Wikus van Heerden
Encyclopedia
Wikus van Heerden is a South African rugby union
footballer who plays as a Flanker
, currently signed to play for the Lions in the Super 14
, and the Golden Lions
in the national Curriecup competition. Van Heerden has also played for the national team, the Springboks
. Before his move to the Bulls, he was the captain of the Cats (Now known as the Lions). Van Heerden is known for his high work rate, toughness as well as his leadership experience, despite having captained perpetually unsuccessful teams [such as the Cats/Lions during the 2004-6 Super 12/14 seasons in which, only 4 games from 35 were won].
at Kings Park
in Durban
. South Africa won the match 29 points to 25. He played at flanker for the second Test against the Scottish a week later at Ellis Park
, which South Africa also won, 28 to 19.
He was subsequently including in South Africa's 2003 Tri Nations Series
squad. He played against the Wallabies
at Newlands
, which the Springboks won 26 to 22. He also played against the All Blacks
at Loftus Versfeld, and was a reserve in another match against Australia at Suncorp Stadium
, both of which the Springboks lost.
Van Heerden had a good 2007 Super 14 campaign with the Bulls as the team’s specialist fetcher. His best game was in the Bulls’ 92-3 win against the Reds at Loftus, scoring two tries in the process. This led to him being selected into the Springboks. In July 2007, Van Heerden played his first Test in four years, against the Wallabies
in Sydney
. He played very well in this match, being regarded as the best Bok forward, albeit in a second string Springbok XV. He was equally impressive in the match against the All Blacks
in Christchurch a week later. These performances lead to his inclusion in the Springbok's Rugby world cup
squad.
On 16 May 2008 it was confirmed that he would join Guinness Premiership
side Saracens in November 2008 following his Currie Cup commitments with the Bulls. He scored a try on his debut for Saracens in a 27-14 defeat against London Irish
at the Madejski Stadium
on 23 November.
On 18 March 2010, it was confirmed that Saracens had released him in order to return to South Africa where he would play for the Lions. This was a surprise, as Saracens had indicated he would see out the season with the club. In his first super rugby season back in South Africa he boke his arm but was back for the first match of the Curriecup. Unfortunately he broke his arm again in exactly the same place in this match, putting him out for several weeks. His father is former Springbok Lock Moaner van Heerden
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays as a Flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
, currently signed to play for the Lions in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
, and the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
in the national Curriecup competition. Van Heerden has also played for the national team, the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
. Before his move to the Bulls, he was the captain of the Cats (Now known as the Lions). Van Heerden is known for his high work rate, toughness as well as his leadership experience, despite having captained perpetually unsuccessful teams [such as the Cats/Lions during the 2004-6 Super 12/14 seasons in which, only 4 games from 35 were won].
Career
van Heerden made his debut for the Springboks on 7 June 2003 as flanker against ScotlandScotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
at Kings Park
Kings Park Stadium
Kings Park , is a stadium in the Kings Park Sporting Precinct in Durban, South Africa, which was originally built in 1891 and extensively renovated in the 1990s...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. South Africa won the match 29 points to 25. He played at flanker for the second Test against the Scottish a week later at Ellis Park
Ellis Park Stadium
Ellis Park Stadium, also known because of its sponsorship by The Coca-Cola Company as Coca-Cola Park, is a rugby union and association football stadium in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the country's...
, which South Africa also won, 28 to 19.
He was subsequently including in South Africa's 2003 Tri Nations Series
2003 Tri Nations Series
The 2003 Tri Nations Series was contested from 12 July to 16 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the tournament.-Table:-Results:...
squad. He played against the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
at Newlands
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....
, which the Springboks won 26 to 22. He also played against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
at Loftus Versfeld, and was a reserve in another match against Australia at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, both of which the Springboks lost.
Van Heerden had a good 2007 Super 14 campaign with the Bulls as the team’s specialist fetcher. His best game was in the Bulls’ 92-3 win against the Reds at Loftus, scoring two tries in the process. This led to him being selected into the Springboks. In July 2007, Van Heerden played his first Test in four years, against the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He played very well in this match, being regarded as the best Bok forward, albeit in a second string Springbok XV. He was equally impressive in the match against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in Christchurch a week later. These performances lead to his inclusion in the Springbok's Rugby world cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
squad.
On 16 May 2008 it was confirmed that he would join Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
side Saracens in November 2008 following his Currie Cup commitments with the Bulls. He scored a try on his debut for Saracens in a 27-14 defeat against London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
at the Madejski Stadium
Madejski Stadium
The Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
on 23 November.
On 18 March 2010, it was confirmed that Saracens had released him in order to return to South Africa where he would play for the Lions. This was a surprise, as Saracens had indicated he would see out the season with the club. In his first super rugby season back in South Africa he boke his arm but was back for the first match of the Curriecup. Unfortunately he broke his arm again in exactly the same place in this match, putting him out for several weeks. His father is former Springbok Lock Moaner van Heerden
Moaner van Heerden
Moaner Van Heerden is a former South African Rugby Union international. He played as a Lock.His son, Wikus Van Heerden, is also a South African international who currently plays for Saracens in the Guinness Premiership....
.
Honours
- 2007 Superrugby winner (Bulls)
- 2007 Rugby World Cup2007 Rugby World CupThe 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
winner - 2011 Currie Cup winner (Golden LionsGolden LionsThe Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
)
External links
- Wikus van Heerden on the Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame
- Wikus van Heerden on sarugby.com
- Wikus van Heerden to Captain Lions Team
- Profile on Saracens official website