Tim Swiel

{{Short description|English-born South African rugby union player (born 1993)}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Tim Swiel

| image = Tim Swiel 2015.jpg

| fullname = Timothy Gregory Swiel

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|06|04}}

| birth_place = Taunton, England

| height = {{height|m=1.81}}

| weight = {{convert|88|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| school = Diocesan College, Dulwich College

| university = The Open University, University of Western States

| relatives =

| position = Fly-half / Full-back

| currentclub = {{Rut|}}

| youthyears1 = 2009–2013

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}

| years1 = 2013

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}

| apps1 = 9

| points1 = 19

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Sharks XV}}

| apps2 = 5

| points2 = 53

| years3 = 2014

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Sharks}}

| apps3 = 6

| points3 = 38

| years4 = 2014

| clubs4 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}

| apps4 = 3

| points4 = 0

| years5 = 2014–2015

| clubs5 = → {{Rut|Harlequins}}

| apps5 = 10

| points5 = 75

| years6 = 2015–2018

| clubs6 = {{Rut|Harlequins}}

| apps6 = 38

| points6 = 153

| years7 = 2018–2020

| clubs7 = {{Rut|Newcastle Falcons}}

| apps7 = 13

| points7 = 23

| years8 = 2020–2022

| clubs8 = {{Rut|Stormers}}

| apps8 = 14

| points8 = 56

| years9 = 2020–2022

| clubs9 = {{Rut|Western Province}}

| apps9 = 29

| points9 = 290

| years10 = 2022–2023

| clubs10 = {{Rut|Toyota Shokki}}

| apps10 = 11

| points10 = 101

| years11 = 2023–2024

| clubs11 = {{Rut|Edinburgh}}

| apps11 = 2

| points11 = 5

| years12 = 2024

| clubs12 = {{Rut|Saracens}}

| apps12 = 3

| points12 = 36

| years13 = 2025

| clubs13 = Chicago Hounds

| apps13 = 10

| points13 = 8

| repyears1 = 2011

| repteam1 = South Africa Schools

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| clubupdate = 1 June 2025

| repupdate = 18 October 2014

}}

Timothy Gregory Swiel (born 4 June 1993) is an English-born South African rugby union player. His regular position is fly-half.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=49343 | name=Tim Swiel | date=29 May 2016}}

Career

=Youth=

Swiel attended Bishops in Cape Town and played in their first side in 2010 and 2011 alongside Dillyn Leyds, Oli Kebble and Johnny Kôtze. As part of an exchange programme, Swiel also played for English school side Dulwich College during the 2009–2010 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.dulwich.org.uk/oas-development/news/2014/02/26/oliver-kebble-and-tim-swiel-play-super-rugby | title=Oliver Kebble and Tim Swiel Play Super Rugby | publisher=Dulwich College | date=26 February 2014 | access-date=26 May 2014}}

Swiel represented {{Rut|Western Province}} at Under-16 level at the 2009 Grant Khomo Week and at Under-18 level at the 2010 Academy Week and 2011 Craven Week tournaments, leading to his inclusion in the South Africa Schools side in 2011.{{cite web | url=http://schoolstribune.com/south-african-schools-too-slick-for-france-u-p200-1.htm | title=South African Schools Too Slick For France u-18 | work=Schools Rugby Tribune | access-date=4 September 2013}}

Swiel also played for the {{Rut|Western Province U21}} team in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship – scoring 81 points to finish joint seventh in the scoring charts{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1261 | comp=2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition | date=5 May 2016}} – and 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competitions – scoring 180 points including 5 tries.

=Western Province=

His senior debut came during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a substitute in {{Rut|Western Province}} 17–17 draw against {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in Ceres.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103794 | homeid=11704 | awayid=11624 | leagueid=1164 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=17 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=9 March 2013 | date=2 December 2016}} Seven more appearances followed in that competition.

Swiel was then included in the Western Province's Currie Cup squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division competition and made his Currie Cup debut against the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}, which also ended in a draw, the final score being 31–31.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=107024 | homeid=12634 | awayid=12614 | leagueid=1294 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=31 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=30 August 2013 | date=2 December 2016}}

=Sharks=

Swiel joined the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} at the conclusion of the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.{{cite press release | url=http://wprugby.com/wp-u21-flyhalf-to-join-sharks/ | title=WP junior flyhalf to join Sharks | publisher=Western Province | date=1 November 2013 | access-date=1 November 2013}} He played in five matches for the {{Rut|Sharks XV}} in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, finishing as top-scorer for his team with 53 points.{{SA Rugby Top Scorers | id=1734 | comp=2014 Vodacom Cup | date=5 May 2016}}

Swiel was also included in the {{Rut|Sharks}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season. He made his Super Rugby debut, replacing Patrick Lambie in the sixth minute of the Sharks' match against the {{Rut|Bulls}} in Pretoria.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114024 | homeid=16174 | awayid=16164 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Vodacom Bulls | homescore=23 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks | matchdate=22 March 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} He scored his first points in Super Rugby just three minutes after coming on, converting a Willem Alberts try. A month later, Swiel made his first start in Super Rugby in their home match against the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114264 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16144 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=19 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=Toyota Cheetahs | matchdate=19 April 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} He made his second start the following week, where he scored all his side's points in an 18–34 defeat to the {{Rut|Highlanders}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=114304 | homeid=16164 | awayid=16214 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=18 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=Highlanders | matchdate=25 April 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} Swiel made a total of six appearances during the season and scored 38 points as his side finished top of the South African Conference before losing to the {{Rut|Crusaders}} in the semi-final.

