Rugby ATL signed South African Robbie Petzer through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Robbie, who is from Vredefory, South Africa, will be 25-years-old next week. He plays flyhalf/inside center, is 6’1″ and 210 lbs.
Robbie played in all five matches for the Colorado Raptors during the 2020 season, starting four times at the inside center. Following the season, the Raptors disbanded and he signed to play in Japan. Covid-19 impacted travel to Japan, and he signed with the Dallas Jackals for the 2021 season. The Jackals then postponed their entry into the league until 2022, leaving Dallas players available through a dispersal draft. Robbie was selected in the draft and then traded to Rugby ATL where he will be a valuable addition to the team for the next three years.
During the 2019 season, Robbie played 804 minutes in 14 matches, starting 11 times, scoring 5 tries, carrying 71 times for 718 meters, and making 82 tackles. He had 10 linebreaks, 10 tackle breaks, and 6 offloads.
Robbie attended Die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad, Hoërskool Parys, Hoërskool Noord Kaap and after high school, at Kovsies (University of the Free State).
The rugby resume of Robbie Jacobus Petzer is an extensive one for a young player. He played for the Under-16s Griffons in the 2012 Grant Khomo Week and the Under-18s Griquas in the 2014 Craven Week.
After high school, he played with the Western Province Academy in 2015 before re-joining the Griffons in 2016. During the Under-20s Provincial Championship, he scored 111 points, the third-most in the competition.
The following year he made the jump to Senior rugby first playing for the Griffons in the 2017 Rugby Challenge. During the second half of the year, he made his Currie Cup debut for the Free State Cheetahs against the Golden Lions, then his PRO14 debut against Munster, before finishing the season with three more Currie Cup appearances.
In 2018 he moved to St George and played with the SWD Eagles, making 8 appearances, and joined the Glendale Raptors for the 2019 and 2020 Major League Rugby seasons. In 2019, he also returned to represent the Griffons who were Currie Cup runner-ups.
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