Keegan Daniel
Encyclopedia
Keegan Rhys Daniel is a South Africa
n rugby union
player.
Born in the rural
farming
town
of Humansdorp
, Daniel started his education at Gonubie Primary before moving off to one of South Africa’s best known rugby nurseries, Dale College Boy's High School
.
Daniel played Craven Week
for the Border rugby team in 2003 and was recruited afterwards by the Natal
Rugby Academy.
Daniel came onto the provincial scene in the Super 14
competition which earned him a place in the South African under 21 team. Daniel had a fantastic tournament with the South African under 21 team at the IRB u21 World Cup in France where South Africa lost in the final. He was nominated for player of the tournament and went on to claim the South African u21 player of the year for 2006.He has the ability to play flanker, wing, fly-half and fullback because of his blistering speed and kicking ability
Since then, Daniel has starred for the Sharks at Super 14
level. In the 2008 season he earned man of the match awards in consecutive games against 2007 winners the Vodacom Blue Bulls
and the high-flying Auckland Blues, scoring 3 tries in the process. His first try against the Blues came after just 16 seconds in the game - a record at Super 14 level.
On 30 October, Keegen was selected to tour with the Springboks in their November tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He was not selected in an initial squad of 39, but after performances in the Currie Cup semi-final and final, the selectors could no longer ignore him.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
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.
Born in the rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
farming
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Humansdorp
Humansdorp
Humansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 35,000 . It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District. The town is the centre of the district's light industry and farming...
, Daniel started his education at Gonubie Primary before moving off to one of South Africa’s best known rugby nurseries, Dale College Boy's High School
Dale College Boy's High School
Dale College Boy's High School is a school in King William's Town, South Africa.Dale College was formed in 1861.The school boasts a vast history in the country, being renowned for its excellent academic, sport and cultural results...
.
Daniel played Craven Week
Craven Week
The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven....
for the Border rugby team in 2003 and was recruited afterwards by the Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
Rugby Academy.
Daniel came onto the provincial scene in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition which earned him a place in the South African under 21 team. Daniel had a fantastic tournament with the South African under 21 team at the IRB u21 World Cup in France where South Africa lost in the final. He was nominated for player of the tournament and went on to claim the South African u21 player of the year for 2006.He has the ability to play flanker, wing, fly-half and fullback because of his blistering speed and kicking ability
Since then, Daniel has starred for the Sharks at Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
level. In the 2008 season he earned man of the match awards in consecutive games against 2007 winners the Vodacom 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...
and the high-flying Auckland Blues, scoring 3 tries in the process. His first try against the Blues came after just 16 seconds in the game - a record at Super 14 level.
On 30 October, Keegen was selected to tour with the Springboks in their November tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He was not selected in an initial squad of 39, but after performances in the Currie Cup semi-final and final, the selectors could no longer ignore him.