André Esterhuizen Explained

André Esterhuizen
Fullname:Adriaan Pieter Esterhuizen
Birth Date:30 March 1994
Birth Place:Potchefstroom, South Africa
Weight:1130NaN0
School:Klerksdorp High, Klerksdorp
Position:Centre
Currentclub:Harlequins
Youthyears1:2007–2011
Youthyears2:2013–2015
Years1:2013–2014
Apps1:12
Points1:25
Years2:2014–2020
Apps2:26
Points2:55
Years3:2014–2020
Apps3:81
Points3:45
Years4:2017–2020
Clubs4:Munakata Sanix Blues
Apps4:22
Points4:67
Years5:2020–2024
Clubs5:Harlequins
Apps5:87
Points5:143
Repyears1:2014
Repteam1:South Africa Under-20
Repcaps1:4
Reppoints1:10
Repyears2:2018–present
Repcaps2:18
Reppoints2:0
Clubupdate:20 April 2024
Repupdate:22 June 2024

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. His regular position is centre.

Rugby player career

Youth

Esterhuizen represented his local side 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 . He started twelve of the 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.

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

Club career

Sharks

His first taste of first class rugby came for the during the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition. He made his debut in a 72–6 victory against the, coming on as a substitute in the second half. Further substitute appearances followed that season in matches against the and .

Esterhuizen was included in the wider training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season, scoring a try for them in their warm-up match against Saracens[1] and was subsequently selected in the final Super Rugby squad for 2014.[2]

Harlequins

He joined Premiership Rugby side Harlequins ahead of the 2020–21 season.[3]

He won his first Premiership title and started as Harlequins won the final 40–38 against Exeter Chiefs in the highest scoring Premiership final ever on 26 June 2021.[4]

In May 2022, Esterhuizen won the Rugby Players' Association's player's player of the year. The result was determind after a poll by fellow players throughout the English Premiership. The award came off the back of him scoring 8 tries for Harlequins throughout the season after qualifying for the playoffs in an attempt to retain the Premiership title.[5]

On 2 January 2022, Esterhuizen won man of the match despite not scoring a try as Harlequins beat Gloucester 20-17 away.[6] On 5 January 2022, Esterhuizen scored a try against in a absence of a number of key players including England internationals Marcus Smith and Danny Care, going on to win man of the match against Newcastle Falcons as Harlequins won 24-3 away.[7] On 8 January 2022, Esterhuizen scored a last minute try and completed the game winning turnover to beat Exeter Chiefs. He was awarded his third consecutive man of the match in as many games for his performance.[8]

At the end of the 2021–22 season, Esterhuizen was voted Harlequins' players player of the year and fans player of the season.[9]

In April 2024, he scored a try from a cross-field kick by Marcus Smith as Harlequins won their first ever Champions Cup knockout game beating Glasgow Warriors 28-24 at home.[10]

Return to the Sharks

In March 2024 Esterhuizen announced he would be returning to South Africa for family reasons. On his time at Harlequins, he was quoted as saying I'm very grateful to Harlequins for providing me with the opportunity to return home to South Africa and be closer to my family...I have loved my time at Quins. The club has played a huge role in my development and career achievements.[11]

His return to the Sharks was confirmed on 14 March 2024, departing the Harlequins one year prior to the end of his contract.[12]

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.[13]

In September 2023, Esterhuizen was named as part of South Africa's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[14] South Africa went on to win the tournament beating New Zealand 12-11 in the final.[15]

Honours

Club

Harlequins:1x Gallagher Premiership (2020-2021)

Country

South Africa1x Rugby World Cup (2023)

Personal life

Esterhuizen and his wife Mabea have one daughter.[16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saracens resist Sharks comeback . Planet Rugby . 24 January 2014 . 11 February 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214459/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C3551_9133440%2C00.html . 21 February 2014 .
  2. Sharks 2014 squad . Sharks . 11 February 2014 . 11 February 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150606082653/http://www.sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2310854 . 6 June 2015 .
  3. News: Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen signs for Harlequins. Planet Rugby. 24 January 2020.
  4. News: Harlequins beat Exeter to win Premiership. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-10-24.
  5. News: Andre Esterhuizen: Harlequins centre wins RPA players' player of the year award . BBC Sport . 26 May 2022 . 20 February 2024.
  6. Web site: QUINS REGISTER IMPRESSIVE WIN AT GLOUCESTER . Harlequins . 20 February 2024.
  7. Web site: MATCH REPORT: HARLEQUINS DEFEAT NEWCASTLE 3-24 . Harlequins . 20 February 2024.
  8. Web site: ESTERHUIZEN AND SMITH COMBINE FOR DRAMATIC WIN . Harlequins . 20 February 2024.
  9. News: Andre Esterhuizen: South Africa World Cup winner to leave Harlequins . BBC Sport . March 2024 . 2 March 2024.
  10. Web site: MATCH REPORT: HARLEQUINS SECURE QUARTER-FINAL SPOT . Harlequins . 8 April 2024.
  11. News: Andre Esterhuizen: South Africa World Cup winner to leave Harlequins . BBC Sport . March 2024 . 2 March 2024.
  12. Web site: 2024-03-14 . Bok 'Giant' seals Sharks return . 2024-06-02 . SA Rugby magazine . en-US.
  13. News: Wales beat South Africa 22-20 in Washington DC . BBC Sport . 31 May 2018 . 17 November 2023.
  14. Web site: Springbok 2023 World cup Squad and their high school career . Ultimate Rugby . September 2023 . 17 November 2023.
  15. Web site: HIGHLIGHTS NEW ZEALAND V SOUTH AFRICA . Rugby World Cup 2023 . World Rugby . 17 November 2023.
  16. Web site: New squad loading? Another Springbok is expecting a baby! . 15 February 2024 .
  17. Web site: Congratulations to André Esterhuizen and his wife Mábea on the birth of their baby girl, Annameah . 12 March 2021 .