Stephen Atherton (born 17 March 1965) is a South African former rugby union player who played as a lock or flanker.[1]

Steve Atherton
Birth nameStephen Atherton
Date of birth (1965-03-17) 17 March 1965 (age 59)
Place of birthGosport, Hampshire, England
Height2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
SchoolPinetown Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1988–2000 Natal 165 ()
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1998–2000 Sharks ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992–1996 South Africa 8

Playing career

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Atherton represented the Natal Schools team, together with players such as Gary Teichmann and Joel Stransky, at the annual Craven Week in 1984 held in Bloemfontein.[2] He made his debut for the Natal senior side in 1988 and played 165 matches for Natal over a thirteen-year period and was a member of the Currie Cup winning teams in 1990, 1992 and 1996.[3]

Atherton toured with the Springboks to France and England in 1992, but did not play in any test matches. He made his test debut for South Africa during the 1993 tour of Argentina, in first test on 5 November 1993 at the Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium in Buenos Aires. He played in eight tests matches and fifteen tour matches for the Springboks, scoring one try in a tour match.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Steve Atherton". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (1985). S.A. Rugby Writers Annual 1985. SA Rugby Writers' Society. p. 245.
  3. ^ Colquhoun, Andy (1999). The South African Rugby Annual 1999. Cape Town: MWP Media Sport. pp. 179–180. ISBN 0958423148.
  4. ^ Jooste, Graham K. (1995). South African rugby test players 1949-1995. Johannesburg: Penguin. pp. 135–141. ISBN 0140250174. OCLC 36916860.