Izak van der Westhuizen

Izak Petrus van der Westhuizen (born 23 January 1986 in Kimberley) is a former South African rugby union player whose regular position was lock.[1] He is on the Free State Cheetahs coaching staff and the head coach of the Free State XV in the Rugby Challenge.

Izak van der Westhuizen
Full nameIzak Petrus van der Westhuizen
Date of birth (1986-01-23) 23 January 1986
Place of birthKimberley, South Africa
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb; 245 lb)
SchoolDiamantveld High School
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Youth career
2004 Griquas
2005–2007 Free State Cheetahs
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2012 Free State Cheetahs 79 (5)
2008–2009 → Griffons 14 (0)
2010–2012 Cheetahs 25 (0)
2012–2014 Edinburgh 29 (0)
Correct as of 17 June 2014

Career

Youth

He represented Kimberley-based side Griquas at the Under-18 Craven Week in 2004 and also represented them in the Under-20 competition later in the same year.

He then moved to Bloemfontein, where he joined the Free State Cheetahs. He represented them at Under-19 level in 2005 and at Under-21 level in 2006 and 2007.

Free State Cheetahs and Cheetahs

Van der Westhuizen made his first class debut during the 2007 Vodacom Cup, starting in Free State's opening match of the season against the Border Bulldogs in East London.[2] Three substitute appearances followed in their next three matches before he made another start against the SWD Eagles, scoring his first (and only) try in his senior career.[3]

He became a regular in the Free State's Vodacom Cup side, making a total of 30 appearances in this competition between 2007 and 2011.

He made one appearance for the Currie Cup side in 2008 – a pre-season compulsory friendly against the Leopards[4] – but it wasn't until the 2009 season that he made his Currie Cup debut for the Free State Cheetahs, coming on as a substitute against the Sharks.[5]

In 2010, he was also included in the Cheetahs squad for the 2010 Super 14 season.[6] His Super Rugby debut came in their Round 9 match against the Brumbies in Canberra.[7]

He made a total of 79 appearances for the Free State Cheetahs in the domestic Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions and 25 appearances for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby.

Griffons

Van der Westhuizen also spent some time on loan at Welkom-based side the Griffons, making twelve appearances for them during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Edinburgh

At the conclusion of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season, he joined Scottish Pro12 side Edinburgh on a two-year contract.[8]

Despite an injury-plagued first season, where he made just 6 appearances, Van der Westhuizen recovered to become a regular for Edinburgh during the 2013–14 Pro 12 and 2013–14 Heineken Cup competitions, making a total of 29 appearances.

Eastern Province Kings

On 10 March 2014, Edinburgh announced that Van der Westhuizen would join the Eastern Province Kings prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season on a three-year deal,[9] subject to a medical. However, since Van der Westhuizen suffered three concussions since the start of 2014, a specialist advised that he should not play any rugby for six month to a year. He did not pass the medical at the Eastern Province Kings and the contract was subsequently cancelled.[10]

  • "SA Rugby Player Profile – Izak van der Westhuizen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  • "itsrugby.co.uk profile".

References
  1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Izak van der Westhuizen". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Border 15-23 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – SWD 24-30 Free State". South African Rugby Union. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Platinum Leopards 19-40 Vodacom FS Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 12-21 Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Squad – Vodacom Cheetahs : 2010 Vodacom Super 14". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Brumbies 61-15 Vodacom Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  8. Reid, Alasdair (22 May 2012). "Edinburgh sign South African lock Izak van der Westhuizen". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  9. "Van der Westhuizen to join the Kings" (Press release). Edinburgh Rugby. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  10. "Kings cast big Izak aside". Rugby365. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
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