Leolin Zas
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Leolin Zas
| image =
| fullname = Leolin Lucien Zas
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Worcester, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.84}}
| weight = {{convert|93|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hermanus High School, Hermanus
| university =
| relatives =
| currentclub = {{Rut|Stormers}} / {{Rut|Western Province}}
| youthyears1 = 2013
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| youthyears2 = 2014–2016
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| years1 = 2015–2016
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| apps1 = 10
| points1 = 30
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| apps2 = 15
| points2 = 40
| years3 = 2018–2019
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps3 = 12
| points3 = 35
| years4 = 2018–2019
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| apps4 = 5
| points4 = 10
| years5 = 2020–
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| apps5 = 16
| points5 = 50
| years6 = 2020–
| clubs6 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| apps6 = 5
| points6 = 15
| repyears1 = 2013
| repteam1 = South Africa Schools
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 5
| repyears2 = 2015
| repteam2 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps2 = 5
| reppoints2 = 10
| repyears3 = 2016
| repteam3 = South Africa 'A'
| repcaps3 = 2
| reppoints3 = 2
| clubupdate = 23 July 2022
| repupdate = 7 April 2018
}}
Leolin Lucien Zas (born 20 October 1995) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Stormers}} in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup and the {{Rut|Stormers XV}} in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=113434 | name=Leolin Zas | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is winger and centre.
Career
=Youth / Boland / South African Schools=
Zas was selected by the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} to represent them at the Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Polokwane in 2013. He started three matches for them at outside centre and scored 18 points for his side, which consisted of one try in their match against hosts {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108324 | homeid=13964 | awayid=13974 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Limpopo Blue Bulls | homescore=26 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Boland | matchdate=8 July 2013 | date=5 May 2016}} and 13 points with the boot. His performances were also noticed by the selectors of the South African Schools team and he made two appearances for them in the 2013 Under-18 International Series; he started both their 17–13 victory against France{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112694 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15694 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=17 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=France | matchdate=13 August 2013 | date=5 May 2016}} and match against Wales, as a try by Zas proved crucial in a 14–13 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112704 | homeid=15684 | awayid=15714 | leagueid=1524 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=14 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Wales | matchdate=17 August 2013 | date=5 May 2016}}
=Western Province Under-19 / South Africa Under-20=
After high school, Zas joined the Western Province Rugby Institute and he represented {{Rut|Western Province U19}} in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship. Zas started eight of their twelve matches during the regular season and scored five tries – three of those came in a single match against {{Rut|Leopards U21}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126474 | homeid=21124 | awayid=21154 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=WP U19 | homescore=39 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Leopards U19 | matchdate=19 July 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} while he also scored against {{Rut|Free State U19}} in both their home{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126444 | homeid=21124 | awayid=21134 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=WP U19 | homescore=50 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Free State U19 | matchdate=12 July 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} and away{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127314 | homeid=21134 | awayid=21124 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=38 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=WP U19 | matchdate=4 October 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} matches in the competition. Western Province finished in third spot on the log to qualify for the semi-finals, where they met the Free State U19s and Zas scored for a third time against the same opposition in a 29–22 victory in Bloemfontein.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127294 | homeid=21134 | awayid=21124 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Free State U19 | homescore=22 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=Western Province U19 | matchdate=18 October 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} He also started the final, where Western Province became champions by beating the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}s 33–26.{{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=5 May 2016}}
In 2015, Zas was selected a 37-man South Africa Under-20 training squad{{SA Rugby Article | id=2925424 | leagueid=2484 | title=SARU names large group for Junior Bok trials | date=25 March 2015 | accessdate=6 December 2016 | url-status=live | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206134230/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=2925424&leagueid=2484 | archivedate=6 December 2016}} and started for them in a friendly match against a 2015 Varsity Cup Dream Team, scoring a try in a 31–24 victory.{{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=5 May 2016}} He was named in their squad to tour Argentina for a two-match series as preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{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 |accessdate=29 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130080313/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22316?view=news |archivedate=30 January 2016 }} He started both their 25–22 victory over Argentina in the first match,{{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 |accessdate=21 May 2015 |language=Spanish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172958/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3942 |archivedate=22 May 2015 }} and their 39–28 win in the second match four days later, scoring a second-half try for the visitors.{{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 |accessdate=21 May 2015 |language=Spanish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522173733/http://www.uar.com.ar/noticias/noticias.asp?idinfo=3958 |archivedate=22 May 2015 }}
Upon the team's return, Zas 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 |accessdate=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130032506/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/22792?view=news |archivedate=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=5 May 2016}} a 40–8 win against Samoa which saw Zas score a try shortly after half-time{{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=5 May 2016}} and their final match against Australia, with Zas again on the scoresheet in a 46–13 win.{{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=5 May 2016}} The results meant that South Africa finished top of Pool B to qualify for the semi-finals with the best record in the pool stage of all the teams in the competition. Zas also started their semi-final match against England, but couldn't prevent them losing the match 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=5 May 2016}} He started their third-place play-off match against France, helping South Africa to a 31–18 win to win the bronze medal.{{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=5 May 2016}}
=Western Province Under-21 / Currie Cup=
Zas returned to domestic action by representing {{Rut|Western Province U21}} in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A and he made his domestic first class debut – and his first appearance in the Currie Cup competition – after being named in the starting line-up for {{Rut|Western Province}}'s final match of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}.{{cite web | url=http://wprugby.com/dhl-wp-line-up-confirmed-for-ep-kings-clash/ | title=DHL WP line-up confirmed for EP Kings clash | work=Western Province | date=6 October 2015 | accessdate=6 October 2015}}
=South Africa 'A'=
In 2016, Zas was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3548614 | leagueid=3024 | title=Ackermann to coach SA ‘A’ against Saxons | date=28 May 2016 | accessdate=31 May 2016 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531065757/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3548614&leagueid=3024 | archivedate=31 May 2016}} He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3563654 | leagueid=3024 | title=Youth and experience for SA ‘A’ opener against Saxons | date=8 June 2016 | accessdate=10 June 2016 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610203333/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | archivedate=10 June 2016}} but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164774 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=24 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=10 June 2016 | date=10 June 2016}} He also started the second match of the series, kicking one conversion in a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164784 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=26 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=17 June 2016 | date=19 June 2016}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Stormers squad}}
{{Western Province squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zas, Leolin}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Worcester, South Africa
Category:Western Province (rugby union) players
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players