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Lukhanyo Am

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Lukhanyo Am
Date of birth (1993-11-28) 28 November 1993 (age 30)
Place of birthQonce, Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
SchoolHoërskool De Vos Malan
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Wing
Current team Sharks / Sharks (Currie Cup)
Youth career
2012 Border Bulldogs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 Border Bulldogs 2 (0)
2014 Falcons 2 (5)
2015 Border Bulldogs 18 (5)
2016 Southern Kings 10 (5)
2016– Sharks (Currie Cup) 23 (30)
2017– Sharks 93 (105)
2022 → Kobelco Kobe Steelers 6 (15)
Correct as of 12 December 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 South Africa 'A' 2 (0)
2017–present South Africa 35 (30)
Correct as of 6 August 2023
Medal record
Men's Rugby 15's
Representing  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 Japan Squad
Gold medal – first place 2023 France Squad

Lukhanyo Am (born 28 November 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship.[1] His regular positions are centre and wing.

Professional career

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Am played for the Margate-based Gladiators Rugby Academy before he was called into the Border Bulldogs Under-19 squad[2] that won the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship Division B and winning promotion to Division A, making six appearances and scoring three tries.

After spending time with Saracens during the off-season as part of an exchange programme in conjunction with the British High Commission,[3] he returned to be included in the Border Bulldogs senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and made his senior debut against defending champions Western Province in Paarl.[4]

Southern Kings

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At the start of 2016, Am was one of two Sharks players that joined the Southern Kings' Super Rugby squad for a trial period as they prepared for the 2016 Super Rugby season.[5]

Sharks

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After a successful spell at Southern Kings there were high expectations that Am had to meet. He did not disappoint and played a crucial part for the Sharks, helping them reach the quarter finals of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons. In January 2020, Am was named captain of the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season,[6] replacing the retiring Tendai Mtawarira.

International career

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In 2013, Am was named in a South African Barbarians team to face Saracens in London.[7]

South Africa 'A'

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South Africa 'A' 2016

In 2016, Am was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[8] He came on as a replacement in their first match in Bloemfontein,[9] but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners.[10] He was promoted to the starting line-up for the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.[11]

South Africa 'A' 2021

Am was named as Captain of South Africa 'A' for the warm-up game against the British and Irish Lions on July 14, 2021. He proudly led the South African team to a win against the visitors. Lukhanyo scored one of the two converted tries in the exhibition match.

South Africa

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Am was included in the South African squad for the 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals.

He has had a prolific impact on the backline of the Springboks, partnering well with Damian De Allende and causing havoc for opposition teams. He was very instrumental in the lead up games to the 2019 Rugby Championship campaign. Am was part of the Springboks team that lifted the coveted 2019 Rugby Championship trophy. He has also been named on several games the vice-captain to Siya Kolisi, as further proof of his instrumental impact on the team.

2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan

Am was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[12] South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final, where the Springboks won the match convincingly with a runaway score of 32-12. Who can ever forget the amazing run and wicked pass Am gave Makazole Mapimpi, which led to a memorable and historic Springboks first finals try in Rugby World Cups. All previous Springboks World Cup finals were won without tries.[13] Am played a central role in the Springboks' 2019 World Cup campaign, featuring in six out of seven matches.

The British and Irish Lions Tour 2021

Am played all the games against the visiting British and Irish Lions, having successfully led South Africa 'A' as captain in the warmup match. The Springboks eventually won the series and this was a further crowning of Am and his centre partner Damian De Allende, when they were applauded for their escapades and well regarded as the best center pairing in World Rugby.[14]

2023 Rugby World Cup in France

Although Am did not initially make South Africa's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad due to injury suffered in the last game against the Argentinian team, he was later called up to the campaign in France for the injured Makazole Mapimpi[15][16]

Honours

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South Africa

Sharks

Test Match Record

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As of 5 August 2023
Against P W D L Tri Pts %Won
 Argentina 6 5 0 1 1 5 83.33
 Australia 4 1 0 3 1 5 25
 England 4 3 0 1 0 0 75
 British and Irish Lions 3 2 0 1 1 5 66.67
 Italy 1 1 0 0 1 5 100
 Japan 2 2 0 0 0 0 100
 Namibia 1 1 0 0 1 5 100
 New Zealand 8 3 1 4 1 5 37.5
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 0 0 100
 Wales 5 4 0 1 0 0 80
Total 35 23 1 11 6 30 65.71

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

International tries

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As of 5 August 2023[17]

Try Opposing team Location Venue Competition Date Result Score
1  Argentina Durban, South Africa Kings Park Stadium 2018 Rugby Championship 18 August 2018 Won 34–21
2  Namibia Aichi, Japan Toyota Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 28 September 2019 Won 57–3
3  Italy Fukuroi, Japan Shizuoka Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup 4 October 2019 Won 49–3
4  British and Irish Lions Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town Stadium 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa 31 July 2021 Won 27–9
5  Australia Brisbane, Australia Suncorp Stadium 2021 Rugby Championship 18 September 2021 Loss 30–17
6  New Zealand Johannesburg, South Africa Emirates Airline Park 2022 Rugby Championship 13 August 2022 Loss 23–35

References

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  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Lukhanyo Am". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Border Bound". South Coast Fever. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Exchange programme offers previously disadvantaged players big dreams" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 22–13 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. ^ "New recruits as Southern Kings 2016 season starts" (Press release). Eastern Province Kings. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Bok centre Am named Sharks captain for 2020". Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ^ "South African Barbarians name squad for City clash". Saracens. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Ackermann to coach SA 'A' against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26–29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  12. ^ "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  13. ^ "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  14. ^ on, Published (19 August 2021). "De Allende-Am centre pairing is one for the record books". SA Rugby magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Lukhanyo Am replaces Makazole Mapimpi in South Africa squad". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ "Pollard and Am not in Springboks World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Lukhanyo AM profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
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