Sergeal Petersen & youngest Super Rugby player records

24 February, 2013 beet E/Cape 4

Sergeal Petersen, the 18-year-old Southern Kings right wing has just completed a dream debut for the new Super Rugby franchise. On Saturday the Kings defeated the Western Force 22-10 with Petersen accounting for two tries and being awarded the Man of the Match after the game. Professional Super Rugby started out as the Super 12 in 1996 and is now into it’s eighteenth season. During this time not too many 18-year-olds have played in the competition, even fewer of that age have scored tries and of those try-scorers it has been a rarity for one to score on debut.  So you can imagine how unique Petersen’s achievements are.

The teenager who was still a matric student at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth a few months ago  is now the youngest South African Super Rugby player ever and therefore obviously the youngest South African try-scorer and youngest South African to score on debut.

In Super Rugby history Sergeal Petersen is the:

    • 14th youngest debutant overall
    • 5th youngest player to score a try
    • 3rd youngest player to score on debut

Overall Super Rugby 18-year-old records (unverified)

Youngest player to debut  Age Age
# Name Team Date of Birth Debut Date Years Days
1 James O’Connor Western Force 05/07/1990 18/04/2008 17 287
2 David Pocock Western Force 23/04/1988 12/05/2006 18 19
3 Kurtley Beale Waratahs 06/01/1989 02/02/2007 18 27
4 Sipa Taumoepeau Brumbies 26/01/1990 01/03/2008 18 35
5 Matt Toomua Brumbies 02/01/1990 14/03/2008 18 71
6 Michael Hooper Brumbies 29/10/1991 26/03/2010 18 148
7 Chris Feauai-Sautia Reds 17/11/1993 19/05/2012 18 183
8 Rob Horne Waratahs 15/08/1989 07/03/2008 18 205
9 Doug Howlett Highlanders 21/09/1978 09/05/1997 18 230
10 Mark Gerrard Waratahs 04/09/1982 27/04/2001 18 235
11 Liam Gill Reds 08/06/1992 05/03/2011 18 270
12 Elton Flatley Reds 07/05/1977 03/03/1996 18 301
13 Stefano Hunt Western Force 11/08/1991 20/02/2010 18 193
14 Sergeal Petersen Southern Kings 01/08/1994 23/02/2013 18 206
15 Quade Cooper Reds 05/04/1988 10/02/2007 18 311
16 Ted Postal Western Force 16/05/1991 03/04/2010 18 323
17 Dane Haylett-Petty Western Force 18/06/1989 03/05/2008 18 319
18 Luke Jones Western Force 02/04/1991 20/02/2010 18 324
19 Caleb Brown Reds 08/03/1987 18/02/2006 18 347
20 Colby Faingaa Brumbies 31/03/1991 26/03/2010 18 360
21 Jaco vd Westhuyzen Sharks 06/04/1978 04/04/1997 18 363
Youngest player to score a try  Age Age
# Name Team Date of Birth Debut Date Years Days
1 James O’Connor Western Force 05/07/1990 16/05/2008 17 315
2 Kurtley Beale Waratahs 06/01/1989 17/02/2007 18 42
3 Matt Toomua Brumbies 02/01/1990 14/03/2008 18 71
4 Michael Hooper Brumbies 29/10/1991 26/03/2010 18 148
5 Chris Feauai-Sautia Reds 17/11/1993 19/05/2012 18 183
6 Sergeal Petersen Southern Kings 01/08/1994 23/02/2013 18 206
7 James O’Connor Western Force 05/07/1990 20/02/2009 18 230
8 Doug Howlett Highlanders 21/09/1978 16/05/1997 18 237
9 Rob Horne Waratahs 15/08/1989 12/04/2008 18 240
10 Quade Cooper Reds 05/04/1988 03/03/2007 18 332
11 Caleb Brown Reds 08/03/1987 03/03/2006 18 360
Youngest player to score a try on debut  Age  Age
# Name Team Date of Birth Debut Date Years Days
1 Michael Hooper Brumbies 29/10/1991 26/03/2010 18 148
2 Chris Feauai-Sautia Reds 17/11/1993 19/05/2012 18 183
3 Sergeal Petersen Southern Kings 01/08/1994 23/02/2013 18 206
4 Doug Howlett Highlanders 21/09/1978 16/05/1997 18 237

Leave a Reply

4 Comments

  1. avatar
    #4 Rugger fan

    @Westers: Westers – my observation too. And 2 each form SA & NZ. Also demonstrates the time gap experienced between schools and SR here in SA (and NZ).

    Interesting stat.

    ReplyReply
    25 February, 2013 at 07:22
  2. avatar
    #3 Westers

    Interesting that 18 of the 21 are from Australia. I guess their lack of depth gives youngsters more chances earlier on.

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2013 at 23:59
  3. avatar
    #2 beet

    @iRugby: I checked the well-known SA players beforehand. The likes of Kitshoff, Frans Steyn, Pierre Spies and Johan Goosen were all 19 when they debuted.
    Kitshoff was 19 years 92 days, so just missed out on the 18Club. With his birthday falling in Feb, it was always going to be a big ask.

    However when you look at the list of 18yo above, its dominated by backline players, I have to say that Kitshoff’s achievement surpasses all in it. To be a 19 year old prop playing SR is a far greater achievement than an 18 year old backline player.

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2013 at 23:31
  4. avatar
    #1 iRugby

    Stephen Kitshoff was also 18 in 2011 when he made his Super Rugby debut.I think his birthday is on 15 Feb so he must be very high up on this list ,very close to James O Conner.

    ReplyReply
    24 February, 2013 at 23:11