Jump to content

Damian de Allende

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Damian de Allende
de Allende playing in 2026
Born (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 (age 34)
Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight101 kg (15.9 st; 223 lb)[1]
SchoolMilnerton High School
UniversityUniversity of Cape Town
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Youth career
2010–2012 Western Province
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012 UCT Ikey Tigers 6 (5)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2018 Western Province 27 (30)
2013–2019 Stormers 91 (75)
2015–2017 Kintetsu Liners 4 (5)
2019–2020 Panasonic Wild Knights 5 (10)
2020–2022 Munster 37 (25)
2022– Saitama Wild Knights 60 (104)
Correct as of 6 June 2026
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014– South Africa 101 (60)
2015–2025 Springboks[a] 2 (15)
2021 South Africa A 2 (0)
Correct as of 29 August 2026
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing  South Africa
Rugby World Cup
Bronze medal – third place2015 EnglandSquad
Gold medal – first place2019 JapanSquad
Gold medal – first place2023 FranceSquad

Damian de Allende (born 25 November 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the South Africa national team and Japanese club Saitama Wild Knights. His usual position is either centre or wing. He was a member of the Springboks team that won a third Rugby World Cup in 2019[4] and again that won a fourth Rugby World Cup in 2023. De Allende is a part of a few elite players to have won two world cup titles.

Early life

[edit]

De Allende was born in Cape Town in 1991.[5][6] He is of Spanish[7][8] and Portuguese descent.[9] He was educated at Milnerton High School in Cape Town's seaside town of Milnerton,[6] and later attended the University of Cape Town,[5] representing the UCT Ikey Tigers in the Varsity Cup.

Career

[edit]

Damian de Allende made his first team debut for Western Province during the 2012 Vodacom Cup, in their game against Pampas XV.[10] He made a total of three appearances in that campaign, scoring one try. He was then also included in the squad for the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division.

In August 2013, he signed a two-year contract that kept him at Western Province and the Stormers until 2015.[11] He further extended his contract with the Stormers in July 2017 which saw him remain until the end of the 2019 season.[12] De Allende represented the Ikey Tigers in the 2012 Varsity Cup.[13]

After the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where de Allende was a member of the victorious South African team, he joined Japanese Top League side Saitama Wild Knights. De Allende joined Irish United Rugby Championship side Munster, whose head coach was former Springboks forwards coach Johann van Graan. Though de Allende's two-year contract didn't officially commence until 1 July 2020, he arrived in Ireland in May 2020 after the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019–20 Top League and completed two weeks of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15]

De Allende made his debut for Munster in their 27–25 defeat against Leinster on 22 August 2020,[16] and scored his first try for the province in their 52–3 win against Italian side Zebre in round 8 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 30 November 2020.[17] He made his Champions Cup debut for the province in their opening fixture of the 2020–21 competition against English side Harlequins on 13 December 2020, starting in Munster's 21–7 home win.[18] De Allende was named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team in his first season with Munster.[19]

De Allende left Munster at the end of the 2021–22 season,[20] and returned to Japan to rejoin League One club Saitama Wild Knights, for whom de Allende had previously played for during 2019–20.[21]

International career

[edit]

Of Spanish heritage on his father's side, De Allende was eligible to represent both South Africa or Spain at international level.

In May 2014, De Allende was one of eight uncapped players that were called up to a Springbok training camp prior to the 2014 mid-year rugby union tests.[22] He was subsequently named in the final squad,[23] but suffered a medial knee ligament injury and had to withdraw from the squad.[24]

However, he was once again selected in the Springboks' next squad for the 2014 Rugby Championship[25] and was named in the starting line-up for their opening match of this competition against Argentina in Pretoria.[26]

In 2015, he was selected in the starting XV of a South African side against the World XV for a game held on 11 July 2015.[27] He scored two tries in the game, earning praise from the World XV and former Australia coach Robbie Deans, who commented that "Damian has been playing remarkable rugby the whole year and he keeps doing the right things. He can add a new dimension to the Boks".[28]

Having only been on the field for 13 minutes, De Allende was controversially red-carded in the 75th minute of New Zealand's 25–24 win against South Africa on 8 October 2017 for a late hit on first-five Lima Sopoaga, intending to charge down Sopoaga's attempted drop goal. De Allende was not suspended, as SANZAAR stated he should not have received red for the attempted charge down.[29][30]

De Allende was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[31] South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.[4] De Allende started in all three tests for South Africa during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, earning his 50th cap for the Springboks during their third test victory that sealed a series win for the home team,[32][33][34][35] and garnering widespread praise for his performances during the series.[36][37]

In July 2026, after a 45–21 victory in the opening round of the inaugural Nations Championship against England, he was incorrectly awarded Player of the Match after a miscommunication by the local South African broadcaster. Damian Willemse was the actual winner.[38]

Personal life

[edit]

De Allende married fiance Domenica Vigliotti in late 2023 in France following South Africa's title at the Rugby World Cup.[5][39] They have two children.[39]

De Allende is a die-hard supporter of Premier League football club Liverpool,[6][40] with the sport being described as his "first love" before playing junior rugby.[40]

Honours

[edit]

South Africa

Statistics

[edit]

Super Rugby statistics

[edit]
As of 23 August 2021.[41]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2013Stormers14867370000000
2014Stormers141401,10940002000
2015Stormers161601,17140002000
2016Stormers119278520001000
2017Stormers6513820000000
2018Stormers161601,23830001510
2019Stormers141311,02620001000
Total9181106,523150007510

