Kayle van Zyl

Kayle van Zyl
Personal information
Full nameKayle Deon van Zyl
Born10 December 1991
Johannesburg
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb)
School(s) attendedHoërskool Nico Malan, Humansdorp
UniversityNelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Club information
Playing positionScrum-half / Fullback
Current clubMogliano
Youth career
2009–13Eastern Province Kings
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2014NMMU Madibaz2(0)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2013–14Eastern Province Kings18(35)
2014–Mogliano10(30)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 5 November 2014.
† Appearances (Points).

Kayle Deon van Zyl is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with Italian National Championship of Excellence side Mogliano.[1][2] He can play as a scrum-half or a fullback.

Career

Youth

Van Zyl was selected to represent Eastern Province at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament in 2009. The following season, he joined the Eastern Province Kings Academy and he played for the Eastern Province U19 side in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He was a key player for the Eastern Province U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 71 points in eight appearances. This included a remarkable personal haul in their opening match, when he scored 36 of his team's points in a 61–10 victory over Boland U21, comprising four tries and eight conversions.[3]

Eastern Province Kings

He was included in the senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup. He made his debut in a 17–13 victory in their Round Four match against Free State XV, coming on as a second-half substitute.[4] Two more appearances off the bench followed – firstly against the SWD Eagles in a 52–10 victory[5] and then against the Sharks XV in a match that the Kings won 27–23 and Van Zyl scored his first senior points, contributing seven points with the boot[6] – before his first start in their match against the Boland Cavaliers, a match which also saw him score his first career try in a 27–23 win to help the EP Kings finish in third place on the log and qualify for the Quarter Finals.[7] He appeared in the Quarter Final, as a remarkable fight-back saw his side win 34–31 despite being 13–31 down with eight minutes left to play.[8] He also started their semi-final match, which ended in a 13–39 loss to the Pumas in Nelspruit.[9]

He also featured during their 2013 Currie Cup First Division campaign, making nine appearances. He made his Currie Cup debut in their match against the SWD Eagles in George,[10] kicking a conversion in the second-last minute to clinch a 35–34 victory for the Kings. This was his first of eight substitute appearances during the season. His only start came during their match against the Falcons in the penultimate round of the competition.[11] Van Zyl scored a try in extra time of their Semi-Final match against the Leopards to help them to a 32–29 victory after the sides finished 22–22 after normal time.[12] He also played in the final, but could not prevent the Kings slump to a 30–53 defeat to the Pumas, with Van Zyl once again scoring a late try in the match.[9]

At the start of 2014, Van Zyl played some Varsity Cup rugby with NMMU Madibaz, making two appearances. He then returned to the side for the 2014 Vodacom Cup, where he made three appearances as a substitute and kicking five points in their final Southern Section match against the previously-unbeaten Sharks XV to help the Kings to a 27–11 victory,[13] a result that still failed to see them qualify for the Quarter Finals of the competition.

Mogliano

He then moved to Italy to join National Championship of Excellence side Mogliano for the 2014–15 season.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "It's Rugby Player Profile Kayle van Zyl". It's Rugby. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Player Profile Kayle van Zyl". sarugby.net. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Eastern Province Kings vs Boland Kavaliers". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Toyota Free State XV vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Eastern Province Kings vs South Western Districts". South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Eastern Province Kings vs Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Regent Boland Cavaliers vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Match Breakdown: Steval Pumas vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Match Breakdown: SWD Eagles vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Eastern Province Kings vs Valke". South African Rugby Union. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Eastern Province Kings vs Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Cell C Sharks XV vs Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Colpo del Mogliano: preso il trequarti Van Zyl" (in Italian). La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Alle 9 serate Mogliano incontra il Petrarca Padova" (in Italian). Mogliano Rugby. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.