Luke Watson
South Africa
player portrait
Full name Luke Asher Watson
Born October 26, 1983, Port Elizabeth
Current age 40 years 145 days
Major teams Bath Rugby, Eastern Province Kings, South Africa Kings, Southern Kings, Stormers, Western Province, South Africa
Position No. 8
Height 6 ft 1 in
Weight 220 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2007-2008 10 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 7 3 0 70
The Rugby Championship 2008-2008 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 40

Career statistics
Test debut South Africa v Samoa at Johannesburg, Jun 9, 2007 match details
Last Test South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Aug 30, 2008 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Tournament list

English Premiership
Team Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All matches 2009-2011 31 30 1 5 1 0 0 0 20 9 2 67.74
Bath Rugby 2009-2011 31 30 1 5 1 0 0 0 20 9 2 67.74
Profile

A physical and aggressive player, Watson has attracted plaudits and criticism in equal measure during a high-profile career.

An U19s, U21s and Sevens international, he rose to prominence with Western Province and the Stormers in Cape Town where his outstanding form saw him named as South Africa's Super 14 Player of the Year in 2006. He made his Springboks bow the following year but his elevation to the squad only came after the intervention of South African Rugby Union (SARU) chief Oregan Hoskins who insisted on Watson's inclusion after coach Jake White had omitted the player. The strained relationship between player, coach and the rest of the squad ensured Watson missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup but he returned to the international ranks the following year under new coach Peter de Villiers - winning a further nine caps.

Watson's father, Daniel 'Cheeky' Watson, was one of the first white rugby players to take a stand against apartheid in the 1970s, playing in mixed-race rugby matches and his son's promotion to the Springboks was seen by some as a political move with White an outspoken critic of the player's ability. In 2008, Watson voluntarily withdrew from contention for international honours while under investigation by SARU following alleged derogatory comments about the running of rugby in South Africa.

Watson made his Currie Cup debut for Eastern Province at age 18 and went on to play for the Sharks and Western Province in South Africa's leading club competition. He made his Super Rugby debut playing for the Sharks in 2003 before a move to the Stormers in 2005 where he went on to captain the side.

He opted for a move to English side Bath in 2009, becoming a popular figure at the Rec. He captained the side in the 2010-11 season but announced in December 2010 that he would be returning to South Africa in order to take up a contract with the Eastern Province Kings.

Latest Articles
Jake White seeks out Luke Watson for Sharks (Dec 19, 2013) The unique Luke Watson (Feb 21, 2013) Building a Super Rugby franchise (Mar 2, 2012) Bath sign Springbok Louw (Jul 12, 2011) Hooper appointed Bath captain (Jul 5, 2011) Luke Watson news and articles (37) »
Latest Photos
May 11, 2013
Southern Kings captain Luke Watson celebrates his try
Southern Kings captain Luke Watson celebrates his try
©  Getty Images
Feb 15, 2013
The Southern Kings' skipper Luke Watson
The Southern Kings' skipper Luke Watson
©  Getty Images
Jun 15, 2011
Romania's Madalin Lemnaru evades the SA Kings' Luke Watson
Romania's Madalin Lemnaru evades the SA Kings' Luke Watson
©  IRB
Oct 23, 2010
Bath skipper Luke Watson is congratulated
Bath skipper Luke Watson is congratulated
©  Getty Images
Luke Watson rugby photos (18) »

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