André Warner

André Riaan Warner (born 2 September 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Lions in the United Rugby Championship and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.^[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

André Warner

Full name	André Riaan Warner
Date of birth	(1993-09-02) 2 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Cape Town, South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
School	Hoërskool Tygerberg, Cape Town
University	University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Current team Lions / Golden Lions Youth career 2011–2012 Western Province 2013–2014 Blue Bulls Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2017 UP Tuks 16 (23) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2019 Blue Bulls 25 (20) 2016–2019 Blue Bulls XV 24 (40) 2017–2019 Bulls 20 (15) 2018–2019 → Stade Français 5 (5) 2020–2023 Lions 33 (35) 2020–2023 Golden Lions 18 (15) Correct as of 13 June 2023

Career

Youth / Western Province

In July 2011, Warner was included in the Western Province side that participated at the premier high school rugby union competition in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week tournament held in Kimberley. He scored two tries in the competition, one in each of their matches against Border and the Pumas.

In 2012, he was included in the Western Province U21 squad that competed in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He scored a try in his first appearance for the side in a 23–13 victory over the Golden Lions U21s,^[2] eventually making six appearances for a Western Province side that made it all the way to the final of the competition, where they lost to the Blue Bulls U21.

Blue Bulls / UP Tuks

Warner made the move to Pretoria in 2013 to join the Blue Bulls. However, he had limited playing time for the Blue Bulls U21 at age-group level – in 2012, he was named on the bench on one occasion during the Under-21 Provincial Championship, but failed to appear, and in 2013, he made just one start and two appearances off the bench, contributing a try in their 37–10 victory over the Leopards U21s in Potchefstroom.^[3]

Warner was included in the UP Tuks squad for the 2015 Varsity Cup and was the number one choice fly-half for the university side, starting all eight of their matches in the competition and again scoring a try in Potchefstroom in their match against the NWU Pukke.^[4] His appearances consisted of seven matches in the round-robin stage of the tournament of which UP Tuks won them all to qualify to the semi-finals, as well as their semi-final defeat to the NWU Pukke, losing 28–29 to miss out on a home semi-final.^[5]

Less than two weeks after his final Vartisy Cup match, Warner also made his first class debut. He started their Round Five match against Namibian side Welwitschias in Windhoek and helped the Blue Bulls to a 44–0 victory.^[6] He also featured in their 40–21 win over the Griffons in Pretoria^[7] and their 83–13 defeat of the Limpopo Blue Bulls.^[8] Warner missed out on the Blue Bulls' play-off matches in the competition, as he was included in the Bulls' Super Rugby squad for their tour to Australia and New Zealand,^[9] but failed to get any game-time during the tour.

Warner was included in the Blue Bulls' senior squad for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division and was named as the scrum-half replacement for their Round Four match against Griquas in Kimberley.^[10]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – André Warner". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 13–23 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards U21 10–37 Blue Bulls U21". South African Rugby Union. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB NWU-PUKKE 42–37 FNB UP - TUKS". South African Rugby Union. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UP - TUKS 28–29 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB Welwitschias 0–44 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 40–21 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 83–13 Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
9. "Bulls quartet fit to tour". Sport24. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
10. "No Hougaard for Griquas rematch". Blue Bulls. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.