Patrick Lambie

Did You Know?

• Lambie holds a British passport.
• He married his long-term partner Kate Symons in January 2014.
• After retiring, he moved into residential property development in KwaZulu-Natal, working with Collins Residential.

Early life

Lambie played for KwaZulu-Natal at Craven Week in 2007 and 2008, earning selection for the South African Schools team both years. In 2010, he became the first Springbok from Michaelhouse in its 115-year history. His father, Ian, played provincial rugby for Natal during the 1980s. His maternal grandfather, Nic Labuschagne, was a hooker for England, Natal, and the Barbarians. On his father’s side, Lambie is related to former Scotland internationals Peter Brown and Gordon Brown.

Club career

Lambie finished as the leading points scorer in the ABSA U21 Currie Cup in 2009 with 192 points and helped the Sharks Under-21 side reach the final. He made his senior debut later that season in the 2009 Currie Cup. His Super Rugby debut came at fullback for the Sharks against the Highlanders on 20 March 2010, coinciding with the end of the Sharks’ five-match losing streak. He became the Sharks’ first-choice No.10 during the 2010 Currie Cup, playing in all sixteen matches and finishing with 205 points.

In the Currie Cup final he scored 25 points in a 30–10 victory and earned the Man-of-the-Match award. Across all competitions in 2010 he played 24 matches, winning 19 and scoring 215 points. In 2011 he set a Sharks record for most points in a single Super Rugby season with 193 points, despite breaking a finger mid-season. He played 13 matches in the 2012 Super Rugby season, scoring 141 points and helping the Sharks reach the final, where they lost 37–6.

International career

Lambie was South Africa's first-choice fullback at the 2010 Under-20 World Championship, where he ranked second in tournament points. He debuted for the Springboks on 6 November 2010 against Ireland, coming off the bench to convert a try in a 23–21 win. Selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he started every pool match and the quarter-final at fullback. His first Test try came against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2013.

In 2014, he produced a decisive performance off the bench against Australia in Cape Town, landing a drop goal and scoring a try in a 28–10 victory. The following week, he kicked a 55-metre match-winning penalty at Ellis Park to beat the All Blacks 27–25. Lambie made the 2015 World Cup squad and earned his 50th cap in the third-place playoff against Argentina. His Test career ended after a serious concussion from a high tackle by CJ Stander during a June 2016 match against Ireland. He made his final international appearance later that year against Wales.

Retirement

On medical advice after repeated concussions, Lambie announced his retirement from all rugby in January 2019 at the age of 28. He had suffered four concussions between 2016 and 2018 and continued to experience post-concussion symptoms after each one. He later reflected that the 2016 collision with Ireland's CJ Stander was the moment that changed everything for his career and long-term health. Lambie has said the abrupt end to his rugby career was a difficult transition, commenting that he still has days where it hurts and often wishes he was still playing.