World Cup Fever – Paarl Springboks shine in SA Cup Squad
September marks not only the start of spring, but also the start of the much-anticipated 2015 Rugby World Cup. As our Boland rugby boys in green and gold take on the world, we look at Paarl Springboks who have made the squad.
Jean de Villiers
Captain Jean de Villiers is a household name and at 106 caps he is the third-most capped player in the history of Springbok rugby. To date, this ex-Gymnasium boy has scored 27 tries and a total of 135 points for the Springboks and he will be hoping to increase this tally as the World Cup progresses. He shares the record for most Tests as a Springbok centre combination with Jaque Fourie (29) and is the most capped Springbok centre (92 Tests in this position). He is the 54th Springbok captain.
Update: Sadly, suffering from a broken jaw sustained in the pool match against Samoa, Jean has had to withdraw from the SA Cup Squad and return to SA for treatment. Only just recovered from other severe injury, he has now announced his retirement from international rugby.
Position: Centre (92) Wing (15)
Province: Western Province (since 2002) and Munster (Ireland, 2009/2010)
Test debut: 9 November 2002 vs France in Marseilles, aged 21
Total tests: 107
Total Springbok matches : 107
Honours: SA Rugby Player of the Year (2008 and 2013); Players’ Player of the Year (2008); SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee (2005); Vodacom Super 14 Player of Year nominee (2008).
Schalk Burger
This former Gymnasium student and son of former Springbok lock, Schalk Burger Snr. made his debut for the Springboks at the 2003 World Cup. He overcame serious illness and injury in 2012 and 2013 and fought his way back into the team. He has 75 caps, has scored 14 tries and a total of 70 points as a Springbok player. He was the 55th Springbok captain in history. He holds the record for the most Test tries by a Springbok flanker (12).
Position: Flank (73) No. 8 (6)
Province: DHL Stormers / Suntory Sungoliath (Japan)
Test debut: 24 September, 2003 vs Georgia in Sydney, aged 20
Total tests: 79
Total Springbok matches: 79
Honours: SA Rugby Player of the Year (2004 & 2011); Young SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee (2003 & 2004); IRB Player of the Year (2004).
Handré Pollard
Handré Pollard started his rugby career at Paarl Gymnasium. He made his Test debut against Scotland in Port Elizabeth a week after returning to South Africa after his third appearance at the Junior World Championships. He captained the SA Under-20s in in New Zealand in 2014 and was named IRB Junior Player of the Year in 2014. He has 9 Springbok caps and with his trusted boot and 2 tries has scored a total of 65 points for the team.
Position: Flyhalf
Province: Blue Bulls
Test debut: 28 June 2014 vs Scotland in Port Elizabeth, aged 20
Total tests: 13
Total Springbok matches: 13
Honours: SA U20 2012-2014; SA Schools 2012; IRB Junior World Player of the Year in 2014.
Frans Malherbe
The former student from Paarl Boys’ High has made quite an impression on the rugby world, despite his young age. He has 4 caps for the Springboks. He has yet to score as part of the team but will be going full force to change this during the World Cup. He has a very promising future and we are sure to see a lot more of him.
Position: Prop
Province: Western Province
Test debut: 9 November 2013 vs Wales in Cardiff aged 22
Total tests: 6
Total Springbok matches: 6
Schalk Brits
Schalk Brits played rugby for Paul Roos Gymnasium before signing with Western Province, the Golden Lions and later Saracens. He made his Springbok debut in 2008 and has 7 caps to date. He has yet to score but he is one of the most exciting players in world rugby. He is quick and explosive and has a superb skills set. We can look forward to seeing a lot more of him.
Position: Hooker
Club: Saracens (UK), formerly Western Province and Golden Lions
Test debut: 21 June 2008 vs Italy in Cape Town aged 27
Total tests: 8
Total Springbok matches: 8
Honours: SA Rugby Young Player of the Year nominee (2004).
Pieter Steph du Toit
Peter-Steph du Toit hails from Swartland High School in Malmesbury. He was a member of the Junior Springbok team that won the World Rugby U20 Championships in 2012. He is an uncompromising player that is able to play on the side of the scrum. He has 2 Springbok caps and we look forward to seeing nuch more of him in the future.
Position: Lock (3), Flank (1)
Province: Sharks
Test debut: 9 Nov 2013 vs Wales in Cardiff, aged 21
Total tests: 4
Total Springbok matches: 4
Willie le Roux
Willie le Roux played rugby for Paul Roos Gymnasium before starting his professional rugby career with the Boland Cavaliers. He now plays for the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and has an impressive record. He is an excellent goal kicker and has scored 7 tries in the green and gold. He has 25 caps and is able to play fullback, wing or even flyhalf.
Position: Fullback (23), Wing (4)
Province: Toyota FS Cheetahs (formerly GWK Griquas and Regent Boland Cavaliers)
Test debut: 8 June 2013 vs Italy in Durban aged 23
Total tests: 28
Total Springbok matches: 28
Honours: SARPA Players’ Player of the Year 2013
All in all, over the years Paarl Boys’ High and Paarl Gymnasium have each delivered 20 Springbok players. Paarl and the Boland can be proud of the calibre of players that they have contributed towards the latest World Cup squad.
We wish the team a successful tour and hope that they will return victorious.
Source: South African Rugby Union