Albé de Swardt

Albertus Jacobus de Swardt (born in George, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player, whose regular playing position was hooker. He started his career with in 2011 and, after a short spell in Italy with L'Aquila in 2012, returned to South Africa to play for the between 2013 and 2015.

He retired at the start of 2016, aged 25.

Rugby career

He played for the at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2006 and the Under-18 Craven Week in 2008 before joining . He played for them in the Under-19 and Under-21 Provincial Championship between 2009 and 2011 and made his first class debut in the 2011 Vodacom Cup game against the . During this time, he also played for in the 2011 and 2012 Varsity Cup competitions.

He then moved to Italian National Championship of Excellence team L'Aquila for a short spell in 2012.

He returned to South Africa in 2013 to join on a two-year deal. He made his debut for the – as well as his Currie Cup debut – in the 37–21 victory over the on 6 July 2013 in Welkom.

He also played for the team that reached the semi-finals of the Varsity Cup.

In 2014, he was selected on the bench for the side to face during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He came on as a late substitute, played the last eight minutes as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.

A hamstring injury sustained in 2011 caused De Swart several hip and groin issues in later years and he retired at the start of 2016 on medical advice.

Statistics

First class career Season Teams Currie Cup Premier Currie Cup First Vodacom Cup Championship of Excellence Other Total Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts Apps Pts 2011 — — — — 1 0 — — — — 1 0 2012 L'Aquila Rugby — — — — — — 8 0 — — 8 0 2013 — — 11 0 — — — — — — 11 0 2014 Eastern Province Kings 5 0 — — 7 0 — — 1 0 13 0 2015 Eastern Province Kings — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 2011 Western Province Total — — — — 1 0 — — — — 1 0 2012 L'Aquila Total — — — — — — 8 0 — — 8 0 2013–2015 Eastern Province Kings Total 5 0 11 0 7 0 — — 1 0 24 0 2011–2015 Career Total 5 0 11 0 8 0 8 0 1 0 33 0