Ruwellyn Isbell

{{short description|South African rugby union player}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Ruwellyn Isbell

| image =

| fullname = Ruwellyn Miguel Isbell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|02|17}}

| birth_place = Somerset East, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.78}}

| weight = {{cvt|88|kg|lb stlb}}

| school = Grey College, Bloemfontein

| position = Winger

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 2006

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}

| youthyears2 = 2009–2011

| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}

| youthyears3 = 2012

| youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2014–2021

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Pumas}}

| apps1 = 66

| points1 = 150

| repyears1 = 2010

| repteam1 = S.A. Under-18 High Performance

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| repyears2 = 2011

| repteam2 = S.A. Schools

| repcaps2 = 0

| reppoints2 = 0

| repyears3 = 2012

| repteam3 = South Africa Sevens

| repcaps3 =

| reppoints3 =

| clubupdate = 12 January 2022

| repupdate = 12 March 2014

| medals = {{MedalSport | Men's rugby sevens }}

{{MedalCountry | {{RSA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition | World Games }}

{{MedalGold | 2013 Cali | Team competition }}

}}

Ruwellyn Miguel Isbell (born 17 February 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for the {{Rut|Pumas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=40503 | name=Ruwellyn Isbell | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is winger.

Career

=Youth=

In 2006, he appeared for Eastern Province at the Under-13 Craven Week competition. He then joined Grey College in Bloemfontein and played for the Free State Under-16 side at the 2009 Grant Khomo Week and their Under-18 side at the 2011 Craven Week, alongside future Springbok Jan Serfontein.{{cite web | url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/14251?view=news | title=Coastal derbies dominate in South Section – Vodacom Cup round 2 Preview | publisher=South African Rugby Union | date=12 March 2014 | access-date=12 March 2014}}

In 2010, he was included in an Under-18 High Performance squad that played in international friendlies against youth sides from France, Namibia and England.{{cite web | url=http://www.ruggaworld.com/2010/07/07/saru-announce-u18-high-performance-squad/ | title=SARU announce U/18 High Performance Squad | publisher=RuggaWorld | date=7 July 2010 | access-date=12 March 2014}} The following year, he was included in the S.A. Schools side that faced a France Invitational side,{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/sa-schools-and-sa-academy-teams-announced/ | title=SA Schools and SA Academy Teams Announced | publisher=Rugby15 | date=16 July 2011 | access-date=12 March 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303080129/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2011/07/sa-schools-and-sa-academy-teams-announced/ | archive-date=3 March 2014 | df=dmy-all }} but missed the game through injury.

He moved to Pretoria in 2012 to join the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} academy. He made ten appearances and scored three tries during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition as the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}} side reached the final of the competition.

=Sevens=

At the end of 2012, Isbell received a call-up to the South Africa Sevens side for the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Sevens/Two-new-caps-for-Blitzbokke-20121004 | title=Two new caps for Blitzbokke | publisher=Sport24 | date=4 October 2012 | access-date=12 March 2014}} and he made his debut at the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/article/50132-silver-lining-for-blitzbokke | title=Silver lining for Blitzbokke | publisher=Rugby365 | date=14 October 2012 | access-date=12 March 2014}} He also played in the Dubai and South African legs of the competition and won a gold medal at the 2013 World Games.{{cite web | url=http://worldgames2013.sportresult.com/nh/en/300/Participant/ParticipantInfo/f223ef0d-fdde-4029-afca-63c28e04ba10 | title=2013 World Games Athlete Information : Ruwellyn Isbell | publisher=2013 World Games | access-date=12 March 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/news/newsid=2068519.html | title=Eight nations gear up for World Games gold | publisher=International Rugby Board | date=24 July 2013 | access-date=12 March 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022034536/http://www.irb.com/rugbyandtheolympics/news/newsid%3D2068519.html | archive-date=22 October 2014 | df=dmy-all }}

=Pumas=

He moved to Nelspruit-based side {{Rut|Pumas}} in 2014. He was included in their squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=17524 | team=Steval Pumas | compid=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | accessdate=3 June 2016}} and made his debut for them in the opening match of the season against the {{Rut|Falcons}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=117834 | homeid=17464 | awayid=17524 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Valke | homescore=6 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=7 March 2014 | date=2 December 2016}}

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 | access-date=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 | archive-date=9 June 2016}} Isbell made three appearances during the season, scoring three tries.

References