| Full name | Alexander Robert Mark Groves | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 5 January 2001 South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 207 cm (6 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 120 kg (265 lb; 18 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St John's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alex Groves (born 5 January 2001) is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the Stormers and Western Province. His preferred position is lock. [1]
Groves was born in South Africa and attended St John's College where he played rugby and earned selection for the Lions at Craven Week in 2019. [2] Groves is English qualified, and joined the Bristol Bears straight out of school in January 2020. [3] He represented the England U20 side in 2021. [4] In 2024, Groves was diagnosed with a heart condition and forced to have open-heart surgery. [5]
Groves professional debut came with on dual-registration with Hartpury University in 2021. [6] He would debut for the Bristol Bears against the Worcester Warriors in November 2021. [7] In February 2022, he transferred to the Sale Sharks, [8] debuting in March against Wasps, however he was ineligible for this fixture with Sale receiving a points deduction. [9] Over the next two seasons, he would make eight further appearances for Sale, including one in the Premiership against Newcastle Falcons. Having recovered from open-heart surgery in early 2024, he returned to rugby on loan with Caldy, making six apperances for the side. [10] He would make two more appearances for Sale also before departing at the end of the 2024/25 season. [11]
Having departed Sale, Groves returned to South Africa, signing with the Stormers. [12] He would first represent the Western Province side in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division. [13] Having been named in the Stormers squad for the 2025/26 season, [14] he would join the Scarlets on loan for two fixtures in October 2025. [15] He would make his debut for the Stormers in round 3 of the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup against the Harlequins. [16]