Shaun Sowerby

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| image = Shaun Sowerby.jpg

| birth_name = Richard Shaun Sowerby

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|7|1}}

| birth_place = Vereeniging

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=4}}

| weight = {{convert|238|lbs|kg|abbr=on}}

| ru_currentposition = No. 8

| ru_position = No. 8

| amatyears1 = 1997

| amatteam1 = University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg)

| superyears1 = 2003

| super1 = Sharks

| superapps1 =

| superpoints1 =

| provinceyears1 =

| province1 =

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| years1 = 2004–2007

| years2 = 2007–2012

| years3 = 2012–2014

| clubs1 = Stade Français

| clubs2 = Stade Toulousain

| clubs3 = FC Grenoble

| apps1 = 50

| apps2 = 113

| apps3 = 5

| points1 = 0

| points2 = 25

| points3 = 0

| repyears1 = 2002

| repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps1 = 1

| reppoints1 = 0

| coachyears1 = 2014

| coachyears2 = 2015-2017

| coachyears3 = 2019-

| coachteams1 = Eastern Province Kings (assistant)

| coachteams2 = Montpellier HR (assistant)

| coachteams3 = Biarritz olympique

}}

Shaun Sowerby (born {{birth date|df=yes|1978|7|1}}) is a South African rugby union player and went to Sasolburg highschool. He is currently a forwards coach for Biarritz Rugby in the top French rugby competition, the Top 14. Prior to coaching Biarritz, he had a two-year spell coaching at Montpellier Hérault, having finished his playing career at the Stade Ernest-Wallon for Stade Toulousain. Before that he turned out for Stade Français Paris, who he moved to from the Sharks in South Africa.

His usual position was as a number 8. Sowerby also captained the Sharks in South Africa for a year in 2003 which was their 2nd worst finish in Super Rugby history. He also played for the South African national team, Springboks, making his debut against Samoa. He has also won the French championship in the 2007–08 season with his club Toulouse. In 2010, he won the Heineken Cup, also with Toulouse.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8687906.stm

|title=Biarritz 19–21 Toulouse

|publisher=BBC

|date=22 May 2010 |accessdate=25 September 2019}} He moved to FC Grenoble for the start of the 2012–13 season.{{cite web|title=Shaun Sowerby Profile|url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur_811.html|publisher=Itsrugby.co.uk|accessdate=4 November 2012}}

At the start of 2014, Sowerby announced his intention to retire from the game at the end of the 2013–14 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Former-Springbok-to-retire-20140117 | title=Former Springbok to retire | publisher=Sport24 | date=17 January 2014 | accessdate=31 March 2014}} He was subsequently appointed as the forwards coach of South African provincial side the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}.{{cite web | url=http://mype.co.za/new/2014/03/shaun-sowerby-confirmed-as-kings-forwards-coach/ | title=Shaun Sowerby confirmed as Kings Forwards Coach | publisher=MyPE | date=31 March 2014 | accessdate=31 March 2014}}

On 30 December 2014, Sowerby joining the backroom staff as the new forwards coach for French club Montpellier.{{cite web| url=http://www.planetrugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,3551_9625452,00.html | title=Montpellier unveil White as new boss | publisher=Planetrugby.co.uk | date=30 December 2014 | accessdate=1 January 2014}}