Francois Louw

Francois Louw

Birth name	Louis-Francois Pickard Louw
Date of birth	(1985-06-15) 15 June 1985
Place of birth	Cape Town, South Africa
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
School	Bishops
Notable relative(s)	Jan Pickard (grandfather)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011– Bath Rugby 72 (55) Correct as of 7 October 2015 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2006–11 Western Province 65 (65) Correct as of 7 October 2015 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–11 Stormers 54 (20) Correct as of 7 October 2015 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2010– 2015 South Africa Springbok XV 45 1 (40) (0) Correct as of 18 June 2016

Francois Louw (born (1985-06-15)15 June 1985 in Cape Town) is a South African rugby union international flanker. Louw is the grandson of the former South African international Jan Pickard.

He represented the Stormers in Super Rugby, having made his debut during the 2008 season. He also played for Western Province in the Currie Cup. Louw was part of the Stormers team that lost the 2010 Super 14 Final to the Bulls. Following the Super 14 season, Louw made his debut for South Africa against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He played the entire game as South Africa won 34–31. Louw was selected for South Africa's next match in the mid-year tests, against France at his home ground, Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Louw scored the last of five tries, helping South Africa to a 42–17 victory. After taking part in South Africa's victorious two match series against Italy, including a try in the first Test, Louw made his Tri Nations debut in July 2010. It was the first time Louw experienced defeat as a Springbok, with New Zealand winning the game 32–12. Louw has been one of the best flankers in the Western Cape in 2010 and 2011, winning man of the match awards at Test level, and helping the Stormers become the stingiest defensive squad in Super Rugby. On 19 March 2011, he played admirably against the formidable Deon Stegmann and Dewald Potgieter, in a brutal North-South derby, stealing the ball at breakdown.

He has become a mainstay in the Springbok side, becoming the first choice openside flank under the reign of Heyneke Meyer. He has shown good breakdown work, having second most turnovers won at 2015 Rugby World Cup at 13. He has also shown strong running and some skilful play. In 2013, against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, he made a strong run then an unbelievable offload to Bryan Habana who scored a try afterwards.

On 12 July 2011 it was announced that Louw signed for Bath Rugby on a 3-year deal.

External links

• "SA Rugby Player Profile – Francois Louw". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
• Bath rugby profile
• MyPlayers profile