{{Short description|South African rugby union player (1986–2026)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Kevin Buys | image = | fullname = Kevin Buys | birth_date = {{birth date|1986|04|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Benoni, South Africa | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|05|13|1986|04|26|df=y}} | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | weight = {{cvt|120|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen | university = University of Pretoria | relatives = Father Stephanus Johannes van Coller. | position = Prop | currentclub = Beaune | youthyears1 = 2005–2007 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2007 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps1 = 7 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2007–2009 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Brive}} | apps2 = 20 | points2 = 5 | years3 = 2009–2011 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps3 = 24 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2010–2011 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps4 = 13 | points4 = 0 | years5 = 2012–2013 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} | apps5 = 2 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2013 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | apps6 = 17 | points6 = 0 | years7 = 2013–2017 | clubs7 = {{Rut|Brive}} | apps7 = 75 | points7 = 0 | years8 = 2017–2018 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Oyonnax}} | apps8 = 7 | points8 = 0 | years9 = 2018–2026 | clubs9 = Beaune | apps9 = 0 | points9 = 0 | clubupdate = 10 September 2018 }}
'''Kevin Buys''' (26 April 1986 – 13 May 2026) was a South African rugby union player.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Kevin Buys">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=38771 | name=Kevin Buys | date=31 May 2016}}</ref>
==Biography== Buys started his playing career at the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} as a youth player. In 2007, he made his debut in the Vodacom Cup competition. He then moved to French club CA Brive in November 2007. He played in the Espoirs (their reserve team), but graduated to the first team. He made 15 appearances for the team in the 2007–08 Top 14 season. He just made a further five appearances for the team the following season, three of those in the 2008–09 European Challenge Cup.<ref name="Kevin Buys">{{cite web|work=worldartists.co.za |url=http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/591640-Kevin-Buys |title=Kevin Buys |access-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227052408/http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/591640-Kevin-Buys |archive-date=27 December 2010 }}</ref>
He then returned to South Africa and joined the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} team in 2009. He played for them in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions, as well as for the {{Rut|Lions}} in the Super Rugby competition. At the start of 2012, he linked up with the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}. He was also named in the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season.
In 2013, he rejoined French Top 14 side CA Brive for a second time.<ref name="Le pilier droit sud-africain Kevin Buys de retour au CA Brive">{{cite web | url=http://limousin.france3.fr/2013/06/10/le-pilier-droit-sud-africain-kevin-buys-de-retour-au-ca-brive-267507.html | title=Le pilier droit sud-africain Kevin Buys de retour au CA Brive | publisher=France 3 | work=France 3 | date=10 June 2013 | access-date=11 June 2013 | language=fr}}</ref>
Buys died by heart attack in May 2026, at the age of 40.<ref>[https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2026/05/13/carnet-noir-ancien-joueur-de-brive-le-sud-africain-kevin-buys-est-decede-a-lage-de-40-ans-13369193.php Carnet noir - Ancien joueur de Brive, le Sud-Africain Kevin Buys est décédé à l'âge de 40 ans] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buys, Kevin}} Category:1986 births Category:2026 deaths Category:South African rugby union players Category:Eastern Province Elephants players Category:Southern Kings players Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players Category:Bulls (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union players from Benoni Category:University of Pretoria alumni Category:Rugby union props Category:CA Brive players Category:Oyonnax Rugby players Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in France Category:21st-century South African sportsmen