Malherbe Swart
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Malherbe Swart
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|03|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Klerksdorp, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.82}}
| weight = {{convert|87|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoër Volkskool, Potchefstroom
| university = North-West University
| relatives =
| position = Scrum-half
| currentclub = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| youthyears1 = 2008–2012
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| years1 = 2013–2015
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Leopards XV}}
| apps1 = 12
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2015–present
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Leopards}}
| apps2 = 29
| points2 = 18
| amatyears1 = 2015–2016
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}
| amatapps1 = 12
| amatpoints1 = 17
| clubupdate = 1 December 2016
}}
Malherbe Swart (born 27 March 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player currently playing with the{{Rut|Leopards}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=45603 | name=Malherbe Swart | date=1 December 2016}} His regular position is scrum-half.
Rugby career
=2008–2012 : Youth rugby=
Swart was born in Klerksdorp and attended and played first team rugby for Hoër Volkskool in Potchefstroom, from where he was selected to represent the {{Rut|Leopards}} at the Under-18 Academy Week tournament in 2008.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=6782 | team=Leopards | compid=627 | comp=2008 U18 Academy Week | accessdate=30 November 2016}}
After high school, he continued to represent the Leopards at various youth levels. He played for the {{Rut|Leopards U19}} team in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship, making ten appearances as the team finished in fourth spot to qualify for a semi-final,{{SA Rugby Log | id=770 | comp=2010 ABSA Under 19 Competition | date=30 November 2016}} which they lost to {{Rut|Western Province U19}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=19780 | homeid=8063 | awayid=8057 | leagueid=770 | hometeam=Western Province | homescore=49 | awayscore=13 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=16 October 2010 | date=30 November 2016}}
He started ten of the {{Rut|Leopards U21}}s' twelve matches in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, playing off the bench in the other two. He scored three tries in the competition – he scored home and away against {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}}s,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106351 | homeid=12091 | awayid=12141 | leagueid=1261 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=28 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Platinum Leopards | matchdate=28 July 2012 | date=30 November 2016}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106551 | homeid=12141 | awayid=12091 | leagueid=1261 | hometeam=Platinum Leopards | homescore=37 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=14 September 2012 | date=30 November 2016}} and also scored a try against {{Rut|Blue Bulls U21}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106631 | homeid=12141 | awayid=12121 | leagueid=1261 | hometeam=Platinum Leopards | homescore=27 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=Blue Bulls | matchdate=28 September 2012 | date=30 November 2016}} as the team finished in sixth place.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1261 | comp=2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition | date=30 November 2016}}
=2013–present: Leopards and NWU Pukke=
In 2013, Swart was included in the {{Rut|Leopards XV}} squad that competed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. He made his first class debut on 9 March 2013, coming on as a replacement in their 15–45 defeat to the {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103744 | homeid=11684 | awayid=11674 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=45 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=Leopards XV | matchdate=9 March 2013 | date=30 November 2016}} Six days later, he made another appearance from the bench against the {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}}. He scored his first senior try in that match, getting the last of his side's 17 tries in a 113–3 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103844 | homeid=11674 | awayid=11924 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Leopards XV | homescore=113 | awayscore=3 | awayteam=Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls | matchdate=15 March 2013 | date=30 November 2016}} A third appearance against the {{Rut|Falcons}} followed{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103964 | homeid=11674 | awayid=11744 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Leopards XV | homescore=47 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=22 March 2013 | date=30 November 2016}} for his team that eventually missed out on a play-off spot on points difference.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1164 | comp=2013 Vodacom Cup | date=30 November 2016}}
Swart made his first senior start in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, in a 16–18 defeat to the {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}} on the opening day of the season.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117844 | homeid=17504 | awayid=17474 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Leopards XV | homescore=16 | awayscore=18 | awayteam=Golden Lions | matchdate=7 March 2014 | date=30 November 2016}} He made four more starts in the season as the team again fell short, finishing in fifth place to miss out on the quarter finals.{{SA Rugby Log | id=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | date=30 November 2016}} He was included in the {{Rut|Leopards}} squad for the 2014 Currie Cup First Division, but failed to make any appearances.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=23014 | team=Leopards | compid=2154 | comp=2014 Absa Currie Cup First Division | accessdate=30 November 2016}}
