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.
| Date of birth | 28 November 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Qonce, Eastern Cape, Republic of South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool De Vos Malan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Professional career
editAm 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
editAt 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
editAfter 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
editIn 2013, Am was named in a South African Barbarians team to face Saracens in London.[7]
South Africa 'A'
editSouth 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
editAm 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
editSouth Africa
- 2019 Rugby Championship Winner
- 2019 Rugby World Cup Japan Winner
- 2021 South Africa 'A' vs British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa appointed Captain
- 2021 South Africa 'A' vs British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa Winner
- 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa Winner
- 2023 Rugby World Cup France Winner
- 2024 Qatar Airways Cup in Twickenham - Springboks vs Wales Winner
- 2024 Nelson Mandela Plate - Springboks vs Wallabies Winner
- 2024 Freedom Cup - Springboks vs All Blacks Winner
- 2024 Rugby Championship Winner
Sharks
- 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup Winner
- 2024 Currie Cup Championship Winner
Test Match Record
edit- 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
editAs 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
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Aichi, Japan | Toyota Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 28 September 2019 | Won | 57–3 |
| 3 | Italy
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Fukuroi, Japan | Shizuoka Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 4 October 2019 | Won | 49–3 |
| 4 | British and Irish Lions
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Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town Stadium | 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa | 31 July 2021 | Won | 27–9 |
| 5 | Australia
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Brisbane, Australia | Suncorp Stadium | 2021 Rugby Championship | 18 September 2021 | Loss | 30–17 |
| 6 | New Zealand
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Johannesburg, South Africa | Emirates Airline Park | 2022 Rugby Championship | 13 August 2022 | Loss | 23–35 |
References
edit- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Lukhanyo Am". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Border Bound". South Coast Fever. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "Exchange programme offers previously disadvantaged players big dreams" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 22–13 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Bok centre Am named Sharks captain for 2020". Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "South African Barbarians name squad for City clash". Saracens. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 24–32 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26–29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ^ "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
- ^ on, Published (19 August 2021). "De Allende-Am centre pairing is one for the record books". SA Rugby magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Lukhanyo Am replaces Makazole Mapimpi in South Africa squad". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Pollard and Am not in Springboks World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Lukhanyo AM profile and stats". all.rugby. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
External links
edit- Lukhanyo Am at Springboks
- Lukhanyo Am at European Professional Club Rugby
- Lukhanyo Am at ESPNscrum
- Lukhanyo Am at ItsRugby.co.uk
