Akker van der Merwe

Akker van der Merwe
Personal information
Full nameArmand Hendrik Petrus van der Merwe
NicknameAkker
Born17 June 1991
Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
School(s) attendedOuteniqua High School, George
UniversityNorth-West University
Club information
Playing positionHooker
Current clubGolden Lions / Lions
Youth career
2007–09SWD Eagles
2010Leopards U19
2012Leopards U21
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeam
2013NWU Pukke10(15)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Pts)†
2013–14Leopards17(10)
2014–Lions14(10)
2014–Golden Lions12(15)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 4 April 2015.
† Appearances (Points).

Armand Hendrik Petrus 'Akker' van der Merwe (born 17 June 1991 in Vanderbijlpark) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Golden Lions in domestic South African competition and with the Lions in Super Rugby.[1] His regular position is hooker.

Career

Youth

Although born in Vanderbijlpark, Van der Merwe grew up in George, where he played rugby for Outeniqua High Scool to win inclusion in the SWD Eagles Under-16 side for the 2007 Grant Khomo Week[2] and their Under-18 side for the 2008 Academy Week and 2009 Craven Week competitions.[3]

In 2010, he moved to Potchefstroom where he represented the Leopards and university side NWU Pukke. He was a regular for the Leopards U19 side during the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, making thirteen appearances and in 2012, he made twelve appearances for the Leopards U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring six tries.

He played Varsity Cup rugby for the NWU Pukke in 2013 and 2014. He made eight appearances and scored three tries in the 2014 competition, helping his side to the final, where they lost 39–33 to the UCT Ikey Tigers, with Van der Merwe scoring a try early in the second half.[4]

Leopards

His senior debut came in 2013, when he was included in the senior Leopards XV side for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.[5] He made his debut against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg,[6] coming on as an early substitute. He also marked the occasion by scoring a try in injury time at the end of the match. Two more starts and three more substitute appearances (and one more try) followed during that competition.

His Currie Cup debut came in July 2013. He came on as a substitute on the hour mark at Olën Park in their 2013 Currie Cup First Division match against the eventual champions, the Pumas.[7] While mainly being used as a substitute during the campaign (playing off the bench on eight occasions), he did one start in the competition against the Boland Cavaliers.[8]

He made a further two appearances for the Leopards during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament.

Lions

In April 2014, Van der Merwe was a surprise inclusion in the Lions touring squad for their Australian leg of the 2014 Super Rugby season.[9] He made his Super Rugby debut against the Chiefs in Hamilton[10] and scored his first try for the Lions in their next match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.[11] After one more match that he played off the bench (against the Waratahs in Sydney),[12] he made his first Super Rugby start in their final tour match against the Force in Perth.[13]

On 4 April 2015, he scored a last-minute winning in their 2015 Super Rugby season match against the Bulls to help the Lions win the match 22–18 against their trans-Jukskei rivals.[14]

Golden Lions

His performances for the Lions in Super Rugby also led to a domestic move, with Van der Merwe joining the Golden Lions on a deal for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.[15]

Personal

He is the older brother of winger Duhan van der Merwe, who also played Craven Week rugby for SWD Eagles and were included in the South African Schools sides in 2012 and 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "SARU Player Profile Akker van der Merwe". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "SWD-keurders kies vir Cravenweek". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 28 May 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Eagles set to take to the air". Premier Soccer League. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Match Breakdown: FNB NWU-PUKKE vs FNB UCT 1ST XV". South African Rugby Union. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "2013 Leopards XV Vodacom Cup season". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Match Breakdown: MTN Golden Lions vs Leopards XV". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Leopards vs Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Leopards vs Regent Boland Cavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Vodacom Super Rugby Touring Squad Named" (Press release). Lions. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Chiefs vs Lions". South African Rugby Union. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Highlanders vs Lions". South African Rugby Union. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Waratahs vs Lions". South African Rugby Union. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Force vs Lions". South African Rugby Union. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Match Breakdown: Emirates Lions vs Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "(H)Akker van der Merwe word 'n Leeu" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.