Henco Venter

Not to be confused with Hanco Venter.

Henco Venter

Full name	Hendrik Petrus Venter
Born	(1992-03-27) 27 March 1992 (age 33) Bloemfontein, South Africa
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in)
Weight	107 kg (16 st 12 lb; 236 lb)
School	Grey College
Notable relative(s)	Ruben Kruger, uncle
Rugby union career
Position Flanker Youth career 2005–2013 Free State Cheetahs Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2015 UFS Shimlas 12 (0) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2012–2019 Free State Cheetahs 38 (15) 2014–2016 Free State XV 8 (5) 2015–2019 Cheetahs 57 (15) 2018–2019 Toshiba Brave Lupus 11 (10) 2020–23 Sharks 32 (10) 2020–23 Sharks (Currie Cup) 8 (5) 2023–25 Glasgow Warriors 36 (35) 2025– Brive 1 (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2008 South Africa Under-16 Elite Squad

Hendrik Petrus Venter (born 27 March 1992) is a South African rugby union player for Brive in the Pro D2. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors, Sharks and Cheetahs. ^[1] His regular position is flanker.

Rugby Union career

Youth and amateur career

Venter first played for Free State at the 2005 Under-13 Craven Week tournament. In 2008, he played for them in the 2008 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week and made it into an Under-16 Elite squad. He also played in the 2009 Academy Week. He played for Free State U19 in the 2011 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition and for Free State U21 in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship and 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competitions.

Venter also played Varsity Cup rugby for UFS Shimlas. He was named in a Varsity Cup Dream Team at the conclusion of the 2015 Varsity Cup tournament which played one match against the South Africa Under-20s in Stellenbosch. ^[2]

Professional career

Venter made his first class debut for the Free State Cheetahs in the 2012 Currie Cup promotion/relegation series against the Eastern Province Kings. ^[3] He was also included in their squad for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division competition. ^[4]

In July 2014, Venter signed a new contract with the Free State Cheetahs until the end of 2015. ^[5]

He signed with Glasgow Warriors for the 2023–24 season. He made his competitive debut for the Glasgow side against Leinster at Scotstoun Stadium. Glasgow ran in seven tries in a 43–25 victory. He became Glasgow Warrior No. 353. ^[6] He won Warrior of the Month for March 2024 and made a donation to Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity as part of the award. ^[7]

A fan favourite, Venter reluctantly left Glasgow Warriors at the end of season 2024-25. His presence helped Glasgow Warriors younger players and the team get results especially during international windows when most of the Glasgow Warriors stars were playing with the Scotland international team. The SRU Performance Director David Nucifora advised the Scottish club to only sign Scottish Qualified players instead. Venter said: "I love this place and I'd love to stay, but... leave it there! They want more Scottish players and I understand that's their plan going forward and I respect that. I'm not Scottish, so it's a privilege to be here and give back to the club and the country." Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith admitted: "If it was up to me, definitely he would stay." ^[8] After his young Glasgow Warriors side were beaten in the URC by Scarlets at the end of the November Autumn Internationals break in 2025, Smith again bemoaned the decision to let his non-Scottish Qualified players leave the club: "There were guys like Henco Venter and those guys last year helped us to step up in these types of games. Not because they only made us win, but they also helped the youngsters that don't play that often." ^[9]

For the 2025-26 season, Venter instead signed for French side Brive. ^[10]

Family

Venter is the nephew of the late South African international rugby player Ruben Kruger. ^[11]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Henco Venter". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Varsity Cup XV 24–31 South Africa U/20". South African Rugby Union. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 6–16 Toyota Free State Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Squad – Toyota Free State Cheetahs : 2013 Absa Currie Cup Premier Division". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
5. "Vrystaat belê in jonges" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
6. "x.com".
7. "Venter voted McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month". 12 April 2024.
8. "Glasgow Warriors: Henco Venter sad to leave amid foreign player directive". BBC Sport. 2 June 2025.
9. "Franco Smith bemoans absence of Glasgow Warriors' foreigners after Scarlets loss". Scotland Rugby News. 29 November 2025.
10. "Henco VENTER profile and stats". all.rugby.
11. "'Groot gevoel' om nes sy oom Ruben met nr. 7-trui te speel" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.