 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Potchefstroom, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Monument, Krugersdorp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Gerdus van der Walt (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jaco van der Walt (born 1 February 1994) is a South African-born Scottish rugby union player who currently plays for Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
He first represented the Golden Lions as early as primary school level, when he represented them at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007. In 2010, he played at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition and he played at both the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Under-18 Craven Week. He was also included in the South African Schools squad in both those seasons.
He then played for the Golden Lions U19 side in the 2012 and the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championships, making just one appearance in each. Despite being eligible for the Under-19s, he represented the Golden Lions U21 for the majority of the 2013 season, starting in thirteen matches during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 17 points.
He also represented local university side UJ during the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, making 7 appearances.
His first class debut for the Golden Lions came as a 20-year-old in the first match of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. He was named on the bench for their season-opening match in a trans-Jukskei clash with the Blue Bulls. [1] First-choice fly-half Marnitz Boshoff left the field ten minutes into the second half with a fractured arm, [2] which led to Van der Walt's introduction. He kicked one conversion and two penalties as the Golden Lions ran out 41–13 winners. [3]
In November 2017, Scottish Pro14 side Edinburgh announced that Van der Walt joined them on a two-and-a-half-year contract. [4]
In January 2021, Van der Walt signed an undisclosed-length contract extension with Edinburgh, saying the capital club were "building a really strong side." [5]
Van der Walt left Edinburgh in June 2023 to join the Bulls. [6]
He made his international debut for Scotland against Ireland, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, on 5 December 2020. He scored 3 penalties and 1 conversion in a match Scotland lost 16-31. [7]
He is the older brother of Gerdus van der Walt. Both brothers came through the ranks at the Golden Lions and they played together on occasion; on 8 May 2015, both were selected in the starting line-up for the Golden Lions' match against the Griffons in Welkom, [8] while they also played next to each other in the final match of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season, in a match that saw Gerdus make his debut in the competition. [9]
Jaco van der Walt’s grandfather was a detective in the Dutch police force before emigrating to South Africa. [10]
Demetri Catrakilis is a former South African professional rugby union player for the Southern Kings in the Pro14. He previously played for Premiership side Harlequins, Top 14 side Montpellier in France, for the Stormers and the Southern Kings in Super Rugby, for Western Province in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competition and for the UCT Ikey Tigers in the Varsity Cup. His regular playing position is fly-half.
The 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 76th season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from 9 August to 25 October 2014. The tournament is the top tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition.
The 2014 Currie Cup First Division was contested between 29 August and 17 October 2014. The tournament was the second tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.
The 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 77th season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from 7 August to 24 October 2015. The tournament was the top tier of South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition.
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.
Aubrey Neville McDonald is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with club side Rustenburg Impala. He is a utility back that can play as a fullback, winger or centre.
Hendrik Bernardus van der Walt is a South African professional rugby union player for Aurillac in the Rugby Pro D2 in France. His regular position is flanker or number eight.
Marius van der Westhuizen is a South African professional rugby union referee, currently on the Premier Panel of the South African Rugby Referees' Association.
Daniel Joubert van der Merwe is a South African rugby union player who last played for the Griffons. His regular position is prop.
Abraham Johannes Stefanus 'Barnie' Boonzaaier is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Limpopo Blue Bulls. He can play as a hooker or a flanker.
Wilmar Romano 'Boetie' Groenewald is a South African rugby union player for the Leopards in the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is flanker.
Nico Johan van der Hoogt is a South African professional rugby union player who plays for the Leopards in the Currie Cup & The Rugby Challenge in South Africa. He can play as a loose-forward or lock.
Daniel Jaco van Heerden is a former South African rugby union referee that served on the Premier Panel of the South African Rugby Referees' Association between 2014 and 2017.
Henri Bossau Boshoff is a Zimbabwean rugby union player, currently playing with SuperLiga side Timișoara Saracens. His regular position is loosehead prop.
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.
Jacques Jehan Nel is a South African professional rugby union player for Aurillac in the Rugby Pro D2. His regular position is centre or winger.
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.
Gerdus van der Walt is a South African rugby union player for Kamaishi Seawaves in the Top League Cup in Japan. His regular position is centre.
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.