Senan van der Merwe
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Senan van der Merwe
| image =
| fullname = Senan Declan Clint van der Merwe
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|02|02|df=y}}
| birth_place = Robertson, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.86}}
| weight = {{convert|90|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Pioneer
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Winger
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2006–2007
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| years1 = 2012–2015
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| apps1 = 35
| points1 = 40
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 = Robertson
| amatcaps1 =
| amatpoints1 =
| clubupdate = 4 October 2015
}}
Senan Declan Clint van der Merwe (born 2 February 1986) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played with the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=41936 | name=Senan van der Merwe | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is winger.
Career
=Youth and amateur rugby=
Van der Merwe represented the {{Rut|Boland U21}} side in the 2006 and 2007 editions of the Under-21 Provincial Championship. He then played club rugby for local amateur side Robertson until 2011.{{cite web | url=http://www.weslander.co.za/articles/articledetails.aspx?mode=news&id=5994 | title=WP kraai koning by Saru-rugbytoernooi | publisher=Weslander | date=29 September 2011 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | language=Afrikaans}}
=Boland Cavaliers=
In 2012, he was included in the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} squad for the 2012 Vodacom Cup.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=11431 | team=Regent Boland Kavaliers | compid=1211 | comp=2012 Vodacom Cup | accessdate=3 June 2016}} He made his first class debut by coming on as a late replacement in their first match of the season, a 22–51 defeat to Western Cape rivals {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103631 | homeid=11421 | awayid=11431 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=51 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=10 March 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} After one more appearance off the bench in their next match against the {{Rut|Free State XV}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103721 | homeid=11431 | awayid=11441 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | homescore=32 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=17 March 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} he made his first senior start against the other team from the Western Cape in the competition, the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103811 | homeid=11451 | awayid=11431 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=SWD Eagles | homescore=26 | awayscore=46 | awayteam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=24 March 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} He also started their next match, a 27–30 defeat to defending champions, Argentine side {{Rut|Pampas XV}} and scored his first try in a senior match when he dotted down just before half-time.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103901 | homeid=11481 | awayid=11431 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Pampas XV | homescore=30 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=31 March 2012 | date=6 December 2016}}
He also featured in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division for a Boland Cavaliers team trying to defend the title they won in 2011; he started their first match of the season against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} to make his Currie Cup debut, but suffering a 20–25 defeat to the team from Port Elizabeth.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105011 | homeid=11781 | awayid=11761 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | homescore=20 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Eastern Province Kings | matchdate=29 June 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} After a further five appearances, he scored his first Currie Cup try against the same opposition in a 19–57 defeat{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105301 | homeid=11761 | awayid=11781 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Eastern Province Kings | homescore=57 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=17 August 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} and followed it up with his second a week later in a 33–36 defeat to the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=105331 | homeid=11781 | awayid=11741 | leagueid=1241 | hometeam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | homescore=33 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Ford Pumas | matchdate=24 August 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} Boland eventually finished sixth to miss out on a semi-final play-off berth, with Van der Merwe making eleven appearances.
He played in three of Boland's matches during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and also kept up his knack of scoring against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104354 | homeid=11704 | awayid=11634 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=23 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Eastern Province Kings | matchdate=27 April 2013 | date=6 December 2016}} but ended on the losing side on all three occasions as his side finished bottom of the Southern Section. They performed slightly better in the 2013 Currie Cup First Division, finishing fifth and just outside a semi-final spot. Van der Merwe made six starts, played off the bench on two occasions and scored two tries in their 20–7 victory over the {{Rut|Falcons}} in Round Four of the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=106484 | homeid=12724 | awayid=12744 | leagueid=1304 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=20 | awayscore=7 | awayteam=Valke | matchdate=19 July 2013 | date=6 December 2016}}
He didn't represent Boland Cavaliers in provincial competition in 2014, but did return in the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their 10–25 defeat to {{Rut|Western Province}} in Caledon in their opening match of the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140284 | homeid=24374 | awayid=24384 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Boland Cavaliers | homescore=10 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=21 March 2015 | date=6 December 2016}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van der Merwe, Senan}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:People from Robertson, Western Cape
Category:Boland Cavaliers players