Andrew Aitken (rugby union)

Andrew Douglas Aitken (born 10 June 1968) is a South African former rugby union player.^[1]

Andrew Aitken

Birth name	Andrew Douglas Aitken
Date of birth	(1968-06-10) 10 June 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	99 kg (218 lb)
School	Durban High School
University	University of Natal University of Cape Town University of Oxford
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose-forward Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1994 Watsonian FC () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1988–90 Natal 46 () 1991–94, 97–98 Western Province 79 (60) Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1998 Stormers 6 (15) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1997–1998 South Africa 7 National sevens team Years Team Comps 1994 Scotland 7s 1

Playing career

Aitken made his senior provincial debut for Natal in 1988 and in 1990 was part of the Currie Cup winning team. From 1991 to 1994 he played for Western Province and also captained the team.^[2] During 1993 he had the opportunity to further his studies at the University of Oxford and during his time there, he played in the annual varsity match against University of Cambridge. After also playing for Watsonian in Edinburgh he returned to Western Province in 1997, helping the team to win the 1997 Currie Cup.^[3]

Aitken made his test debut for the Springboks as a replacement, against France at Parc des Princes in Paris. His first start for the Springboks, was the following week against England at Twickenham. He played a further five Test matches for the Springboks and was on the winning side each time. He also played in two tour matches.^[4]

Test history

No.	Opposition	Result (SA 1st)	Position	Tries	Date	Venue
1.	France	52–10	Replacement		22 Nov 1997	Parc des Princes, Paris
2.	England	29–11	Flank		29 Nov 1997	Twickenham, London
3.	Ireland	33–0	Replacement		20 Jun 1998	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4.	Wales	96–13	Replacement		27 Jun 1998	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
5.	New Zealand	13–3	Flank		25 Jul 1998	Athletic Park, Wellington
6.	New Zealand	24–23	Replacement		15 Aug 1998	Kings Park, Durban
7.	Australia	29–15	Replacement		22 Aug 1998	Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Accolades

Aitken was voted as one of the five SA Young Players of the Year for 1990, along with Jannie Claassens, Bernard Fourie, Ian MacDonald and Theo Jansen van Rensburg.^[5]

See also

• List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 658

References

1. "Andrew Aitken". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
2. Van Rooyen, Quintus (1995). Bankfin Annual 1995. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 239. ISBN 0620189223.
3. Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. pp. 209–211. ISBN 0958423148.
4. Heath, Duane (2019). South African Rugby Annual 2019. Cape Town: South African Rugby. p. 192. ISBN 978-0620818087. OCLC 1089860189.
5. Van Rooyen, Quintus (1993). Bankfin Annual 1993. Verwoerdburg: SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 14. ISBN 0620172940. 1990 Currie Cup Winner, 1997 Currie Cup Winner.