Vainon Willis

Vainon Shanon Willis (born 11 October 1988) is a retired South African rugby union player, who most recently played with the Golden Lions.[1] His regular position is winger.

Vainon Willis

Full name	Vainon Shanon Willis
Date of birth	11 October 1988
Place of birth	Cape Town
Height	1.84 m (6 ft ^1⁄2 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb; 205 lb)
School	Waterkloof High School
University	Tshwane University of Technology
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger Youth career 2004–2008 Blue Bulls Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–2009 TUT Vikings 11 (15) 2013 UP Tuks 7 (10) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–2010 Blue Bulls 11 (10) 2010 → Pumas 9 (10) 2011–2012 Leopards 27 (15) 2012 Boland Cavaliers 3 (10) 2013 Blue Bulls 1 (5) 2014–2015 Golden Lions 11 (10) Correct as of 2 November 2015 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2005–2006 S.A. Schools 2007 South Africa Under-19 2008 South Africa Under-20 4 (5) 2013 South African Barbarians Correct as of 9 May 2013

Career

Youth level

He represented Blue Bulls at youth level between 2004 (at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week) and 2009 (in the Under-21 Provincial Championship competition).

Provincial Rugby

He was included in the Blue Bulls senior squad for the 2009 Vodacom Cup competition and made his first class debut in their Vodacom Cup match against the Leopards.[2]

Despite being a regular during the 2009 Vodacom Cup campaign, he failed to break into the Currie Cup squad and he joined the Pumas for a short spell during for the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division season.

He then joined the Leopards at the start of 2011, where he played several games before a short spell at Boland Cavaliers in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division.

He rejoined the Blue Bulls in 2013, being named in their 2013 Vodacom Cup squad. He made just one appearance before he then moved across the Jukskei River to join the Golden Lions for 2014.[3]

Varsity Cup

Willis represented the TUT Vikings in the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup competitions. Upon returning to the Blue Bulls, he was also included in the UP Tuks squad in 2013,[4] scoring a try in the final against Maties.[5]

Representative Rugby

Willis played for S.A. Schools teams in 2005 and 2006, South Africa Under-19 in 2007 and South Africa Under-20 in the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in 2008. In 2013, he was also named in a South African Barbarians team to face Saracens.[6]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Vainon Willis". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Platinum Leopards 22-22 Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
3. "TRickey kontraktering vir Leeus" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
4. "SA Rugby Squad – Tuks : 2013 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB Maties 5-44 FNB UP-Tuks 1". South African Rugby Union. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
6. "South African Barbarians name squad for City clash". Saracens. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.