| Full name | Michael Rudger Gerardus Bernardt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 19 March 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb; 14 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Oakdale Agricultural High School, Riversdale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Michael Rudger Gerardus Bernardt (born 19 March 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played with the Eastern Province Kings.[1] His regular position is centre, but he can also play as a fly-half or winger.
Career
Youth rugby
Bernardt was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He attended Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale, Western Cape, Bernardt was selected to represent his local provincial side, the SWD Eagles, at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition in 2009. Two years later, he once again played for the side, this time at the Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Kimberley, scoring a try in their match against the Falcons.[2]
In 2012, he made the move to Durban to join the Sharks. He played for the Sharks U19 side in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, contributing one try in their match against former side SWD U19.[3] He progressed to the Sharks U21 side in 2013, making a five appearances in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, but starting just one of those – their 13–36 semi-final loss to the Blue Bulls U21.[4]
NMMU Madibaz
In 2014, Bernardt moved to Port Elizabeth to join Varsity Cup side NMMU Madibaz. He made a big impact in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, scoring four tries (the most of any NMMU backline player)[5] to help his side reach the semi-finals of the competition for the second successive season.
Eastern Province Kings
After the 2014 Varsity Cup, Bernardt also made two starts for the Eastern Province Kings in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition. The first of these was a 28–21 victory over the Boland Cavaliers, which was Bernardt's first class debut.[6] He also played in their final match of the campaign (for the first twenty minutes of the match before injury resulted in him coming off), which saw them beat the previously-unbeaten Sharks XV 27–11 in Durban; this wasn't enough to help the Kings into the quarter-finals, finishing in fifth spot in the Southern Section.[7]
He was one of 50 players named in the EP Kings' training squad prior to the 2015 season.[8]
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Michael Bernardt". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 39–23 SWD". South African Rugby Union. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks 73–0 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 36–13 The Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 28–21 Regent Boland Cavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Cell C Sharks XV 11–27 Eastern Province Kings". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ "EP Kings Pre Season Training Squad announced". Rugby15. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2014.