Date of birth | 29 December 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Pretoria, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 115 kg (18.1 st; 254 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Hoërskool Garsfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Johan Ackermann (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Ruan Ackermann (born 29 December 1995) is a South African professional rugby union player, currently playing in the English Premiership with Gloucester. His regular position is flanker.
Ackermann played high school rugby for Hoërskool Garsfontein, where he featured for their first XV from 2012 to 2014, [1] also captaining them in 2014, where he helped them reach the final of the Beeld Trophy. [2] He didn't represent the Blue Bulls at Craven Week level and was instead contracted by Johannesburg-based side the Golden Lions to join their academy from 2015.
Despite still being at school, he was included in the Golden Lions U19 squad during the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship and was named on the bench for three of their matches. He played off the bench on all three occasions and marked his debut – a Round Ten match against Western Province U19 in Johannesburg – by scoring a try in a 28–8 victory. [3]
Ackermann was named in the Golden Lions squad for the 2015 Vodacom Cup. He made his first class debut by starting their opening match of the campaign, a 53–3 victory over the Welwitschias in Windhoek. [4] He played off the bench in their regular season matches against the Blue Bulls, [5] Leopards [6] and the Griffons in Welkom, a match that also saw Ackermann score his first senior try in a 36–20 victory. [7] The Golden Lions finished top of the Northern Section, winning all seven of their matches to qualify for the Quarter Finals. Ackermann played off the bench in a 29–21 victory over the SWD Eagles in their quarter final match [8] and started their semi-final match against the Pumas, which the side from Nelspruit won 43–20 to eliminate the Golden Lions from the competition. [9]
Ackermann was named in a 37-man South Africa Under-20 training squad in March 2015, [10] but missed out on selection for their final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. [11]
He made six appearances for the Golden Lions U21 team during the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, scoring a try in his side's 17–30 defeat to the Free State U21s [12] as they finished in fourth position on the log to qualify for the semi-finals, but didn't feature in the semi-final match which was won 43–20 by eventual champions Western Province U21. [13]
In December 2015, Ackermann was included in the 55-man Lions squad that prepared for the 2016 Super Rugby season [14] and he also made the cut for a 27-man squad for their tour to Japan and New Zealand for matches against the Sunwolves, Chiefs and Highlanders. [15] He was named on the bench for their opening match against the Sunwolves. [16]
In August 2017, Gloucester Rugby announced the signing of Ackermann, whose father Johan had recently joined as head coach. [17]
Ackermann played for the Barbarians against South Africa XV in a non-cap friendly, held at the Wembley Stadium in London, England. [18] He also played against Fiji, Czech Republic and New Zealand XV in non-cap friendlies. [19] [20] [21]
He was included in the South Africa 'A' side in a two-test series against French Barbarians, also coached under his father, Johan Ackermann. [22]
He is the son of Johan Ackermann, a former provincial rugby player who also made thirteen appearances for the South African national team. After finishing his playing career, Johan Ackermann became a coach at the Golden Lions Currie Cup side and the Lions Super Rugby side.
Wandile Gabada Mjekevu is a South African rugby union player who plays as a center or a wing for Sporting Club Albigeois in the French Top 14 competition.
Monde Sakhile Hadebe is a former South African rugby union player, whose regular position is hooker. He played domestic Currie Cup rugby with the Sharks between 2011 and 2015 and Super Rugby with the Sharks in 2015. He retired from rugby in 2016 when he was given a four-year ban following a positive drugs test.
Edgar Marutlulle is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His usual position is hooker.
Johan Gert Meyer is a South African born rugby union player, currently playing with Italian side Zebre in the Pro14 and European Rugby Challenge Cup, and for the Italian national team after qualifying through residency. His regular position is flanker or number eight.
The 2015 Vodacom Cup was contested from 6 March to 30 May 2015. The tournament was the 18th edition of the Vodacom Cup, an annual domestic South African rugby union competition, and was played between the fourteen provincial teams in South Africa, as well as the Limpopo Blue Bulls and Namibian side Welwitschias.
Jean-Luc du Preez (born 5 August 1995 is a South African rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. He made his debut for South Africa in 2016 and his regular position is flanker, although he also plays at lock and number eight.
Fabian Connal Frazer Booysen is a South African professional rugby union player who last played for the SWD Eagles in the Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge competitions. His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Ruan van Rensburg is a South African rugby union player who plays for the SWD Eagles in South Africa's Provincial Competition the Currie Cup. His regular position is scrum-half.
Jano Venter is a South African professional rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is number eight.
Lourens Jacobus Erasmus is a South African professional rugby union player for theLions in Super Rugby and NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League. His regular position is lock.
Ashlon Davids is a South African professional rugby union player for the Pumas in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is fly-half or fullback.
Chase Wayne Morison is a South African professional rugby union player for Munakata Sanix Blues in the Top League in Japan. His can play as a prop or a hooker.
Selom Kwame Gavor is a South African professional rugby union player for the Golden Lions XV in the Rugby Challenge. He usually plays as a winger.
Ramone Christie Samuels is a South African rugby union player for the Stormers in Super Rugby and Western Province in the Currie Cup. He can play as a flanker, number eight or hooker.
Koch Peter Marx is a South African professional rugby union player for Jersey Reds in the RFU Championship. He can play as a centre or a winger.
Shaun Reynolds is a South African rugby union player for the Lions in Super Rugby, the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and the Golden Lions XV in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is fly-half.
Victor Kutlwano Sekekete is a South African professional rugby union player for Griquas in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is flanker, but he also played as a lock earlier in his career.
Immanuel Libbok is a South African International rugby union player for the Springboks and Stormers in United Rugby ChampionshipWestern Province in the Currie Cup. He is a utility back that can play as a fullback, fly-half, winger or centre.
Franco Johan Naudé is a South African professional rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is centre.
Sibahle Ndiphiwe 'Rabz' Maxwane is a South African rugby union player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. He usually plays on the wing.