André Esterhuizen
Esterhuizen (left) playing in 2018
Full nameAdriaan Pieter Esterhuizen
Date of birth (1994-03-30) 30 March 1994
Place of birthPotchefstroom, South Africa
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight113 kg (17 st 11 lb; 249 lb)
SchoolKlerksdorp High, Klerksdorp
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre / Full-back
Current team Harlequins
Youth career
2007–2011 Leopards
2013–2015 Sharks
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2014 Sharks XV 12 (25)
2014–2020 Sharks (Currie Cup) 26 (55)
2014–2020 Sharks 72 (45)
2017–2020 Munakata Sanix Blues 22 (67)
2020– Harlequins 49 (73)
Correct as of 25 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 South Africa Under-20 4 (10)
2018–present South Africa 16 (0)
Correct as of 22 November 2022

Adriaan Pieter 'André' Esterhuizen (born 30 March 1994 in Klerksdorp) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Harlequins in the English Premiership and South Africa national team.[1] His regular position is centre or full-back.

Career

Youth

Esterhuizen represented his local side Leopards at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007, at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2010 and at the Under-18 Craven Week in 2011.

In 2013, he moved to Durban to join the Sharks. He started twelve of the Sharks U21 side's matches during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, finishing as the joint top try scorer in Division A of that competition with 9 tries.[2]

He was included in the South Africa Under-20 side for the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship.[3]

Club Career

His first taste of first class rugby came for the Sharks XV during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. He made his debut in a 72–6 victory against the Border Bulldogs, coming on as a substitute in the second half.[4] Further substitute appearances followed that season in matches against the Boland Cavaliers[5] and Eastern Province Kings.[6]

Esterhuizen was included in the Sharks wider training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season, scoring a try for them in their warm-up match against Saracens[7] and was subsequently selected in the final Super Rugby squad for 2014.[8]

He joined Premiership Rugby side Harlequins ahead of the 2020–21 season.[9]

He won his first Premiership title and started as Harlequins won the game 40–38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever on 26 June 2021.[10]

International Career

In 2018, Esterhuizen made his debut for South Africa against Wales in a one off match staged in Washington. South Africa went on to lose the game 22-20.[11]

In September 2023, Esterhuizen was named as part of South Africa's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[12] South Africa went on to win the tournament beating New Zealand 12-11 in the final.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – André Esterhuizen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2013 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Junior Springboks named for JWC 2014". South African Rugby Union. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 72–6 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Sharks XV 54–24 Regent Boland Cavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 27–23 Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Saracens resist Sharks comeback". Planet Rugby. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Sharks 2014 squad" (Press release). Sharks. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen signs for Harlequins". Planet Rugby. 24 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "Harlequins beat Exeter to win Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Wales beat South Africa 22-20 in Washington DC". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Springbok 2023 World cup Squad and their high school career". Ultimate Rugby. Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "HIGHLIGHTS NEW ZEALAND V SOUTH AFRICA". Rugby World Cup 2023. World Rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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