Luke Watson
| Full name | Luke Asher Watson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 October 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Grey High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Cheeky Watson (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) |
Flanker No 8 |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Career | |||
| 2002 | Mighty Elephants | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2002, 2011–2015 |
Mighty Elephants / Eastern Province Kings |
34 | (125) |
| 2003–2004 | Sharks | 20 | (5) |
| 2003–2004 | Sharks (Currie Cup) | 19 | (10) |
| 2005–2009 | Stormers | 62 | (50) |
| 2005–2009 | Western Province | 48 | (130) |
| 2009–2011 | Bath Rugby | 41 | (25) |
| 2013 | Kings | 6 | (10) |
|
Correct as of 6 September 2015
|
|||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2001 | S.A. Schools | () | |
| 2002 | South Africa Under-19 | () | |
| 2002 | South Africa 7s | () | |
| 2004 | South Africa Under-21 | 2 | (7) |
| 2007–2008 | South Africa | 10 | (0) |
| 2011 | South African Kings | 2 | (0) |
|
Correct as of 22 February 2013
|
|||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's rugby sevens | ||
Representing  South Africa
|
||
| Commonwealth Games | ||
 |
2002 Manchester | Team competition |
Luke Asher Watson (born 26 October 1983 in Port Elizabeth) is a former South African rugby union player who can play at flank or eighthman. He has represented and captained the South African Schools rugby team (2001), South Africa's under-19 (2002) and under-21 (2004) teams, as well as the Springbok Sevens team (2001). Watson has also captained both the Western Province and the Super Rugby Stormers. He most recently played for the Eastern Province Kings.
Watson has been controversial due to his relationship with then-national coach Jake White, political interference in his selection for the 2007 Springbok team, interaction with the squad afterwards, and his comments in a speech. Watson told a public gathering on 3 October 2008 that he had to stop himself from vomiting when he wore the Springbok jersey, and referred to black players such as Zola Yeye who during apartheid had been excluded from national selection. The media suggested that Watson had also denigrated Afrikaner players and rugby officials in a question and answer session, although the transcript of the speech does not bear this out.
Consequently, some South African rugby supporters and players (mostly Afrikaners) launched verbal attacks against Watson (often vehement and personal), Afrikaner rights groups like the Afrikanerbond sought his exclusion from rugby, and some spectators vocally expressed their disapproval whenever he played in South Africa.
Watson has denied that he is against Afrikaners, pointing out that not only does he oppose all forms of discrimination but that he also has Afrikaner ancestors. He conceded in 2010 that he had been used as "a political pawn" and that he would have done things differently if he had the chance to do them over. He regretted attending the Springbok training camp in 2007, knowing that neither he, the squad, nor White wanted him to be there.
Luke Watson is the son of anti-apartheid activist Daniel "Cheeky" Watson, who was also a rugby player of national standard in his youth. Watson comes from a family traditionally strongly committed to Christianity. His grandfather, Daniel John Watson, was a Pentecostal lay preacher and transmitted Christian values to Luke's father while Cheeky was growing up in Grahamstown. Luke Watson has openly admitted to being a committed Christian who wanted to become a minister at the age of 17, and who believes that doing God's work is to help those on the margins. He sports four religious tattoos on his body, including a cross on his right biceps and the reference "Habakkuk 3:17" on his left arm. While living in Cape Town he fed homeless persons three times a week and let them shower at his home. Watson says that he prays continuously while on the field, asking God " 'where the gaps are, where the weaknesses are in defence and help me be in the right place' ". Yet he does not believe in being judgmental, and describes himself as " 'very tentative to preach too quickly' ".
...
Wikipedia