Schalk Brits

Schalk Brits
Brits against Harlequins
Full name Schalk Burger Brits
Date of birth (1981-05-16) 16 May 1981
Place of birth Empangeni, South Africa
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
School Paul Roos Gymnasium
University Stellenbosch University
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Hooker
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2009– Saracens 144 (105)
correct as of 18 October 2014.
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2002–03
2004–05
2006–09		 Western Province
Golden Lions
Western Province		 12
35
28		 (20)
(55)
(10)
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2005
2006–09, 2011		 Cats
Stormers		 11
52		 (0)
(20)
Current local club 31 August 2015
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2008– South Africa 10 (5)
correct as of 7 October 2015.

Schalk Brits (born 16 May 1981 in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal) is a South African rugby union footballer.

Personal life

He married Colinda Wijnants on 29 January 2011 in Greyton, South Africa.

Western Province

Brits played for the Western Province from 2002 to 2004 and rejoined the Cape franchise in 2006–09.

Stormers

Brits played for the Stormers for 4 seasons making 51 appearances for them and managing to score 20 points.

Saracens

Brits made his debut for Saracens in the season opener against London Irish. Brits scored his first try for Saracens on 27 September 2009 against Gloucester, the result: 19–16 to Saracens. Brits scored 7 tries in the 2009/10 season and was praised for his pace and ball carrying skills. Brits played every minute in the Guinness Premiership Final against Leicester Tigers, which Saracens lost 33–27 in one of the most exciting finals in Guinness Premiership history. Brits is now regarded as one of the most exciting players in the English Aviva Premiership.

Brits was voted Players' Player of the year in the 2009/2010 season.

In the 2010/2011 grand final against Leicester Brits won the Man of the Match award. Saracens won the match 22-18 after a nail biting final nine minutes when Saracens defended the lead with Leicester encamped on their try line.

On 27 June 2011, Brits moved back to his former club Stormers on a short term loan deal. He played as a back rower for the South African side in the Super Rugby semi final loss against the Crusaders as a replacement for Duane Vermeulen.

Brits has now returned to play his usual, expansive role with Saracens and is regarded by many as the finest hooker in world rugby.

In January 2012 he signed a new deal with the Saracens that will keep him at the club for at least the next 3 seasons.

International career

Brits made his international debut against Italy in 2008. He was next called up when he was included in the Springbok squad that toured Ireland, Scotland and England during the 2012 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He came on as a substitute in the match against Scotland to earn his fourth cap.[1] He earned his fifth cap in their next match, replacing Adriaan Strauss as they beat England 16–15.[2]

Brits returned to international rugby in 2015, coming on as a substitute in South Africa's 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Argentina,[3] and was then included in South Africa's squad that participated at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[4] While he didn't feature in their 32–34 loss to Japan in their opening match,[5] he did play off the bench in their next match against Samoa, scoring a late try in a 34–16 victory.[6] He was again omitted against Scotland[7] before another appearance from the bench in a 64–0 victory over the United States.[8] He didn't feature in their 23–19 win over Wales in the quarter final,[9] their 19–23 loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals[10] or the third-place play-off against Argentina, which South Africa won 24–13 to secure the bronze medal in the competition.[11]

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Scotland 10-21 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "England 15-16 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Argentina 12-26 South Africa". South African Rugby Union. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Nine World Cup winners in South Africa squad". Rugby World Cup. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "South Africa 32-34 Japan". South African Rugby Union. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "South Africa 46-6 Samoa". South African Rugby Union. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "South Africa 34-16 Scotland". South African Rugby Union. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "South Africa 64-0 USA". South African Rugby Union. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "South Africa 23-19 Wales". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "South Africa 18-20 New Zealand". South African Rugby Union. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "South Africa 24-13 Argentina". South African Rugby Union. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
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