Thinus Delport
Birth nameGehardus Martinus Delport
Birth dateFebruary 2, 1975 (age 51)
Birth placePort Elizabeth, South Africa
Height6.2 ft (1.9 m)
Weight15.7 st (100 kg)
Amatteam 1Old Patesian veterans
Ru amupdate13 July 2014
Repteam 1South Africa
Repyears 12000–2003
Repcaps 118
Reppoints 115
Ru ntupdate13 July 2014
Years 12002–2004
Years 22004–2008
Years 32008–2010
Clubs 1Gloucester Rugby
Clubs 2Worcester Warriors
Clubs 3Kobelco Steelers
Apps 135
Apps 2109
Points 130
Points 2112
Ru clubupdate13 July 2014
Ru currentclubretired
Superyears 11998-2001
Superyears 22002
Super 1Cats
Super 2Sharks
Superapps 139
Superapps 24
Superpoints 135
Superpoints 25
Super14update13 July 2014
Province 1Golden Lions
Province 3→ Valke (loan)
Provinceyears 11997-2001
Provinceyears 22002
Provinceyears 32003
Provinceapps 163
Provinceapps 23
Provincepoints 1210
Provincepoints 222
Ru provinceupdate13 July 2014
Ru coachupdate13 July 2014
SchoolLinden High School
UniversityRAU

Thinus Delport (born 2 February 1975, in Port Elizabeth) is a South African ex rugby union player who played at wing or fullback for Worcester Warriors and South Africa.

He started his career playing for the Lions from U21 level and he made his senior debut in 1997. Playing in the Super 12 for the Lions formerly known as The Cats.

Delport began his English career at Gloucester. Whilst there he started the 2003 Powergen Cup Final in which Gloucester defeated Northampton Saints.[1] Delport joined Worcester from Gloucester in 2004. Delport left Worcester Warriors in 2007 and became a television rugby presenter He made his international debut on the Springboks' 1997 European tour. However, it was three years before he made his test debut against Canada in East London (2000).

Delport also played in the Tsunami Memorial game representing the southern hemisphere alongside some of the world's greatest players.

It was announced in March 2008 that Delport would be moving to Japanese Side Kobelco Steelers at the end of the season, to pursue a new rugby career there.[2]

On 24 June 2010 it was announced Delport had signed a 1-year deal at National 1 outfit Stourbridge as a player coach.

After retirement he has also played an amateur game for the Old Patesian veterans, a local Gloucestershire club, in which they beat their rivals: Smiths Industries, in the third team's cup.

In 2014 Delport became an ambassador for Project Zulu, a UK based charity running the educational development projects in the Madadeni township, KZN, South Africa. In February 2015 he visited the Madadeni township to host their first schools tag rugby tournament.

Delport is also an ambassador and active member of Rugby for Heroes, a UK based charity helping active and retired service men and women make the transition to civilian life, using Rugby as a medium. He works alongside patrons Mike Tindall OBE and Nick Knowles to build up the profile of the charity.

References

  1. ^ "Gloucester given hope by cup win amid financial ruins". The Guardian. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Delport to quit Sixways for Japan". BBC Sport. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.