Cameron Holenstein (born 11 March 1995) is a

South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player, currently playing for Hartpury University in the

RFU Championship The RFU Championship is an English rugby union competition comprising twelve clubs. It is the second level of men’s English rugby and is played by both professional and semi-professional players. The competition has existed since 1987, when ...

. His favoured position is loosehead prop.Cameron is an international Swiss Mens XV rugby player. Growing up in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, Holenstein began his sporting career as a

javelin thrower The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about in length, is thrown. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men's decathlon and the ...

, owing to his powerful build. Holenstein’s javelin career was cut short at the age of 16 due to a career-ending shoulder injury. Being a physical and athletic young man, he turned his attention to rugby after his shoulder had recovered. His rugby career began at Pretoria Harlequins. In 2014, he played for the Sharks U19 team, where he first met fellow Harlequin

Tim Swiel Timothy Gregory Swiel (born 4 June 1993) is an English-born South African rugby union player for . His regular position is fly-half. Career Youth Swiel attended Bishops in Cape Town and played in their first side in 2010 and 2011 alongside Di ...

. In 2015 he moved to French side Pau, where he helped the side avoid relegation from the French

Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France. Created in 1892, the Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the French National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism o ...

, url= On the 1st of August 2016, Holenstein signed for Harlequins. Quins Director of Rugby John Kingston at the time commented; "Cameron is a tough, uncompromising, physical individual who will create real competition for places." Unfortunately, Holenstein was injured during his first appearance for Harlequins (a preseason game against

London Irish London Irish RFC is a professional rugby union club which competes in the Premiership, the top division of English rugby union. The club has also competed in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, the European Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup. While ...

). The injury sustained was a torn Achilles; it required him to be out for the whole 2016-17 season. On 1 June 2018, Holenstein left Harlequins to join

side

Jersey Reds Jersey Reds is a rugby club based in Jersey, Channel Islands that currently competes at the RFU Championship, which is the second tier of English professional rugby. Until season 2022/23, the professional arm of Jersey Reds was part of Jers ...

from the 2018-19 season. On 5 June 2019, Holenstein left Jersey to sign for

Old Elthamians Old Elthamians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Chislehurst in SE London-Kent. Due to financial difficulties they withdrew from National League One, the third tier of English club rugby, in August, 2021. Upon retur ...

who play in the English third division

National League 1 National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leagu ...

for the 2019-20 season. On 4 June 2020, he returns to the

with Hartpury University from the 2020-21 season. 2021-current Swiss Mens XV rugby team

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holenstein, Cameron South African rugby union players Living people 1995 births Harlequin F.C. players Rugby union props Alumni of Michaelhouse Rugby union players from Gauteng South African expatriate rugby union players in England Section Paloise players Richmond F.C. players South African expatriate rugby union players in France