Ryan Kankowski

{{Short description|South African professional rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Use South African English|date=December 2012}}{{Infobox rugby union biography

| name = Ryan Kankowski

| image = Ryan Kankowski 2008.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Kankowski in 2008

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Port Elizabeth, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.93}}

| weight = {{cvt|106|kg|lb stlb}}

| nickname =

| occupation =

| school = St Andrew's College

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Number eight/Flanker

| currentclub = NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2006–2015

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks}}

| apps1 = 104

| points1 = 95

| years2 = 2006–2011

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}

| apps2 = 64

| points2 = 80

| years3 = 2009–2013

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}

| apps3 = 3

| points3 = 0

| years4 = 2013–2017

| clubs4 = Toyota Industries Shuttles

| apps4 = 51

| points4 = 80

| years5 = 2017

| clubs5 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}

| apps5 = 7

| points5 = 5

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs6 = NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes

| apps6 = 9

| points6 = 5

| repyears1 = 2006

| repteam1 = South Africa Sevens

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| repyears2 = 2007–2012

| repteam2 = {{nrut|South Africa}} (test)

| repcaps2 = 20

| reppoints2 = 5

| repyears3 = 2007–2012

| repteam3 = {{nrut|South Africa}} (tour)

| repcaps3 = 2

| reppoints3 = 0

| clubupdate = 30 July 2017

| repupdate = 30 July 2017

}}

Ryan Kankowski (born 14 October 1985) is a South African professional rugby union player, who played for the South Africa national rugby union team between 2007 and 2012.

Kankowski plays at number eight or openside flanker.

Kankowski was first selected to represent South Africa during the Springboks 2007 end of year tour to Wales and England. He made a try-scoring test debut on the tour as a substitute during South Africa's 34–12 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 24 November 2007.

Thirteen of his twenty test caps were earned as a substitute. His most productive year was in 2008, receiving award nominations for his performances at Super Rugby and provincial level and was subsequently rewarded by being part of the Springboks Incoming Tour, their Tri Nations squad and their end of year Outgoing Tour. He was also part of the Springbok squad selected to play three tests against the British & Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa in 2009.

In June 2012, it was announced that he would join Japanese team Toyota Verblitz for six months.{{cite web | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/news/general/120621/Sharks_To_Release_Kankowski | title=Sharks To Release Kankowski | date=2012-06-21 | publisher=Sharks | access-date=2012-06-21 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He would miss the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season with the{{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}, but would return to the{{Rut|Sharks}} for the 2013 Super Rugby season.{{Cite news|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/sharks-leaving-kankowski-at-home/|title=Sharks leaving Kankowski at home {{!}} Planet Rugby|date=2013-04-19|work=Planet Rugby|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en-US}}

In June 2017, it was announced that Kankowski would join the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} for the 2017 Currie Cup season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRugby/kankowski-set-to-join-lions-20170605|title=Kankowski set to join Lions|work=Sport|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en}}