Springboks record

[edit]
As of 13 September 2026.[42]
Against Played Won Drawn Lost Tries Points % Won
 Argentina17150221088.24
 Australia93151533.33
British and Irish Lions32010066.67
 Canada110015100
 England107030070
 France43011575
 Georgia110000100
 Ireland94051544.44
 Italy43011575
 Japan330000100
 Namibia110000100
 New Zealand23911352539.13
 Samoa110000100
 Scotland440000100
 United States110015100
 Wales1210021583.33
Total10368233147066.02

International tries

[edit]
As of 13 September 2026
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1  United States London, England Olympic Stadium 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B 7 October 2015 Win 64–0
2  Ireland Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium 2016 Ireland tour of South Africa 18 June 2016 Win 32–26
3  Italy Florence, Italy Stadio Artemio Franchi 2016 end-of-year tests 19 November 2016 Loss 20–18
4  New Zealand Pretoria, South Africa Loftus Versfeld Stadium 2018 Rugby Championship 6 October 2018 Loss 30–32
5  Canada Kobe, Japan Kobe Misaki Stadium 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool B 8 October 2019 Win 66–7
6  Wales Yokohama, Japan International Stadium Yokohama 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-finals 27 October 2019 Win 16–19
7  New Zealand Gold Coast, Australia Robina Stadium 2021 Rugby Championship 2 October 2021 Win 29–31
8  Australia Sydney, Australia Sydney Football Stadium 2022 Rugby Championship 3 September 2022 Win 8–24
9  Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina Estadio Libertadores de América 2022 Rugby Championship 17 September 2022 Win 20–36
10  Argentina Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium 2023 Rugby Championship 29 July 2023 Win 22–21
11  France Saint-Denis, France Stade de France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals 15 October 2023 Win 28–29
12  New Zealand Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town Stadium 2026 New Zealand tour of South Africa 29 August 2026 Win 33–26
13  New Zealand Baltimore, United States M&T Bank Stadium 2026 New Zealand tour of South Africa 12 September 2026 Win 43–28
14

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ In addition to playing in test matches, De Allende featured in a match against a World XV in Cape Town in July 2015.[2] This match has an equivalent status to international tour matches, but was played on home soil.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Damian de Allende player profile". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  2. ↑ South African Rugby Annual 2016. South African Rugby Union. 2016. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-620-69290-8.
  3. ↑ South African Rugby Annual 2018. South African Rugby Union. 2018. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0-620-78461-0.
  4. 1 2 "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Mutengwa, David (25 November 2023). "Springboks: Damian de Allende's age revealed on his birthday". The South African.
  6. 1 2 3 "Who is Damian de Allende: Ten things you should know about the South Africa centre". Rugby World. 16 June 2021.
  7. ↑ Cary, Tom (30 October 2019). "Damian De Allende has had his inner mongrel reinstalled by Rassie Erasmus – he is the man England should fear". The Daily Telegraph. Tokyo.
  8. ↑ Noguera, Jorge (1 November 2019). "Damian De Allende, sangre española en los Springboks" [Damian De Allende, Spanish blood in the Springboks]. Diario AS (in Spanish).
  9. ↑ Godwin, Hugh (6 September 2015). "The Bok squad – A black & white issue?". Independent Online.
  10. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 20–16 Pampas XV". South African Rugby Union. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  11. ↑ "WP behou 'monster'; Force soek nóg jonges". Media24 (in Afrikaans). 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Bok Trio Commit oo WP Rugby Until 2019". The Stormers. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Damian de Allende". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  14. ↑ "Munster Sign De Allende, Gallagher And Snyman". Munster Rugby. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "De Allende completes isolation while Munster expect Snyman to arrive this month". The42. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "Report | Narrow Loss For Munster In Aviva". Munster Rugby. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Report | Eight-Try Munster Continue Winning Start". Munster Rugby. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Report | Munster Make Winning Start To Champions Cup". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Guinness PRO14 Dream Team | de Allende, Holland and O'Byrne Included". Munster Rugby. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "South African World Cup-winning centre Damian de Allende to depart from Munster". The42. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "Bok duo complete move to Japan". SA Rugby Magazine. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "Springbok training squad for Durban camp named". South African Rugby Union. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "Seven uncapped players in Springbok squad" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Springboks suffer De Allende injury setback" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  25. ↑ "De Villiers back to lead Boks in Rugby Champs" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 2 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "De Allende to make Springbok debut". South African Rugby Union. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  27. ↑ "Boks cruise past World XV". News24. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "Deans heaps praise on De Allende". News24. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  29. ↑ "Damian de Allende given the softest red card in the history of red cards". Rugbypass. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  30. ↑ "Sanzaar: Damian de Allende should've got a yellow card". IOL. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  31. ↑ "South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped". Independent. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  32. ↑ "Gatland's Lions overcome half-time deficit in brilliant first Test victory". The42. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "Brilliant second half from Boks takes Lions series into deciding third Test". The42. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  34. ↑ "Damian de Allende to win 50th Springboks cap in third Lions Test". United Rugby. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  35. ↑ "History repeats itself as 37-year-old Steyn kicks Boks to victory over the Lions". The42. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  36. ↑ "De Allende is the best No 12 in the world". Keo. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  37. ↑ "Burger: De Allende the backbone of Boks' gameplan". SA Rugby Magazine. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  38. ↑ Henson, Mike. "The wrong man (of the match) - De Allende picks up Willemse's award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  39. 1 2 Karimi, Cindy (5 July 2023). "Rugby WAGS: Domenica Vigliotti, Damian de Allende's betrothed [Pics]". Independent Online.
  40. 1 2 Keane, Rory (25 June 2020). "Rory Keane: Why Munster's Damian De Allende is one of the world's best". Extra.ie.
  41. ↑ "Damian de Allende (Itsrugby.co.uk)". Itsrugby. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  42. ↑ Damian de Allende, ESPN Scrum, 31 July 2021
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Damian_de_Allende&oldid=1374589818"