View source for Bobby Skinstad

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography 
| name = Bobby Skinstad 
| image = Bobby Skinstad cropped.jpg
| caption = 
| birth_name = Robert Brian Skinstad
| nickname = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|7|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bulawayo]], [[Rhodesia]] (now [[Zimbabwe]])
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height      = {{height|m=1.93}}
| weight      = {{convert|105|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = [[Rugby union positions#6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker|Openside flanker]], [[Number eight (rugby union)|Number eight]]
| repteam1    = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]
| repyears1   = 1997–2007
| repcaps1    = 42
| reppoints1  = 55
| ru_ntupdate = 21 July 2007
| years1      = 2004
| years2      = 2005–2006
| clubs1      = [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport RFC]]
| clubs2      = [[Richmond F.C.|Richmond]]
| apps1       = 9
| points1     = 5
| ru_clubupdate = 28 April 2007
| ru_currentclub = 
| super1       = [[Stormers]]
| super2       = [[Lions (Super rugby franchise)|Cats]]
| super3       = [[Sharks (Super rugby franchise)|Sharks]]
| superyears1  = 1998–2000
| superyears2  = 2001–2003
| superyears3  = 2007
| superapps1   = 27
| superapps2   = 10
| superapps3   = 11
| superpoints1 = 45
| superpoints2 = 13
| superpoints3 = 5
| super14update = 
| province1     = [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]]
| province2     = [[Golden Lions]]
| province3     = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
| provinceyears1 = 1997–2000
| provinceyears2 = 2001–2003
| provinceyears3 = 2007
| provinceapps3  = 3
| provincepoints3 = 5
| ru_provinceupdate = 
| repsevensyears1 = 
| repsevensteam1 = [[Springboks|South Africa]]
| repsevenscomp1 = 
| ru_sevensupdate = 19 April 2007
| occupation = Businessman
| relatives = 
| school = [[Hilton College (South Africa)|Hilton College]], [[Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal|Hilton]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], South Africa
| university = [[Stellenbosch University]]
| URL = 
}}

'''Robert Brian Skinstad''' (born 3 July 1976) is a former [[rugby union]] professional player who has represented the [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] national team, the Springboks. He played in the positions of [[Flanker (rugby union)|flanker]] and [[Number eight (rugby union)|number eight]].

==Early life and education==
Skinstad is of British and Irish descent, and his surname is of [[Norway|Norwegian]] origin. He lived in [[Kloof]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], while he attended [[Highbury Preparatory School]] in the nearby town of [[Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal|Hillcrest]]. He also attended Fores in Rondebosch, before boarding at [[Hilton College (South Africa)|Hilton College]]. His university studies took him to [[Stellenbosch University]] where he lived in the Simonsberg men's residence and captained the "Maties" (University) 1st side.

==Early career==
Skinstad was selected by Western Province for the [[Currie Cup]] and [[Super 12]], and went on to captain both sides. He then moved to Johannesburg and played the 2003 season for the [[Golden Lions]] (Currie Cup) and the Cats (Super 12) before leaving for the United Kingdom.

Skinstad was eligible to represent three countries at international level: Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ireland, through his Irish mother Alana who hails from County Louth.

==International career==
Having represented South Africa at all levels, including captaining the under-21 Springbok side in 1996 and 1997, and playing for the SA Sevens team in 1997, Skinstad made his début for the Springboks as a replacement on 29 November 1997 against [[England national rugby union team|England]]. In all he played 42 tests for the Springboks, scoring 11 tries.

His inclusion in the 1999 World Cup squad at the expense of successful captain [[Gary Teichmann]] was controversial in South Africa, and although South Africa finished third in the competition there were many who believed that Teichmann should have been retained as captain for that tournament.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Skinstad carried a leg injury into the competition, and made little impression.

Skinstad captained South Africa in 12 tests, since 24 October 2003.

==Semi-retirement in Britain==
In January 2004 Skinstad terminated his contract with SA Rugby and signed with [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]] in Wales, for whom he played 9 games. He then worked with a group, including businessmen [[Johann Rupert]] and [[Wayne Huizenga]], trying to take over an English club in London,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6910156.stm |work=BBC News |title=Skinstad makes SA World Cup squad |date=21 July 2007 |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> and played part-time for [[Richmond F.C.|Richmond]] in England's London South-East Division 1. He was also a regular player for the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] and has captained them on several occasions. 
In December 2006 he played alongside his friend, former Scottish international [[Kenny Logan]] in the [[Dubai Sevens]] for '''Stefan BHF''' to raise awareness for the [[British Heart Foundation]] in memory of the late Stefan Czerpak,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stefanczerpak-supportsbhf.com |title=In Memory of Stefan Czerpak &#124; HELPING BABIES AND CHILDREN WITH HEART PROBLEMS |access-date=2007-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205054440/http://stefanczerpak-supportsbhf.com/ |archive-date=5 December 2006}}</ref> ex England colts Newbury RFC and Richmond RFC rugby coach who died in 1998 from a heart attack.

