# Lukhanyo Am

Lukhanyo Am (born 28 November 1993) is a South African professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. His regular positions are centre and wing.

## Professional career

Am played for the Margate-based Gladiators Rugby Academy before he was called into the Border Bulldogs Under-19 squad that won the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship Division B and winning promotion to Division A, making six appearances and scoring three tries.
After spending time with Saracens during the off-season as part of an exchange programme in conjunction with the British High Commission, he returned to be included in the Border Bulldogs senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition and made his senior debut against defending champions Western Province in Paarl.

### Southern Kings

At the start of 2016, Am was one of two Sharks players that joined the Southern Kings' Super Rugby squad for a trial period as they prepared for the 2016 Super Rugby season.

### Sharks

After a successful spell at Southern Kings there were high expectations that Am had to meet. He did not disappoint and played a crucial part for the Sharks, helping them reach the quarter finals of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons. In January 2020, Am was named captain of the Sharks for the 2020 Super Rugby season, replacing the retiring Tendai Mtawarira.

## International career

In 2013, Am was named in a South African Barbarians team to face Saracens in London.

### South Africa 'A'

South Africa 'A' 2016
In 2016, Am was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team. He came on as a replacement in their first match in Bloemfontein, but ended on the losing side as the visitors ran out 32–24 winners. He was promoted to the starting line-up for the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat to the Saxons in George.
South Africa 'A' 2021
Am was named as Captain of South Africa 'A' for the warm-up game against the British and Irish Lions on July 14, 2021. He proudly led the South African team to a win against the visitors. Lukhanyo scored one of the two converted tries in the exhibition match.

### South Africa

Am was included in the South African squad for the 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals.
He has had a prolific impact on the backline of the Springboks, partnering well with Damian De Allende and causing havoc for opposition teams. He was very instrumental in the lead up games to the 2019 Rugby Championship campaign. Am was part of the Springboks team that lifted the coveted 2019 Rugby Championship trophy. He has also been named on several games the vice-captain to Siya Kolisi, as further proof of his instrumental impact on the team.
2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan
Am was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. South Africa won the tournament, defeating England in the final, where the Springboks won the match convincingly with a runaway score of 32-12. Who can ever forget the amazing run and wicked pass Am gave Makazole Mapimpi, which led to a memorable and historic Springboks first finals try in Rugby World Cups. All previous Springboks World Cup finals were won without tries. Am played a central role in the Springboks' 2019 World Cup campaign, featuring in six out of seven matches.
The British and Irish Lions Tour 2021
Am played all the games against the visiting British and Irish Lions, having successfully led South Africa 'A' as captain in the warmup match. The Springboks eventually won the series and this was a further crowning of Am and his centre partner Damian De Allende, when they were applauded for their escapades and well regarded as the best center pairing in World Rugby.
2023 Rugby World Cup in France
Although Am did not initially make South Africa's 2023 Rugby World Cup squad due to injury suffered in the last game against the Argentinian team, he was later called up to the campaign in France for the injured Makazole Mapimpi

## Honours

South Africa
* 2019 Rugby Championship Winner
* 2019 Rugby World Cup Japan Winner
* 2021 South Africa 'A' vs British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa appointed Captain
* 2021 South Africa 'A' vs British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa Winner
* 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa Winner
* 2023 Rugby World Cup France Winner
* 2024 Qatar Airways Cup in Twickenham - Springboks vs Wales Winner
* 2024 Nelson Mandela Plate - Springboks vs Wallabies Winner
* 2024 Freedom Cup - Springboks vs All Blacks Winner
* 2024 Rugby Championship Winner
Sharks
* 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup Winner
* 2024 Currie Cup Championship Winner

### Test Match Record

    As of 5 August 2023
| Against | P | W | D | L | Tri | Pts | %Won |
| Argentina | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 83.33 |
| Australia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 25 |
| England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 75 |
| British and Irish Lions | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 66.67 |
| Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 100 |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 100 |
| New Zealand | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 37.5 |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Wales | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Total | 35 | 23 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 30 | 65.71 |
Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

### International tries

As of 5 August 2023
| Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
| 1 | Argentina | Durban, South Africa | Kings Park Stadium | 2018 Rugby Championship | 18 August 2018 | Won | 34–21 |
| 2 | Namibia | Aichi, Japan | Toyota Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 28 September 2019 | Won | 57–3 |
| 3 | Italy | Fukuroi, Japan | Shizuoka Stadium | 2019 Rugby World Cup | 4 October 2019 | Won | 49–3 |
| 4 | British and Irish Lions | Cape Town, South Africa | Cape Town Stadium | 2021 British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa | 31 July 2021 | Won | 27–9 |
| 5 | Australia | Brisbane, Australia | Suncorp Stadium | 2021 Rugby Championship | 18 September 2021 | Loss | 30–17 |
| 6 | New Zealand | Johannesburg, South Africa | Emirates Airline Park | 2022 Rugby Championship | 13 August 2022 | Loss | 23–35 |