Dandré van der Westhuizen

Dandré van der Westhuizen (born 6 November 1991 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, who most recently played with the Falcons.[1] He can play as a loosehead or tighthead prop.

Dandré van der Westhuizen
Date of birth (1991-11-06) 6 November 1991
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight119 kg (18 st 10 lb; 262 lb)
SchoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
UniversityUniversity of South Africa /
Tshwane University of Technology
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Youth career
2010–2011 Blue Bulls
2012 Golden Lions
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012 TUT Vikings 11 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 Blue Bulls 2 (0)
2012–2015 Falcons 33 (0)
Correct as of 23 March 2016

Career

Blue Bulls / TUT Vikings

After finishing high school in 2009, Van der Westhuizen joined the Blue Bulls Academy. He represented the Blue Bulls U19 side in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring one try in their match against the Leopards U19s[2] to help them finish second on the log.[3] They reached the final of the competition in Durban, where Van der Westhuizen was an unused replacement in their 20–26 defeat to Western Province U21.[4]

In 2011, he started the season representing the TUT Vikings in the 2011 Varsity Cup competition, making four appearances. He was also included in the Blue Bulls squad for the 2011 Vodacom Cup and he made his first class debut on 8 April 2011, starting their 34–8 victory over the Border Bulldogs in East London.[5] He made his first home appearance a week later when he came on as a late replacement in their match against the SWD Eagles.[6] In the second half of 2011, he made a single appearance for eventual champions the Blue Bulls U21s during the 2011 Under-21 Provincial Championship.

He played in all seven of the TUT Vikings' matches during the 2012 Varsity Cup, but saw his side relegated after losing all their matches.

Golden Lions / Falcons

In the second half of 2012, he crossed the Jukskei River to join Johannesburg-based side the Golden Lions. He made five appearances from the bench for the Golden Lions U21s during the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship before joining their near-neighbours, Kempton Park-based side the Falcons. He made his debut in the First Division of the Currie Cup on 17 August 2012 when he came on as an early substitute in the Falcons' match against the Griffons in Welkom.[7] After twice being named on the bench but failing to appear, Van der Westhuizen made his first start in the Currie Cup in their match against the Leopards in Potchefstroom, where they suffered a 57–22 defeat.[8] He made a further two starts for the Falcons as they finished in seventh place on the log.

He was named in the Falcons squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, but failed to get any game time. He did return to action during the 2013 Currie Cup First Division, starting seven of their matches and playing off the bench on three occasions. The Falcons finished last on the log after winning just two out of their fourteen matches.

He represented the Falcons in the Vodacom Cup competition for the first time in 2014, making four appearances. He played in three of the Falcons' matches during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series; a spot in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division was up for grabs for the winner of the series, but the Falcons missed out to remain in the First Division. Van der Westhuizen started all five of their matches in the First Division regular season to help them finish in fourth spot to qualify for the semi-finals. He also started their semi-final, helping the Falcons cause an upset by beating the log leaders Leopards in Potchefstroom and advance to the final.[9] However, he missed out on the final, where the Falcons lost 21–23 to the Griffons in Welkom.[10]

Squads

Van der Westhuizen was a member of the following squads:

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Dandré van der Westhuizen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 31-40 Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Log – 2010 ABSA Under 19 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Blue Bulls 20-26 Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 8-34 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 23-25 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Griffons 36-39 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 57-22 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 24-31 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 23-21 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
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