Tian Schoeman

Tian Schoeman
Full nameChristian Francois Schoeman
Date of birth (1991-09-23) 23 September 1991 (age 33)
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb; 207 lb)
SchoolHTS John Vorster, Pretoria
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Current team Unattached
Youth career
2010 Pumas
2011–2012 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2014 UP Tuks 11 (71)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016 Blue Bulls 29 (369)
2015–2017 Bulls 35 (153)
2017 Blue Bulls XV 1 (17)
2017–2018 Bordeaux 15 (42)
2018–2020 Free State Cheetahs 9 (58)
2018–2020 Cheetahs 39 (195)
2021–2022 Bath 6 (4)
2022–2023 Newcastle Falcons 17 (48)
Correct as of 15 June 2023

Christian Francois Schoeman (born 23 September 1991 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player.[1] His regular position is fly-half.

Career

Youth

Schoeman played for Witbank-based outfit the Pumas in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He scored 69 points in just six matches for the Pumas U19 side[2] to finish as the top scorer in Group B of the competition, 17 points ahead of Arno Poley of the Falcons U19.

In 2011, he moved back to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls. Despite not playing for them in 2011, he made a big impact during the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, contributing 115 points for the Blue Bulls U21 – third behind the Sharks U21s Fred Zeilinga and the Golden Lions U21s Marais Schmidt[3] – to help the Blue Bulls clinch the title in this competition, scoring 14 points with the boot as they beat Western Province U21 22–13 in the final.[4]

Varsity Cup

Schoeman represented university side UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup competition, scoring 23 points in the first four rounds of the competition before Handré Pollard was given a chance for the latter rounds of the competition, which UP Tuks eventually went on to win. He was the first-choice fly-half throughout the 2014 Varsity Cup however, scoring 48 points in his seven appearances,[5] but failing to help his side qualify for the quarter-finals.

Blue Bulls

Schoeman was included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season and was even named on the bench for their match against the Sharks, but failed to make an appearance.[6]

At the conclusion of the 2014 Varsity Cup, he was included in the Blue Bulls 2014 Vodacom Cup squad. He made his first class debut for them in their match against Gauteng rivals Falcons[7] and contributed 24 points to his side's 54–7 win, scoring a try and kicking five conversions and two penalties. Despite missing the first four rounds of the competition, he ended the competition in sixth place on the scorers list, contributing 60 points in five appearances.[8]

His Currie Cup debut came during the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season, as he played off the bench in the second half of their match against Western Province. He kicked two late penalties but that was not enough to stop the Blue Bulls go down 23–18.[9]

In 2015, he was also included in the Bulls squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season and he was named on the bench for their Round Three match against the Sharks in Pretoria.[10]

Bordeaux

Schoeman joined Top 14 side Bordeaux prior to the 2017–18 Top 14 season.[11] He scored 42 points in 15 matches for the team in his only season at the club.

Cheetahs

Schoeman returned to South Africa to join the Cheetahs prior to the 2018–19 Pro14, signing a contract with the Bloemfontein-based franchise until October 2020.[12]

Bath

On 18 January 2021, it was confirmed that Schoeman had joined Premiership Rugby side Bath with immediate effect.[13]

Newcastle Falcons

He played for Newcastle Falcons from 2022 to 2023.

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Tian Schoeman". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2010 ABSA Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2012 ABSA Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 13–22 Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – The Sharks 34–18 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 54–7 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  8. ^ "SA Rugby Top Scorers – 2014 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  9. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 18–23 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Paige to make first start for Vodacom Bulls". Bulls. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Un ouvreur des Bulls, Tian Schoeman, signe à Bordeaux-Bègles". RugbyRama (in French). 21 April 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Tian Schoeman joins Toyota Cheetahs" (Press release). Cheetahs. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Bath Rugby welcome highly regarded fly-half Tian Schoeman". Bath Rugby. Retrieved 18 January 2021.