Fred Zeilinga

Frederik Johannes Zeilinga (born 11 December 1992) is a South African rugby union player for Canon Eagles in the Japanese Top League.^[1] His regular position is fly-half.

Fred Zeilinga

Full name	Frederik Johannes Zeilinga
Date of birth	(1992-12-11) 11 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth	Ladysmith, South Africa
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	82 kg (181 lb; 12 st 13 lb)
School	Glenwood High School, Durban
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half Current team Sharks / Sharks (Currie Cup) Youth career 2005–2012 Sharks Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2015 Sharks XV 23 (207) 2011–2015 Sharks (Currie Cup) 18 (180) 2013–2015 Sharks 11 (55) 2015–2016 Free State Cheetahs 17 (151) 2016–2018 Cheetahs 39 (273) 2018–2020 Canon Eagles 13 (72) 2021–2022 Lions 8 (50) 2021–2022 Golden Lions 12 (15) 2022– → Sharks () 2023– Sharks (Currie Cup) () Correct as of 20 September 2022 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017 South Africa 'A' 2 (18) Correct as of 22 April 2018

Career

Youth

Zeilinga represented the Sharks at Under-13, Under-16, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 levels between 2005 and 2012.

Sharks

In 2011, he made his first class debut for them in the Vodacom Cup competition in the season-opening game against the Blue Bulls.^[2] He missed a conversion two minutes after coming on, but did convert one ten minutes later to help his team to a 30–19 victory.

He made three more substitute appearances during 2011 and was promoted to first choice fly-half for the Sharks during the 2012 Vodacom Cup competition, making a further seven starts. He also finished as top scorer in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 154 points in his ten appearances.^[3]

He also took over the kicking duties during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, where he once again scored in excess of 100 points in the season.^[4]

Sharks

He was included in the Sharks squad for their final match of the 2013 Super Rugby season against the Southern Kings. He did appear as a substitute to make his Super Rugby debut and also scored a try in a 58–13 victory.^[5]

Cheetahs

In May 2015, Zeilinga signed a contract to join Bloemfontein-based outfit the Free State Cheetahs.^[6]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Fred Zeilinga". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 30–19 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
5. "Sharks Annihilate Kings". Sport24. Media24. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
6. "Franco Smith wys sy kaarte" (in Afrikaans). Netwerk24. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.