Luan de Bruin

Luan de Bruin (born 13 February 1993 in Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby,[1] the top domestic tier of rugby union. He previously played in South Africa for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 and the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup.[2] His regular position is tighthead prop.

Luan de Bruin
Date of birth (1993-02-13) 13 February 1993
Place of birthPretoria, South Africa
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight128 kg (20 st 2 lb; 282 lb)
SchoolAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Leicester Tigers
Youth career
2006–2011 Blue Bulls
2012–2014 Free State Cheetahs
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2014 UFS Shimlas 11 (0)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2018 Free State XV 13 (0)
2014–2020 Cheetahs 36 (10)
2014–2020 Free State Cheetahs 32 (0)
2020–2021 Leicester Tigers 1 (0)
Correct as of 13 December 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 South Africa Under-20 4 (5)
Correct as of 22 April 2018

Career

Youth and Varsity Cup rugby

De Bruin got recognised for provincial selection at primary school level in 2006, when he was included in the Blue Bulls Under-13 squad that played at the Craven Week competition.[3] In 2009, he was selected in their Under-16 Grant Khomo Week squad and he played at the Under-18 Craven Week competitions in both 2010 and 2011. After the 2011 tournament, he was included in a South African Academy side that played against a France Under-18 side in Durban.[4]

In 2012, De Bruin moved to Bloemfontein. He made eleven appearances for the Free State U19 side during the 2012 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting ten of those matches. At the start of the 2013 season, he played for university side UFS Shimlas during the 2013 Varsity Cup competition, where he made six substitute appearances.

He was selected in the South African Under-20 side that played in the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France. He started in their first two pool matches, a 97–0 victory over the United States[5] and a 31–24 victory over eventual champions England.[6] He didn't feature in their match against hosts France,[7] but was restored to the starting line-up in their semi-final clash with Wales, where South Africa suffered an 18–17 defeat.[8] He was also in the run-on side that met New Zealand in the third-placed play-off and De Bruin scored one of six South African tries as they beat New Zealand 41–34 to secure a third-place finish in the tournament.[9]

In the latter half of the 2013 season, De Bruin played in four matches for the Free State U21 side during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship before he played in another Varsity Cup campaign for the UFS Shimlas in February and March 2014.

Free State Cheetahs / Cheetahs

De Bruin's first taste of senior provincial rugby came during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition for the Free State XV after the 2014 Varsity Cup concluded. He made his debut when he was named in the run-on side for their match against the Eastern Province Kings in Cradock, helping his side to a 31–3 victory.[10] That was the first of five consecutive starts De Bruin made during the competition as they reached the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by his former side, the Blue Bulls.[11]

De Bruin was included on the reserve bench for the Cheetahs' second-last match of the 2014 Super Rugby season against the Sharks in Bloemfontein.[12]

In July 2014, De Bruin signed a new contract with the Free State Cheetahs until the end of 2016.[13]

Leicester Tigers

On 11 November 2020 de Bruin's signature was announced by Leicester Tigers for the 2020-21 Premiership Rugby season.[1]

References
  1. "Leicester Tigers: South African prop Luan de Bruin signs as David Williams stays". BBC Sport. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Luan de Bruin". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. "O.13-Bulletjies het baie ervaring" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 8 June 2006. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  4. "Geen OP-spelers gekies" (in Afrikaans). Die Son. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 97-0 USA". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 31-24 England". South African Rugby Union. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – France 19-26 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17-18 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 41-34 New Zealand". South African Rugby Union. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 3-31 Toyota Free State XV". South African Rugby Union. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 21-22 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  12. "Cheetahs load team with Boks". Sport24. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  13. "Vrystaat belê in jonges" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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