Stephan Lewies
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Stephan Lewies
| image =
| fullname = Joseph Stephanus Theuns Lewies
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1992|01|27}}
| birth_place = Pretoria, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.98}}
| weight = {{convert|113|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoërskool Eldoraigne
| university =
| relatives =
| currentclub = {{Rut|Harlequins}}
| youthyears1 = 2011–2013
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}}
| years1 = 2012–2018
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}
| apps1 = 5
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| apps2 = 17
| points2 = 5
| years3 = 2014–2018
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| apps3 = 63
| points3 = 5
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = Kamaishi Seawaves
| apps4 = 9
| points4 = 5
| years5 = 2019
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Lions}}
| apps5 = 13
| points5 = 5
| years6 = 2019–present
| clubs6 = Harlequins
| apps6 = 80
| points6 = 45
| repyears1 = 2014
| repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}}
| repcaps1 = 1
| reppoints1 = 0
| repyears2 = 2016
| repteam2 = South Africa 'A'
| repcaps2 = 1
| reppoints2 = 0
| repyears3 = 2023
| repteam3 = Barbarian F.C.
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints3 = 0
| clubupdate = 15 February 2025
| repupdate = 28 April 2024
}}
Joseph Stephanus Theuns Lewies (born 27 January 1992) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Harlequins}} in the Premiership in England.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=53211 | name=Stephan Lewies | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is lock.
Career
=Youth=
=Sharks=
He was included in the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} Vodacom Cup side in 2012 and made a late substitute appearance in their match against the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in Malmesbury to make his first class debut.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103971 | homeid=11431 | awayid=11471 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | homescore=21 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Sharks XV | matchdate=14 April 2012 | date=6 December 2016}} Another substitute appearance followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup, this time in a home match against the {{Rut|Free State XV}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=104014 | homeid=11714 | awayid=11734 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Sharks XV | homescore=34 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=Toyota Free State XV | matchdate=23 March 2013 | date=6 December 2016}}
His Currie Cup debut came during the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season, when he started in their match against the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107154 | homeid=12634 | awayid=12644 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=25 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=The Sharks | matchdate=27 September 2013 | date=6 December 2016}} He remained in the side for the rest of the season, starting two matches in total and making three substitute appearances, including coming on in the Currie Cup final, where he contributed to the Sharks beating {{Rut|Western Province}} 33–19.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107254 | homeid=12614 | awayid=12644 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=19 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=The Sharks | matchdate=26 October 2013 | date=6 December 2016}}
Lewies was also included in the {{Rut|Sharks}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season{{cite press release | url=http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2310854 | title=Sharks 2014 squad | publisher=Sharks | date=11 February 2014 | access-date=11 February 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606082653/http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2310854 | archive-date=6 June 2015 | df=dmy-all }} and made his debut in a 31–16 victory against the {{Rut|Bulls}} in Durban.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/match-centre/?season=2014&competition=205&match=514012 | title=Match Centre: Sharks v Bulls | publisher=SANZAR | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=15 February 2014}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113684 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16174 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=31 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Vodacom Bulls | matchdate=15 February 2014 | date=6 December 2016}}
=Harlequins=
On 20 March 2019, Lewies would travel to England to join Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby from the 2019-20 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/lewies-signs-for-harlequins/|publisher=SA Rugby Mag|title=Lewies signs for Harlequins|date=20 March 2019|accessdate=19 April 2021}}
Ahead of the 2020-2021 season and with England international Chris Robshaw approaching the end of his career, Lewies was named club captain. He joined other club legends to have assumed the role including former World Player of the Year Keith Wood, Rugby World Cup winner Jason Leonard and former England Captain Will Carling.{{cite web |title=STEPHAN LEWIES NAMED NEW HARLEQUINS CAPTAIN |url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/stephan-lewies-named-new-harlequins-captain |website=Premiership Rugby |publisher=Premiership Rugby |access-date=21 November 2023}}
He started in the Premiership final against Exeter on 26 June 2021 as Harlequins won the game 40-38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever and went on to lift the trophy alongside 2nd captain Alex Dombrandt and departing Quins legend Mike Brown .{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57608106
|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title
|publisher=BBC
|date=26 June 2021 |access-date=1 July 2021}}
In April 2024, he captained Harlequins as they beat Glasgow Warriors to record their first ever knockout stage victory in the European Champions Cup.{{cite web |title=MATCH REPORT: HARLEQUINS SECURE QUARTER-FINAL SPOT |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/article/match-report-harlequins-defeat-glasgow-28-24 |publisher=Harlequins |access-date=12 April 2024}} The following weekend he captained the side to their first ever Champions Cup semi-final beating Bordeaux Begles 42-41 away in the quarter finals.{{cite web |last1=Kitson |first1=Robert |title=Harlequins edge out Bordeaux in thriller to reach Champions Cup semi-final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/13/bordeaux-harlequins-champions-cup-rugby-union-match-report |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=26 April 2024}} Lewies scored a try, prevented another one and got a try assist in 41-32 victory over league leaders Northampton Saints in the Big Summer Kick Off fixture hosted at Twickenham Stadium.{{cite web |last1=Aylwin |first1=Michael |title=Northmore and Porter edge Harlequins to win over Northampton in thriller |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/27/harlequins-northampton-premiership-rugby-union-match-report |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=28 April 2024}}
Ahead of the 2024-25 season he relinquished the captaincy after four years to Alex Dombrandt.{{cite web |title=Alex Dombrandt Named Men's Club Captain |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/article/alex-dombrandt-named-mens-club-captain |publisher=Harlequins |access-date=21 September 2024}} In December 2024, he signed an extension to his contract with Harlequins to keep him at the club for at least a seventh season. During this time he revealed he had nearly retired from rugby the season prior after a sustaining a series of injuries.{{cite web |last1=Raisey |first1=Josh |title=Stephan Lewies signs new Quins deal after considering retirement |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stephan-lewies-signs-new-quins-deal-after-considering-retirement/ |publisher=RugbyPass |access-date=3 December 2024}} In February 2025, he scored his first try of season during a Premiership Cup against Saracens.{{cite web |title=Ealing and Gloucester through, wait for Tigers in cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c4gx1yj7e98o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=15 February 2025}}
=International=
After Bakkies Botha became unavailable and Flip van der Merwe got injured, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer called up Lewies for the Test match against Scotland. Lewies made his test debut on 28 June 2014, replacing stand-in captain Victor Matfield in the 55–6 thump over Scotland in Port Elizabeth.
In 2016, Lewies was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3548614 | leagueid=3024 | title=Ackermann to coach SA 'A’ against Saxons | date=28 May 2016 | access-date=31 May 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3548614&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531065757/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3548614&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 May 2016}} He was named in the starting line-up for their first match in Bloemfontein,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3563654 | leagueid=3024 | title=Youth and experience for SA 'A’ opener against Saxons | date=8 June 2016 | access-date=10 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610203333/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2016}} but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164774 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=24 | awayscore=32 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=10 June 2016 | date=10 June 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=53211 | name=Stephan Lewies | date=2 June 2016}}
- {{sport links}}
{{Harlequin F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewies, Stephan}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:South Africa international rugby union players
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:South African people of British descent
Category:Rugby union players from Pretoria
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan