Dustin Jinka

Dustin Jinka (born 28 April 1986) is a South African former professional rugby union player whose regular position was scrum-half. In 2016, Jinka became the head coach of Swedish Allsvenskan side Hammarby.

Career

Youth and amateur rugby

Following his performances at club rugby level for university side (and their second team, Victorians), Jinka was called into the squad for the 2006 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He was named in their senior side for the 2007 Vodacom Cup competition, but was never involved in a matchday squad. He was once again included in the Western Province U21 side for the Under-21 Provincial Championship in 2007.

After an unsuccessful trial at the at the start of 2008, he returned to club rugby with Tygerberg in the Western Province Super League A. He then had a spell playing club rugby in Ireland for De La Salle Palmerston, before he returned to the Western Province to join Hamiltons for the 2009 season.

Jinka had a standout season with Hamiltons, being rated as one of their star players and helping the side win the National Club Championship in 2009, scoring 101 points. He was also subsequently voted as the National Club Championship Player of the Year for 2009.

Western Province

After another trial with the at the start of 2010, Vodacom Cup coach Jerome Paarwater included Jinka in the squad for the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition. Although he didn't come off the bench in their opening match of the season against the , he made his first class debut in their next match against the by coming on as a very late replacement. He made his first start two weeks later in their match against the , kicking a conversion in a 29–0 victory. His first try came a few weeks later in their match against the , scoring just five minutes after coming on as a substitute to help his side to a 29–23 victory. In total, he scored seven points in five appearances in the competition.

Blue Bulls

At the conclusion of the Vodacom Cup in 2010, Jinka moved to Pretoria to join the . He made his Currie Cup debut for the Blue Bulls during the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division match against the at Loftus Versfeld. He made just one start (against the ) and three substitute appearances during the season.

During the 2011 Vodacom Cup, Jinka was included in the squad for all eleven matches in their season and made four starts and played off the bench on three occasions. He also scored his first points for the Blue Bulls, kicking a penalty and a conversion in their 23–25 loss to the . He was included in the squad for the 2011 Super Rugby season, but, despite being named on the bench for their matches against the , the and the , he never made an appearance.

Jinka started the Blue Bulls' first four matches of the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division season, but just made four more appearances for the remainder of the season and being an unused substitute six times.

Eastern Province Kings / Return to Hamiltons

At the start of 2012, Jinka had an unsuccessful trial with Port Elizabeth-based side the . and he returned to his former club side Hamiltons, where he played club rugby for the next two seasons.

Griquas

Jinka made a return to provincial rugby in 2014, when he joined Kimberley-based outfit . He made seven appearances for them during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, contributing 19 points which consisted of seven conversions in his only start in their match against the and a try in their match against the .