Ryan de la Harpe

{{Infobox rugby union biography

|name=Ryan De La Harpe|image=

|fullname=Ryan Clifton Alexander De La Harpe

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1982|09|02|df=y}}

|birth_place=Walvis Bay, South West Africa

|height={{height|m=1.70}}

|weight=88kg

|spouse=Simone (m.2009-)

|children=3

|occupation= Professional Rugby Coach

|school= Windhoek High School

|position=Scrum-half|currentclub=|youthyears1=|youthclubs1=|years1=|clubs1=|apps1=|points1=|years2=|clubs2=|apps2=|points2=|repyears1=2011-2014|repteam1={{nrut|Namibia}}|repcaps1=9|reppoints1=5|clubupdate=|repupdate=9 September 2019}}

Ryan Clifton Alexander De La Harpe (born 2 September 1982) is a former Namibian rugby union player who played as a scrum-half represented Namibia internationally from 2011 to 2014 and currently serves as the National U20s Head Rugby Coach & Academy Manager for Namibia.{{cite web | url=https://www.nampa.org/index.php?model=categories&function=display&id=22185652 | title=Namibia Press Agency }} Prior to this appointment, he served as Head Coach at Vagabonds Rugby club on the Isle of Man for 4 years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/141402.html|title=Ryan de la Harpe {{!}} Rugby Union {{!}} Players and Officials|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=2019-09-09}} Ryan also creates rugby coaching videos on his YouTube Channel.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/c/DeLaSports | title=De la Sports - YouTube | website=YouTube }} He and his wife set up De La Sports in 2019 on the Isle of Man and besides making videos, De La Sports offers rugby coaching, Multi sports sessions and rugby camps. Ryan De La Harpe is regarded as one of the finest scrum-halves to have played for Namibia.

Career

Ryan De La Harpe made his international debut for Namibia against Romania on 10 June 2011 prior to the World Cup call.[https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/match?gameId=141094 ESPN] {{dead link|date=May 2023}} He was included in the Namibian squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup following the successful outing with Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club and featured in three group stage matches.{{cite news|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3891_7108820,00.html|title=Burger leads Namibian 30|date=18 August 2011|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010181648/http://planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C3891_7108820%2C00.html|archive-date=10 October 2011|publisher=Planet Rugby|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/local-news/moseleys-ryan-de-la-harpe-3917929|title=Moseley's Ryan De La Harpe finds himself on the world stage|last=Dick|first=Brian|date=2011-09-09|website=birminghampost|access-date=2019-09-09}} In 2014, he notably became the first Namibian to play for the famous Barbarians F. C.{{Cite web|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=122425|title=De la Harpe selected for Barbarians|website=The Namibian|access-date=2019-09-09}} Ryan also played for few English Rugby Union Clubs such as Fylde Rugby Club, Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club and Letchworth Garden City Rugby Club and Lancashire County Rugby Football Union.{{Cite web|url=http://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/ryan-de-la-harpe-called-up-by-namibia/11812.htm|title=Ryan De La Harpe called up by Namibia|last=October 2014|first=The TRU Team Monday 20|website=Talking Rugby Union|access-date=2019-09-09}}

He retired from international rugby in 2014 and pursued his career through coaching professionally. He gained his England level 3 coaching award in 2020. He had coaching stints with Myerscough College, Lancashire County Rugby Football Union, Lancaster University. He was appointed as the head coach of Vagabond's Rugby Club in August 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=42220&headline=Vagabonds%20appoint%20former%20international%20scrum-half%20de%20la%20Harpe%20as%20new%20head%20of%20rugby§ionIs=sport&searchyear=2018|title=Vagabonds appoint former international scrum-half de la Harpe as new head of rugby|website=www.iomtoday.co.im|date=10 August 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-09-09}}

References

Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fylde Rugby Club players

Category:Birmingham Moseley Rugby players

Category:Namibia international rugby union players

Category:Namibian rugby union players

Category:Rugby union players from Walvis Bay

Category:Rugby union scrum-halves

Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players

Category:Namibian expatriate rugby union players in England

Category:21st-century Namibian sportsmen