In September 2014, Swiel made his Currie Cup debut, playing off the bench in their match against {{Rut|Griquas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119794 | homeid=18154 | awayid=18164 | leagueid=1784 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=18 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=6 September 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} He started their next match against the {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}} in Bloemfontein{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119834 | homeid=18144 | awayid=18154 | leagueid=1784 | hometeam=Toyota Free State Cheetahs | homescore=30 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Cell C Sharks | matchdate=13 September 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} and also played against the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119904 | homeid=18154 | awayid=18114 | leagueid=1784 | hometeam=Cell C Sharks | homescore=53 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Eastern Province Kings | matchdate=27 September 2014 | date=2 December 2016}} In addition to his three Currie Cup appearances, he also played for the {{Rut|Sharks U21}} side on six occasions during the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 38 points.

=Harlequins=

In October 2014, English Premiership side Harlequins signed Swiel as short-term injury cover for Ben Botica.{{cite press release | url=http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-tim-swiel-from-the-sharks | title=Harlequins sign Tim Swiel from The Sharks | publisher=Harlequins | date=29 October 2014 | access-date=29 October 2014}}

Swiel made his debut for Harlequins in their LV= Cup match against Saracens, coming on as a second-half substitute. He made his starting debut a week later against the Newport Gwent Dragons in the same competition. After making his Premiership debut against Bath, he also made his debut in the European Rugby Champions Cup, playing in both legs against Irish side Leinster, as they finished third and failed to qualify for the knockout stage.

Swiel made a total of ten appearances for Harlequins during his loan spell – starting five of those matches – and scored 75 points before returning to the Sharks before Round Three of the 2015 Super Rugby season.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueur_28122.html | title=It's Rugby Player Profile Tim Swiel | work=It's Rugby | access-date=24 February 2015}}

In April 2015, Harlequins announced that Swiel would return to the club on a full-time deal for the 2015–2016 season.{{cite press release | url=http://www.quins.co.uk/news/swiel-returns-to-harlequins-on-full-time-contract/ | title=Swiel returns to Harlequins on full-time contract | publisher=Harlequins | date=8 April 2015 | access-date=8 April 2015}}

=Newcastle Falcons=

In 2018, Swiel signed for Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons ahead of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45711360|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Tim Swiel: Newcastle Falcons sign versatile Harlequins back|date=1 October 2018|access-date=15 October 2020}}

=Stormers=

On 26 May 2020, Swiel returned to South Africa to sign for Stormers.{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/Rugby/SuperRugby/former-wp-sharks-flyhalf-tim-swiel-returns-to-sa-20200526|publisher=News 24|title=Former WP, Sharks flyhalf Tim Swiel returns to SA|date=26 May 2020|access-date=15 October 2020}}

=Toyota Shokki=

Swiel spent the 2022-2023 season with {{Rut|Toyota Shokki}} in Japan's Rugby League One – Division 2.

=Edinburgh=

Swiel joined Edinburgh Rugby in August 2023 on a short-term deal to provide cover during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.{{cite news|url=https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-features/swiel-and-eadie-join-on-short-term-deals/|publisher=Edinburgh Rugby|title=SWIEL AND EADIE JOIN ON SHORT-TERM DEALS|date=28 August 2023|access-date=11 November 2023}}

=Representative rugby=

In addition to being included in the South Africa Schools side in 2011, he was also included in a South Africa Under-20 training squad,{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/theron-happy-with-first-sa-u20-hit-out/ | title=Theron happy with first SA U20 hit-out | work=Rugby15 | date=18 January 2013 | access-date=4 September 2013}} but later ruled himself out of selection for the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. Under IRB rules, playing for the S.A. Under-20 team would have made him ineligible to play for another international team, but as a British passport holder, Swiel wanted to keep his options open and did not yet want to commit his long-term international future to South Africa.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2013/03/03/B1/16/snquinn.html | title=Rooi gesigte in Kaap oor Roux en Leinster | publisher=Beeld | work=Media24 | date=3 March 2013 | access-date=4 September 2013 | language=af | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224122759/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/2013/03/03/B1/16/snquinn.html | archive-date=24 February 2015 | df=dmy-all }}