Swart's 2015 season started by him playing for Potchefstroom-based university side {{Rut|NWU Pukke}} in the 2015 Varsity Cup. He made just two substitute appearances during the regular season that saw the team finish in fourth spot to claim a semi-final spot,{{SA Rugby Log | id=2194 | comp=2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=30 November 2016}} but started their 29–28 semi-final victory over {{Rut|UP Tuks}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137804 | homeid=23584 | awayid=23534 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UP - TUKS | homescore=28 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | matchdate=30 March 2015 | date=30 November 2016}} as well as the final against {{Rut|UFS Shimlas}}. He scored his side's first try, but could not prevent the team from Bloemfontein winning 63–33 to condemn NWU Pukke to their second consecutive runners-up spot.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=137814 | homeid=23574 | awayid=23534 | leagueid=2194 | hometeam=FNB UFS SHIMLAS | homescore=63 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | matchdate=13 April 2015 | date=30 November 2016}}
After the Varsity Cup, he rejoined the Leopards XV for his third successive Vodacom Cup campaign. He made three starts as the team finished in fourth spot on the log,{{SA Rugby Log | id=2304 | comp=2015 Vodacom Cup | date=30 November 2016}} and came on as a replacement in their 22–47 defeat to {{Rut|Western Province}} in the Quarter Final.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140814 | homeid=24384 | awayid=24304 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=47 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Leopards XV | matchdate=16 May 2015 | date=30 November 2016}}
He made his first appearance in the Currie Cup competition, coming on as a replacement in their 45–17 victory over {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} in their first match in the 2015 Currie Cup qualification series,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=141084 | homeid=24714 | awayid=24724 | leagueid=2324 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=17 | awayscore=45 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=12 June 2015 | date=30 November 2016}} and also played off the bench in a victory over the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} in their final match.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=141264 | homeid=24754 | awayid=24724 | leagueid=2324 | hometeam=Border | homescore=8 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=25 July 2015 | date=30 November 2016}} The Leopards missed out on a spot in the Currie Cup Premier Division by a single point,{{SA Rugby Log | id=2324 | comp=2015 Absa Currie Cup Qualifying | date=30 November 2016}} instead dropping into the First Division. Swart was the Leopards' first-choice scrum-half throughout that competition, starting all seven of their matches. He scored a try in their final round victory over the {{Rut|Falcons}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154194 | homeid=29604 | awayid=29624 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Hino Valke | homescore=29 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=25 September 2015 | date=30 November 2016}} to end the regular season having won all ten of their matches.{{SA Rugby Log | id=2334 | comp=2015 Absa Currie Cup First Division | date=30 November 2016}} He helped the Leopards beat the same opposition in the semi-finals a week later,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154344 | homeid=29624 | awayid=29604 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=29 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Hino Valke | matchdate=2 October 2015 | date=30 November 2016}} and also started the final, where a 44–20 victory over the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} secure the Leopards' first ever First Division title.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154354 | homeid=29624 | awayid=29584 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=44 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=SWD Eagles | matchdate=8 October 2015 | date=30 November 2016}}
Swart started eight of the {{Rut|NWU Pukke}}'s nine matches in the 2016 Varsity Cup, scoring tries against {{Rut|Maties}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=156924 | homeid=30224 | awayid=30254 | leagueid=2784 | hometeam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | homescore=12 | awayscore=56 | awayteam=FNB MATIES | matchdate=21 March 2016 | date=30 November 2016}} and {{Rut|CUT Ixias}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=156824 | homeid=30224 | awayid=30274 | leagueid=2784 | hometeam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | homescore=44 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=FNB CUT | matchdate=24 March 2016 | date=30 November 2016}} en route to a third consecutive final. After losing three previous finals, the team finally won their first Varsity Cup trophy, beating Maties 7–6 in the final.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=156964 | homeid=30254 | awayid=30224 | leagueid=2784 | hometeam=FNB MATIES | homescore=6 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=FNB NWU-PUKKE | matchdate=11 April 2016 | date=30 November 2016}}
Thirteen appearances for the Leopards in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series followed, which included a try in their match against the {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=158834 | homeid=30794 | awayid=30804 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=28 | awayscore=64 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions XV | matchdate=24 June 2016 | date=30 November 2016}} The team failed to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division after finishing in eighth place,{{SA Rugby Log | id=2824 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Qualifying | date=30 November 2016}} which meant they could defend their First Division title. Swart played in all seven of their matches as the team once again made it all the way to the final with an unbeaten record, but this time fell short, with the {{Rut|Griffons}} winning 44–25.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=166564 | homeid=33824 | awayid=33804 | leagueid=3054 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=25 | awayscore=44 | awayteam=Down Touch Griffons | matchdate=7 October 2016 | date=30 November 2016}}