Full name | Phillip Rudolph van der Merwe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 3 May 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Potchefstroom, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 126 kg (19 st 12 lb; 278 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Grey College, Bloemfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of the Free State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Flippie van der Merwe (father), François van der Merwe (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Phillip Rudolph van der Merwe (born 3 May 1985 in Potchefstroom) is a South African rugby union rugby player who plays in the lock position for French Top 14 side Clermont.
Van der Merwe attended Grey College in Bloemfontein before joining the Bloemfontein-based provincial side the Free State Cheetahs. He made his first class debut for them in the 2006 Vodacom Cup – eventually starting eleven matches and playing off the bench on two occasions – and also made his Currie Cup debut in the second half of 2006, three times appearing as a replacement during the competition.
In 2007, he got his first taste of Super Rugby, starting two matches for the Cheetahs during the 2007 Super 14 season. He made five appearances in the 2007 Vodacom Cup, but his only Currie Cup involvement in 2007 came in one match on loan at the Griffons.
He made three appearances for the Cheetahs during the 2008 Super 14 season and also scored his first try in Super Rugby. He played a bigger part in their Currie Cup campaign in 2008, making seven appearances.
In 2009, Van der Merwe moved to Pretoria to join the Blue Bulls. He immediately established himself as a first-choice player for them, making eleven starts and two substitute appearances in the 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division. He also featured for the Bulls in the 2010 Super 14 season before being called up to the South African national team for the first time.
He became an important part of the Bulls side over the next few years, making 75 appearances for the side in Super Rugby competitions between 2010 and 2015. He also featured in 39 first class matches for the Blue Bulls between 2009 and 2012, with national team call-ups and injury preventing him from playing for them in 2013 and 2014.
Shortly before the 2015 Super Rugby season, the Bulls announced that Van der Merwe would leave after the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division to take up a contract with French Top 14 side Clermont. [1] He was later given an early release from his contract and made the move to Clermont during the Currie Cup campaign. [2]
On 12 June 2010, he played his first test for the South African national team, the Springboks, against France. He missed out on selection to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but established himself as a regular for the team over the next few years, appearing in 36 test matches prior to his move to Clermont in 2015.
His father Flippie was also a rugby player, making six appearances for South Africa between 1981 and 1989.
Mahlatse Chiliboy Ralepelle, is a former rugby union player for the Sharks in Super Rugby and in the Currie Cup. His usual position is at hooker.
Christoffel Johannes van der Linde is a South African former professional rugby union player and currently the scrum coach at French Top 14 side Montpellier. He played first class rugby between 2002 and 2015 in South Africa, Ireland, England and France and also made 75 test matches for South Africa, which included winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup. His usual playing position was prop.
Herman Meyer Bosman is a South African former professional rugby player, who last played for the Stade Français, in France. He is a flyhalf (10), but has recently showed great ability in the inside-center position. He has played for the national team of South Africa, the Springboks on 3 occasions in test matches between 2005 and 2006. He played his last test to date on 15 July 2006 against Australia in Brisbane. Throughout his career, Bosman won three Currie Cup trophies, two outright and drawing another in 2006, also finishing as runner-up twice with the Sharks.
Lucas "Kabamba" Floors is a former South African rugby union footballer, who made in excess of 200 appearances during his playing career. He started and finished his career at the SWD Eagles, making 33 appearances for the George-based outfit between 2003 and 2004 and a further 17 appearances in 2013. He spent the bulk of his career in Bloemfontein, representing the Free State Cheetahs in the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions and the Cheetahs in Super Rugby. His usual position is on the flank, although he occasionally plays at number eight, and was once selected on the wing. Floors made a single appearance for the national team, the Springboks, in 2006 and played for the national rugby sevens team between 2003 and 2006, also captaining them in 2006.
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow is a South African former professional rugby union player. His usual position was as open-side flanker and his most recent club was Northampton Saints in the English Premiership.
Steven Robert Sykes is a South African former rugby union player. He played for Oyonnax in the French Top 14. His regular position was lock.
Robert Thompson Ebersohn is a rugby union and Sevens professional player from South Africa. He has played for the Springboks Sevens, South Africa Under 20 and made his Super 14 debut for the Cheetahs in 2010. When participating in the 15-man format of rugby, his preferred position is centre although he has been employed as a fullback on various occasions.
Gideon Johannes Stegmann is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played as an openside flank for Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at the age of 21.
Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen, nicknamed 'Coenie' or 'Shrek', is a professional rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the English Premiership. He previously represented the Free State Cheetahs and Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Cheetahs and Sharks in Super Rugby and also was chosen for the Springboks squad in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making his test debut in the first test against England in Durban in 2012.
Darron Paul Nell is a South African professional rugby union player who most recently with the Eastern Province Kings. His usual positions are flanker and number 8.
Izak Petrus van der Westhuizen is a former South African rugby union player whose regular position was lock. He is on the Free State Cheetahs coaching staff and the head coach of the Free State XV in the Rugby Challenge.
Torsten George van Jaarsveld is a Namibian professional rugby union footballer. He plays mostly as a hooker or flanker. He currently plays for Pro D2 side Stade Montois.
Cornal Hendricks is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is wing.
Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.
Jacques van Rooyen is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular position is prop.
Armand H P "Akker" van der Merwe is a South African professional rugby union player for South African United Rugby Championship side Bulls. His regular position is hooker.
Charles Maclean Marais was a South African rugby union professional player for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup. His regular position is prop.
Adriaan Jacobus Van der Berg Coertzen is a South African rugby union player for Aurillac in the Rugby Pro D2 in France. His regular position is winger or fullback.
Daniel Joubert van der Merwe is a South African rugby union player who last played for the Griffons. His regular position is prop.
Ivan van Zyl is a South African rugby union player for Saracens. His regular position is scrum-half.