[[File:Dubai 7's Stefan BHF team 2006.jpg|270px|thumb|right|Dubai Sevens - Stefan Czerpak BHF Team. Skinstad is in the back row, 2nd from the left.]]

Skinstad started his own sports management company, Esportif, as a joint venture with Saatchi & Saatchi based in their London headquarters. He has worked as an analyst and occasional presenter covering the Super 14, Currie Cup and NPC Tournaments for [[Sky Sports]].{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==Return to South Africa==
After months of speculation about a return to professional rugby, Skinstad returned to Super 14 rugby in 2007 playing for the Sharks. He made his return coming off the bench against the [[Highlanders (Super rugby franchise)|Highlanders]] in New Zealand, and went on to make another 9 appearances, including a substitute's role in the [[2007 Super 14 Final|final]]. 
He was rewarded with a recall to the Springbok training camp in May 2007, and when [[Danie Rossouw]] was taken ill, Skinstad was named on the bench for the second test against [[England national rugby union team|England]] on 2 June, continuing a remarkable comeback. He then was chosen as captain for the Boks' [[2007 Tri Nations Series|2007 Tri Nations]] match against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] on 7 July, when coach [[Jake White]] rested several senior players in preparation for the World Cup. An inexperienced Boks side took a surprising 17–0 lead before fading to lose 25–17.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/default.asp?id=221179&des=article |title=B Boks Sting – Then Expire |first=Dan |last=Retief |publisher=SuperSport |date=2007-07-07 |access-date=2007-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926220258/http://www.sarugby.co.za/default.asp?id=221179&des=article |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
Despite suffering a broken rib in the Australia match,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6910156.stm |title=Skinstad makes SA World Cup squad |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=21 July 2007 |access-date=2007-07-21}}</ref> Skinstad would see his comeback capped off on 21 July with selection to the South Africa squad for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/default.asp?des=article&id=222817 |title=Bok World Cup Squad Announced |publisher=[[South African Rugby Union]] |date=2007-07-21 |access-date=2007-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929082926/http://www.sarugby.co.za/default.asp?des=article&id=222817 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He only played and captained one full game in South Africa's winning campaign, and made three further appearances as a substitute.

Skinstad retired from professional rugby on 6 November 2007.

On 21 October 2013, Skinstad was appointed as Tourism Brand Ambassador for the Cape Whale Coast region in the [[Western Cape]], South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulmenstein |first=Chris von |date=2013-10-22 |title=Bob Skinstad new Tourism Ambassador for Overstrand, first for Western Cape! |url=https://www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog/cape-town/bob-skinstad-new-tourism-ambassador-for-overstrand-first-for-western-cape/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=www.chrisvonulmenstein.com |language=en-ZA}}</ref> This region is made up of the following towns: Hermanus, Gansbaai, Stanford, Kleinmond, and Hangklip.

==Honours==
*Currie Cup: Winner (with [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]]) 1997, 2000, 2001. Finalist 1998
*Superrugby (with [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]): Finalist [[2007 Super 14 Final|2007]]. 
*Tri-Nations: Winner (with [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]]) 1998
*World Cup: Winner (with Springboks) [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]. 3rd place with Springboks [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18423 | name=Bobby Skinstad | date=10 March 2016}}
*[http://www.genslin.us/bokke/PlayerData.aspx?PlayerID=600 SA Rugby Hall of Fame profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035534/http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=132722 Newport Gwent Dragons Official Site]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=[[André Vos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Springbok captains|Springbok Captain]]|years=2001–2002 & 2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Smit]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Squads
|list1 = 
{{1997 South Africa Rugby World Cup Sevens squad}}
{{1998 South Africa Commonwealth Games Sevens squad}}
{{South Africa 1999 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{2001 South Africa Rugby World Cup Sevens squad}}
{{South Africa 2007 Rugby World Cup squad}}
}}

{{Barbarian F.C. captains for international games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinstad, Bobby}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Bulawayo]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean people of British descent]]
[[Category:Dragons RFC players]]
[[Category:Golden Lions players]]
[[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]]
[[Category:Stormers players]]
[[Category:Western Province (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players]]
[[Category:Sharks (rugby union) players]]
[[Category:South African rugby union players]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Barbarian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rugby union flankers]]
[[Category:Rugby union number eights]]
[[Category:Alumni of Hilton College (South Africa)]]
[[Category:Alumni of Highbury Preparatory School]]
[[Category:Richmond F.C. players]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to South Africa]]
[[Category:White Rhodesian people]]
[[Category:South African people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Wales]]
[[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean expatriates in England]]
[[Category:South Africa international rugby sevens players]]
[[Category:Male rugby sevens players]]
[[Category:Rugby sevens players at the 1998 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for South Africa]]
[[Category:1999 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:South Africa national rugby union team captains]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]
[[Category:Stellenbosch RFC players]]