Gerdus van der Walt
| Date of birth | 20 April 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Potchefstroom, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (13 st 5 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Monument, Krugersdorp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Jaco van der Walt (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerdus van der Walt (born 20 April 1995 in Potchefstroom, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Template:Rut Golden Lions.[1] His regular position is centre.
Career
In 2013, Van der Walt was selected to represent the Template:Rut Golden Lions at the Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Polokwane; he also scored a try for the Golden Lions in their match against SWD.[2] He was also selected to represent the Template:Rut Golden Lions U19s in the Under-19 Provincial Championship just a month later. He made seven appearances in the competition – all of those as a replacement – as the Golden Lions finished second on the log and reached the final of the competition, where they lost to the Template:Rut Blue Bulls U19s.[3]
He again appeared for their Under-19s in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, having firmly established himself as their first-choice inside centre, starting all twelve of their matches in that position. He scored tries in their matches against the Template:Rut Blue Bulls U19s[4] and the Template:Rut Leopards U19s,[5] but could not help the team qualify for the semi-finals as they ended the season in fifth position.
He made his first class debut during Round Two of the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a replacement in the second half of their 31–21 victory over Template:Rut Limpopo Blue Bulls in Polokwane.[6] His next appearance saw him elevated to the starting line-up in their final match in the competition, a 36–20 victory over the Template:Rut Griffons as the Golden Lions completed the regular season with sevens wins in seven matches.[7] He also appeared off the bench in their semi-final match against the Template:Rut Pumas, but it ended in disappointment as the team from Nelspruit ran out 43–20 winners.[8] He made eleven starts for the Template:Rut Golden Lions U21s in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, scoring tries in five of those matches to help them finish fourth on the log.
He was included in the Template:Rut Golden Lions' Currie Cup starting line-up for the final match of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season. He helped them to a 29–19 victory over Template:Rut Griquas to finish the regular season unbeaten, winning all ten matches.[9]
Personal life
He is the younger brother of fly-half Jaco van der Walt. Both brothers came through the ranks at the Template:Rut 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 Template:Rut Griffons in Welkom,[7] 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]
References
- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Gerdus van der Walt". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Golden Lions 34–27 SWD". South African Rugby Union. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 23–35 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Golden Lions U19 11–36 Blue Bulls U19". South African Rugby Union. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards U19 29–26 Golden Lions U19". South African Rugby Union. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls 21–31 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 20–36 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 20–43 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 29–19 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.