{{short description|Zimbabwean rugby union player }} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby union biography | name = Don Armand | image = Don Armand 2018.jpg | caption = Armand playing for Exeter Chiefs, 2018 | fullname = Donovan Wade Armand | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|23|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Harare]], [[Zimbabwe]] | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | weight = {{convert|115|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = [[Maritzburg College]] | university = [[University of Cape Town]] | relatives = | position = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]] | currentclub = [[Retired]] | youthyears1 = 2006 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} | years1 = 2012–2013 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps1 = 19 | points1 = 5 | years2 = 2012–2013 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps2 = 16 | points2 = 0 | years3 = 2013–2022 | clubs3 = [[Exeter Chiefs]] | apps3 = 193 | points3 = 185 | amatyears1 = 2008–2012 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UCT Ikey Tigers}} | amatapps1 = 27 | amatpoints1 = 5 | repteam1 = [[England national rugby union team|England]] | repyears1 = 2017-2018 | repcaps1 = 2 | reppoints1 = 0 | ru_ntupdate = 17 March 2018 | clubupdate = 08 December 2018 }}
'''Donovan Wade Armand''' (born 23 September 1988) is a former Zimbabwean-born England international [[rugby union]] footballer. Originally from Zimbabwe, he played as a [[Rugby union positions#7. flank|flanker]] for [[Exeter Chiefs]] in the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|English Premiership]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=35187 |title=Stormers make two changes for Waratahs |work=Super 15 Rugby News |publisher=Superxv.com |date=2012-05-16 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112017/http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=35187 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Zimbabwe=== Armand grew up in Zimbabwe and attended Highlands Junior School in Harare.
===South Africa=== After the Zimbabwean land-reform, Armand moved to South Africa and attended [[Maritzburg College]]. He made his debut with the South African team [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]] on 10 March 2012 in a 51–22 victory over the [[Boland Cavaliers]].<ref name="DHL Western Province 51-22 Regent Boland Kavaliers">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=103631 | homeid=11421 | awayid=11431 | leagueid=1211 | hometeam=DHL Western Province | homescore=51 | awayscore=22 | awayteam=Regent Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=10 March 2012 | date=4 July 2016}}</ref> He finished the 2012 Vodacom Cup season with six appearances and one try.
Due to injuries sustained by loose-forwards [[Duane Vermeulen]] and [[Nick Köster]] on the [[Stormers]]' 2012 Australasian tour, Armand received a call-up to the squad for the final tour game against the [[Western Force]]. The match ended in a 17–3 Stormers victory. He made his Super Rugby debut as a 75th-minute replacement for [[Nizaam Carr]].<ref name="Force 3-17 DHL Stormers">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=100721 | homeid=10191 | awayid=10261 | leagueid=1041 | hometeam=Force | homescore=3 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=DHL Stormers | matchdate=28 April 2012 | date=4 July 2016}}</ref>
Armand was a fixture in the 2012 Western Province Currie Cup side and started the winning final against the {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)}} in Durban.
He has also represented the [[Ikey Tigers]] in the [[Varsity Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://varsitycup.co.za/index.php/varsity-shield/11-news/varsity-cup-news/817-Armand_to_captain_Ikey_Tigers |title=Armand to captain Ikey Tigers |publisher=Varsitycup.co.za |date=2012-02-16 |access-date=2012-05-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619091254/http://varsitycup.co.za/index.php/varsity-shield/11-news/varsity-cup-news/817-Armand_to_captain_Ikey_Tigers |archive-date=2012-06-19 }}</ref>
===Exeter Chiefs===
On 17 July 2013, it was confirmed that Armand would be joining English [[Aviva Premiership]] side [[Exeter Chiefs]] on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/23345995|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Exeter Chiefs sign versatile forward Don Armand from Western Stormers in South Africa|date=15 July 2013}}</ref> Armand has been a key player in Exeter Chiefs successful 2017 Aviva season becoming Champions of England on 27 May 2017. He was named man of the match in the final, where the Chiefs recorded their first ever league win with a 23-20 extra-time victory over Wasps.
Armand made his [[Exeter Chiefs]] debut against the [[Leicester Tigers]] in the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]] in September 2013. He appeared 11 times in the 2013–14 season, mostly as a substitute. In 2014–15, Armand appeared 12 times, starting in 10 of those appearances. Armand had a breakout season in 2015–16, appearing 21 times in the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]], starting each match and playing a total of 1,611 minutes. Armand also appeared in the Chiefs' [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Champions Cup]] campaign and started the [[2015–16 English Premiership (rugby union)#Final|2016 Aviva Premiership final]]. Armand was nominated for the Aviva Premiership player of the year award, which was won by [[Alex Goode]].{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} Armand won the Exeter Chiefs Supporters' player of the year award for 2016<ref>{{Cite web|title=POSTS, NEWS & EVENTS|url=https://www.chiefssupportersclub.co.uk/news|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Chiefs Supporters|language=en}}</ref> and also earned an [[England Saxons]] call up for their summer tour of South Africa. He started the final and was voted man of the match as Exeter Chiefs defeated [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]] to be crowned champions of the [[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|2016-17 English Premiership]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40018239 |title=Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet) |publisher=BBC |date=27 May 2017 |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> He announced his retirement following the [[2021–22 Premiership Rugby|2021–22 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armand calls time on Chiefs career |url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/armand-calls-time-on-chiefs-career |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=www.exeterchiefs.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>
==International career== In 2016, Armand was selected for the [[England Saxons]]' tour of South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/england-a-call-up-armand|title=England A call up Armand|website=latinfinance.com|date= May 23, 2016|access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>
In 2017 Armand was named in the touring squad to Argentina.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/05/29/uncapped-exeter-flanker-don-armand-earns-england-call-up-argentina/ |title=Uncapped Exeter flanker Don Armand earns England call-up for Argentina tour |last=Schofield |first=Daniel |date=May 29, 2017 |website=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph media Group Limited |access-date= May 31, 2017 }}</ref> Armand won his first international cap for England on 10 June 2017 in their 34-38 victory over Argentina, coming on as a substitute in the second half. Armand's second cap and [[Six Nations Championship]] debut came as a late sub in England's defeat to Ireland in the 2018 tournament.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=41029 | name=Don Armand | date=30 May 2016}} *[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_25680.html itsrugby.co.uk Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armand, Don}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1988 births]] [[Category:White Zimbabwean sportspeople]] [[Category:Expatriate rugby union players in South Africa]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Rugby union flankers]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Harare]] [[Category:Alumni of Maritzburg College]] [[Category:England international rugby union players]] [[Category:Exeter Chiefs players]] [[Category:Zimbabwean rugby union players]] [[Category:Zimbabwean expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]] [[Category:Zimbabwean expatriate rugby union players]] [[Category:Zimbabwean expatriate sportspeople in England]] [[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Naturalised rugby union players]] [[Category:University of Cape Town alumni]]