Johannes Stephan Hendrik Malan (born (1994-09-24)24 September 1994) is a South African rugby union player for Lazio in the Top12 in Italy. He played for the Cheetahs in the Pro14, the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and the Free State XV in the Rugby Challenge in 2018, and for Griquas in 2015.[1] He can play as a loose-forward or a lock.

Stephan Malan
Full nameJohannes Stephan Hendrik Malan
Date of birth (1994-09-24) 24 September 1994 (age 29)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker / Lock
Current team Lazio
Youth career
2014 Griquas
2015 Leopards
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Griquas 6 (0)
2018 Free State XV 6 (0)
2018 Free State Cheetahs 5 (0)
2018 Cheetahs 3 (0)
2019 Lazio 8 (5)
Correct as of 3 November 2018

Playing career edit

Griquas edit

Malan graduated from the Vikings Christian Rugby Academy in Marburg, KwaZulu-Natal and joined Kimberley-based provincial side Griquas during the 2015 season.[2] He was named in the Griquas U21 squad for the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship and started all seven of their matches in Group B of the competition. He scored a try in their 21–28 defeat to eventual champions Eastern Province U21 in Round Seven of the competition,[3] helping Griquas to fifth spot on the log, missing out on the play-off places.[4]

Malan was named in the senior Griquas squad for the 2015 Vodacom Cup. He made his first class debut by starting their 37–25 victory over the Border Bulldogs in Hartswater in their third match in the competition.[5] He came on as a replacement in each of their remaining matches in the regular season of the competition, helping Griquas to finish in second spot on the Southern Section log to qualify for the quarter finals. He also played off the bench as they hosted the Pumas in a quarter final match in Kimberley, but could not prevent the team from Mpumalanga winning the match 28–14 to eliminate the defending champions Griquas from the competition.[6]

Leopards edit

After the 2015 Vodacom Cup, Malan moved to Potchefstroom to join the Leopards. He played in all twelve of the Leopards U21s' matches in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, scoring one try in their 31–41 defeat to the Blue Bulls[7] to help Leopards finish in sixth spot on the log.

Cheetahs edit

Malan joined the Bloemfontein-based Free State Cheetahs for the 2018 season. He played six matches for the Free State XV during the 2018 Rugby Challenge, five matches for the Free State Cheetahs in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division and a further three matches for the Cheetahs franchise in the 2018–19 Pro14 tournament.[8]

Lazio edit

In 2019, Malan joined Italian Top12 side Lazio.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Stephan Malan". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Genesis Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Genesis. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – EP Kings U21 28–21 Griquas U21". South African Rugby Union. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2014 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 37–25 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 14–28 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls U21 41–31 Leopards U21". South African Rugby Union. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  8. ^ South African Rugby Annual 2019. South African Rugby Union. 2019. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-620-81808-7.
  9. ^ "I biancocelesti per sfidare in trasferta Calvisano" (Press release) (in Italian). S.S. Lazio Rugby 1927. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.