening match of the season against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} and scored a try after 29 minutes to help the Sharks XV to a 69–8 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18835 | homeid=7980 | awayid=7981 | leagueid=765 | hometeam=Sharks XV | homescore=69 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=26 February 2010 | date=27 July 2016}} A further five appearances followed in the 2010 Vodacom Cup, as well as eight appearances in the 2011 competition.
He did not play any Currie Cup rugby, but he did make one Super Rugby appearance for the {{Rut|Sharks}} when he came on as a late substitute for Ryan Kankowski in their match against the {{Rut|Blues}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=19629 | homeid=8389 | awayid=8396 | leagueid=795 | hometeam=Sharks | homescore=26 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Blues | matchdate=26 February 2011 | date=27 July 2016}}
=Brescia and Ordizia=
He left the {{Rut|Sharks}} in 2011 to join Rugby Brescia in the Italian Serie A. He spent one season in Brescia and then joined Basque side AMPO Ordizia for the 2012–13 División de Honor de Rugby.
=Golden Lions=
He returned to South Africa in 2013, joining the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} in time for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Lions-name-team-to-face-Sharks-20130619 | title=Lions team to face Sharks | work=Sport24 | date=19 June 2013 | accessdate=20 June 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/article/54676-lions-lean-on-former-sharks | title=Lions lean on former Sharks | work=Rugby365 | date=19 June 2013 | accessdate=20 June 2013}}
=Pumas=
After making just seven appearances in two years for the Golden Lions, he agreed to join Mbombela-based side the {{Rut|Pumas}} on loan for the 2015 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/sport/2015-01-06-pumas-leen-flank-by-leeus | title=Pumas leen flank by Leeus | publisher=Netwerk24 | date=6 January 2015 | accessdate=6 January 2015 | language=Afrikaans}} He was a member of the Pumas side that won the Vodacom Cup for the first time in 2015, beating {{Rut|Western Province}} 24–7 in the final.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3030244 | leagueid=2304 | title=Steval Pumas first-time Vodacom Cup champions – Final Review | date=31 May 2015 | accessdate=9 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609204339/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | url-status=dead | archivedate=9 June 2016}} Groenewald made eight appearances during the season, scoring two tries.
In July 2015, the Pumas announced that they signed Groenewald on a permanent basis for the 2016 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby15.co.za/steval-pumas-announce-new-contracts/ | title=Steval Pumas announce new contracts | work=Rugby15 | date=29 July 2015 | access-date=29 July 2015 }}
=Zimbabwe=
In May 2014, the ZRU confirmed that Groenewald would be available to play for the Zimbabwe during the 2014 Africa Cup, a competition that doubled up as the African qualifying competition for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.theindependent.co.zw/2014/05/23/sables-invite-top-players/ | title=Sables invite top players | publisher=Zimbabwe Independent | date=23 May 2014 | accessdate=11 June 2014}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Groenewald, Lambert}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Zimbabwean rugby union players
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players