André Esterhuizen

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André Esterhuizen
Andre Esterhuizen 2018b.jpg
Esterhuizen (left) playing in 2018
Full nameAdriaan Pieter Esterhuizen
Date of birth (1994-03-30) 30 March 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth Potchefstroom, South Africa
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Weight114 kg (17 st 13 lb; 251 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Klerksdorp, Klerksdorp
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Flanker
Current team Sharks
Youth career
2007–2011 Leopards
2013–2015 Sharks
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013–2014 Sharks XV 12 (25)
2014–2020 Sharks (Currie Cup) 26 (55)
2014–2020 Sharks 81 (45)
2017–2020 Munakata Sanix Blues 22 (67)
2020–2024 Harlequins 90 (143)
2024– Sharks 18 (25)
Correct as of 19 August 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2014 South Africa Under-20 4 (10)
2018– South Africa 24 (10)
Correct as of 13 September 2025

Adriaan Pieter 'André' Esterhuizen (born 30 March 1994 in Klerksdorp) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and South Africa national team. His regular position is centre. [1]

Contents

Rugby player 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

Sharks

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]

Harlequins

Esterhuizen joined Premiership Rugby side Harlequins ahead of the 2020–21 season. [9] In February 2021, his scored his first try for the club in a 37–24 victory against Leicester Tigers. [10] In June 2021, he won the Premiership title, starting in a 40–38 victory against Exeter Chiefs in the final, the highest scoring English league final in history. [11]

In May 2022, he won the Rugby Players' Association's player's player of the year. The result was determined after a poll by fellow players throughout the league. Throughout the season he had scored 8 tries and helped his side qualify for the league playoffs. [12]

On 2 January 2022, he won man of the match despite not scoring a try during a 20-17 away victory over Gloucester. [13] On 5 January 2022, he won man of the match again against Newcastle Falcons during a 24–3 away victory. [14] On 8 January 2022, he scored a last minute try and secured 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. [15] At the end of the 2021–22 season, Esterhuizen was voted Harlequins' players player of the year and fans player of the season. [16]

In April 2024, he scored a try from a cross-field kick by Marcus Smith as the club won their first ever Champions Cup knockout game beating Glasgow Warriors 28–24 at home. [17]

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. [18]

His return to the Sharks was confirmed on 14 March 2024, departing the Harlequins one year prior to the end of his contract. [19]

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. [20]

In September 2023, Esterhuizen was named as part of South Africa's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. [21] South Africa went on to win the tournament beating New Zealand 12–11 in the final. [22]

In August 2025, he scored his first try during a 38–22 defeat against Australia in the 2025 Rugby Championship opening fixture. [23] The following week, he made his competitive debut at flanker also against Australia, replacing Franco Mostert during a 30–22 victory. [24] In September 2025, he scored another try during the tournament in the largest victory ever on New Zealand home soil, a 43–10 win. [25]

Test Match record

As of 13 September 2025
AgainstPWDLTriPts%Won
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 54010080
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 64021566.67
Flag of England.svg  England 2002000
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 220000100
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 220015100
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 110000100
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 110000100
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 110000100
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 110000100
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 31020033.33
Total23170621073.91

P = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored

International tries

As of 13 September 2025
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResultScore
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Johannesburg, South Africa Ellis Park Stadium 2025 Rugby Championship 16 August 2025Loss22–38
2Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand Wellington Regional Stadium 2025 Rugby Championship 13 September 2025Win10–43

Honours

Club

Harlequins: 1x Gallagher Premiership (2020-2021)

Country

South Africa 1x Rugby World Cup (2023)

Personal life

Esterhuizen and his wife Mabea have one daughter. [26] [27]

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. ↑ "Harlequins sign Andre 'The Giant' Esterhuizen". Harlequins. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  10. ↑ "Harlequins Harlequins 37 24 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "Harlequins beat Exeter to win Premiership". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "Andre Esterhuizen: Harlequins centre wins RPA players' player of the year award". BBC Sport. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "QUINS REGISTER IMPRESSIVE WIN AT GLOUCESTER". Harlequins. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "MATCH REPORT: HARLEQUINS DEFEAT NEWCASTLE 3-24". Harlequins. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "ESTERHUIZEN AND SMITH COMBINE FOR DRAMATIC WIN". Harlequins. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Andre Esterhuizen: South Africa World Cup winner to leave Harlequins". BBC Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "MATCH REPORT: HARLEQUINS SECURE QUARTER-FINAL SPOT". Harlequins. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "Andre Esterhuizen: South Africa World Cup winner to leave Harlequins". BBC Sport. March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Bok 'Giant' seals Sharks return". SA Rugby magazine. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Wales beat South Africa 22-20 in Washington DC". BBC Sport. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Springbok 2023 World cup Squad and their high school career". Ultimate Rugby. September 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "HIGHLIGHTS NEW ZEALAND V SOUTH AFRICA". Rugby World Cup 2023. World Rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  23. ↑ Gallan, Daniel. "South Africa 22-38 Australia: Rugby Championship Test – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  24. ↑ Gallan, Daniel. "South Africa 30-22 Australia: 2025 Rugby Championship Test – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  25. ↑ Latham-Coyle, Harry. "New Zealand vs South Africa live: Springboks dismantle All Blacks in record-breaking Rugby Championship win". The Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "New squad loading? Another Springbok is expecting a baby!". 15 February 2024.
  27. ↑ "🎉 Congratulations to André Esterhuizen and his wife Mábea on the birth of their baby girl, Annameah". 12 March 2021.
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