Werner Swanepoel

Werner Swanepoel is a former South African rugby union player. He played as a scrum half for the Springboks from 1997 to 2000. His appearances for the Springboks were curtailed by virtue of his career coinciding with that of Joost van der Westhuizen. For the toothy grin he often flashed on the rugby field, he was given the nickname, "Smiley".

Career

Swanepoel attended Grey College in Bloemfontein and played for the Craven Week team from 1989 to 1991 and was selected for the South African Schools team in 1991. His senior provincial debut for the Free State was in 1993, whereafter he also played for, the and the.
Swanepoel made his debut for the Springboks in 1997 against the British Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. He represented South Africa in the 1999 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try in their pool match against Spain. In 2001, he was a replacement for The Barbarians in their match against Australia in Cardiff. His career was ended unexpectedly when he contracted viral meningitis while he was playing with the English club, Worcester.