Johan Gert Meyer (born 26 February 1993 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a South African born rugby union player, currently playing with Italian side Zebre in the Pro14 and European Rugby Challenge Cup and for the Italian national team. His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Youth
Meyer represented Eastern Cape side theBorder Bulldogs at several youth tournaments. In 2006, he played for their Under-13 side at the Craven Week competition. He played for them at two Under-18 Craven Week competitions – in 2010 and again in 2011, when he scored three tries for the Border U18 side, including two in their match againstGriquas Country Districts.
After school, Meyer moved to Durban where he joined theSharks Academy. He was a member of theSharks U19 squad that played in the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship (although he never played for them) and theSharks U21 squads in 2013 and 2014.
Sharks
Meyer made his first class debut during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, making his first of 5 appearances off the bench in theSharks XV's 72–6 victory over his former side theBorder Bulldogs in Durban.
He was once again involved in theSharks XV 2014 Vodacom Cup campaign, this time appearing in all eight of their matches; four times in the run-on side and four times off the bench. His first start came in their Round Three match against theFree State XV in Bloemfontein and two weeks later he scored his first senior try in their match against theBoland Cavaliers in Ceres to help the Sharks XV to a 43–27 win. He scored another try in their match against Kenyan invitational sideSimba XV in a 40–3 victory in Cape Town and another in the quarter-final, which wasn't enough to see the Sharks XV lose 27–20 to eventual losing finalists theGolden Lions to be eliminated from the competition.
Meyer was then named in theSharks squad for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition and named on the bench for their Round Two match against thePumas.
Zebre
Meyer joined Italian Pro12 side Zebre for the 2015–16 Pro12 season. He played 17 games, starting 16, playing 1269 minutes, scoring 3 tries contributing 15-point in the Pro 12 series.He played 5 games in the European Rugby Challenge Cup contributing 5 points.