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| Date of birth | (1997-09-25)25 September 1997 (age 27) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Johannesburg,Gauteng, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 240 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Joseph's College, Nudgee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reece Hewat (born 25 September 1997) is aSouth African-bornAustralianrugby union player who plays forSection Paloise in theTop 14 competition. His position of choice isloose forward.
Originally fromSouth Africa, Hewat spent his formative years there before relocating toQueensland,Australia. His mother is Australian, and his father is of English origin from South Africa.[1]
His rugby journey began atSt Joseph's College, Nudgee, where he honed his skills in junior rugby. Excelling in the local scene, he joined theNorth Brisbane Rugby Club, showcasing both skill and leadership.
In 2016, he joined theQueensland Reds, competing inSuper Rugby.[2] Under coachNick Stiles, he made his debut for the Reds, aiming to bring fresh energy to the team after a series of disappointing performances.
Between 2016 and 2018, he played both inSuper Rugby with theQueensland Reds (only featuring in one match) and withBrisbane City in theNational Rugby Championship, playing six matches.[3]
He played sparingly due to two major injuries, undergoing a double shoulder operation that kept him off the field for 9 months. Upon his return, during his first training session, he suffered a knee ligament injury, sidelining him for another 9 months. These setbacks led to him falling out of favor with the Queensland Reds coach.
As he was set to joinEngland, his agent informed him of an opportunity to become aJIFF (player developed through the French system) inFrance.[1]
Choosing between the academies ofStade Toulousain andStade Aurillacois, he opted for the latter and made his way toCantal. His best friend,Emmanuel Meafou chose Toulouse.
His French journey began withStade Aurillacois in the 2018-2019 season. While he initially played with the U20 team, he quickly transitioned to the professional squad. Despite a slow start, he became a key player for Stade Aurillacois in subsequent seasons. In the summer of 2021, he made another significant move, signing withSection Paloise in theTop 14.[4]
Hewat's adaptation to the French rugby style took time, but by the 2022-2023 season, he had become a prominent figure in the forward pack for Section Paloise. His contributions led to a contract extension until June 2026.[5] Notably, in January 2023, his defensive prowess was highlighted with a tackle success rate of 96%, the highest in the Top 14.[6]
Hewat's leadership qualities were evident early in his career as he captained theAustralian Schoolboys rugby union team. In 2017, he played a significant role in theWorld Rugby U20 Championship with theAustralia national under-20 rugby union team, where he served as captain, playing in 5 matches and scoring 1 try.
