Eben Joubert
Encyclopedia
Eben Joubert is a South African rugby union
player currently playing in New Zealand
for Otago in the ITM Cup competition. He was named Otago captain in 2011.
, Joubert spent some time on the fringes of the Blue Bulls
provincial squad, making a single appearance during both the Currie Cup
and Vodacom Cup
in 2007. Considered underside for a flanker in his native South Africa, in 2008 he accepted an offer to come to New Zealand in an attempt to further his chances at a professional career.
After making a strong impression in club rugby in Dunedin
, he was selected to the Otago side for the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup
. After making regular appearances in 2008 and 2009, his career suffered a serious setback in a Ranfurly Shield
game against Southland early in the 2010 ITM Cup
campaign, when he suffered a serious shoulder injury which ruled him out for the season. The injury was further complicated by an infection after surgery which left him hospitalized for nearly two months.
Back healthy for the 2011 ITM Cup
, Joubert was named the captain of the Otago squad. He helped get his side off to a terrific start, scoring his first two provincial tries in an opening-week victory over North Harbour
, and then led Otago to their first victory in Auckland since 1976. However, his season was ended after 4 matches by a damaged knee.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player currently playing in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
for Otago in the ITM Cup competition. He was named Otago captain in 2011.
Playing Career
After attending the University of PretoriaUniversity of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
, Joubert spent some time on the fringes of the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
provincial squad, making a single appearance during both the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
and Vodacom Cup
Vodacom Cup
The Vodacom Cup is an annual rugby union competition in South Africa which is contested between February and May. The cup is the third most prestigious competition in rugby union in South Africa, behind Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. It runs at roughly the same time as Super Rugby and serves as an...
in 2007. Considered underside for a flanker in his native South Africa, in 2008 he accepted an offer to come to New Zealand in an attempt to further his chances at a professional career.
After making a strong impression in club rugby in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, he was selected to the Otago side for the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup
2008 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 31 July 2008, and continued until the final on 25 October 2008....
. After making regular appearances in 2008 and 2009, his career suffered a serious setback in a Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
game against Southland early in the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
campaign, when he suffered a serious shoulder injury which ruled him out for the season. The injury was further complicated by an infection after surgery which left him hospitalized for nearly two months.
Back healthy for the 2011 ITM Cup
2011 ITM Cup
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....
, Joubert was named the captain of the Otago squad. He helped get his side off to a terrific start, scoring his first two provincial tries in an opening-week victory over North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
, and then led Otago to their first victory in Auckland since 1976. However, his season was ended after 4 matches by a damaged knee.