Gerhard van den Heever

Gerhard Jacobus van den Heever (born 13 April 1989) is a South African-born Japanese rugby union player for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Kubota Spears in the Top League. His regular playing position is as a wing.

Gerhard van den Heever

Full name	Gerhard Jacobus van den Heever
Date of birth	(1989-04-13) 13 April 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth	Bloemfontein, South Africa
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	105 kg (16.5 st; 231 lb)
School	Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
University	University of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Fullback Current team Kubota Spears Youth career 2005–2010 Blue Bulls Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009–2011 Bulls 31 (60) 2009–2011 Blue Bulls 41 (95) 2012–2013 Stormers 26 (10) 2012–2013 Western Province 24 (15) 2013–2016 Munster 29 (30) 2016–2018 Yamaha Júbilo 22 (203) 2018–2019 Sunwolves 18 (35) 2018–present Kubota Spears 16 (110) Correct as of 21 February 2021 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2009 South Africa Under-20 4 (15) – Japan 5 Correct as of 7 June 2018

Education

Van den Heever attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys, known as Affies), in Pretoria — a school that produced several sports stars such as Bulls players Derick Kuun, Pierre Spies and Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Titans cricketers AB de Villiers, Heino Kuhn and Faf du Plessis. He played in the University Seven's Rugby World Championships for the University of Pretoria.^[1]

Bulls

In early 2010, Van den Heever inherited Bryan Habana's number 11 shirt in the Bulls team after Habana's departure for the Stormers; Van den Heever is said to be even quicker than Habana.^[2][3]

Stormers

On 24 October 2011, Van den Heever left the Bulls to join the Stormers and Western Province.^[4]

Munster

Van den Heever agreed to join Irish side Munster on a two-year contract after the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division.^[5] He arrived in Cork to join up with Munster on 5 November 2013.^[6] He made his debut for Munster on 29 November 2013, starting against Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12, but sustained a broken bone in his hand during the game.^[7][8][9] Van den Heever scored his first try for Munster in their 54–13 win against Cardiff Blues on 8 February 2014.^[10] He was added to Munster's 2013–14 Heineken Cup squad on 20 March 2014.^[11] He made his Heineken Cup debut on 5 April 2014, coming on against Toulouse in Munster's quarter-final. In May 2016, it was announced that Van den Heever would be leaving Munster.^[12]

Yamaha Júbilo

After leaving Munster, Van den Heever played for Japanese Top League side Yamaha Júbilo from 2016 to early 2018.^[13]

Achievements

• 2009 Currie Cup winner with the Blue Bulls
• 2010 Super Rugby winner with the Bulls
• 2012 Currie Cup winner with Western Province