Introduction
Timothy John Whitehead (born (1988-05-30)30 May 1988 in Port Elizabeth) is a South African rugby union player, who most recently played withWestern Province. His regular position is centre.
Career
Youth and Varsity Cup rugby
Whitehead played for Varsity Cup sideUCT Ikey Tigers in the 2008, 2010, 2011 editions of the competition. He made eleven appearances in this competition during the three seasons, helping Ikeys win the title in 2011 by beatingUP Tuks in Pretoria.
He also played for theWestern Province U21 side in the Under-21 Currie Cup competitions in 2008 and 2009.
Western Province / Stormers
His first class debut came in the 2010 Vodacom Cup competition when he came on as a substitute forWestern Province in their match against theBoland Cavaliers in Bredasdorp. His first start came a week later in their home match against theSharks XV.
After one more start in the Vodacom Cup that season, Whitehead was drafted into theStormers squad for the 2010 Super 14 season. He made his Super Rugby debut on 20 March 2010 against theCheetahs in Cape Town. He made a further two starts and seven substitute appearances during the remainder of the season.
He also made his debut in the Currie Cup in the same season. He started against theFree State Cheetahs, one of six matches he started that season.
He fell out of Super Rugby contention in 2011, but made another six appearances in the 2011 Vodacom Cup competition and seven in the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division.
Sharks / Sharks
At the end of 2011, Whitehead moved to Durban to join theSharks. He started fifteen of theSharks' matches during the 2012 Super Rugby season – also scoring his first Super Rugby try against theBlues in Auckland – and a further seven appearances in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division.
Whitehead missed the entire 2013 Super Rugby season with a broken arm sustained in a pre-season match against theLeopards, but returned in the latter half of the year to help theSharks win the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division.
With new head coach Jake White taking over at the Sharks, Whitehead was a surprise omission from the squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season, being relegated to the Vodacom Cup squad instead.
Eastern Province Kings
He joined Port Elizabeth-based sideEastern Province Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season. He left after two seasons at the Kings, after the non-payment of player salaries allowed him to disengage himself from his contract.