Jaco van der Walt
| Date of birth | 1 February 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Randfontein, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 84 kg (13 st 3 lb; 185 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Monument, Krugersdorp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Gerdus van der Walt (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jaco van der Walt (born 1 February 1994 in Randfontein, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Lions.[1] His regular position is fly-half.
Career
Youth and Varsity Cup rugby
He first represented the Golden Lions as early as primary school level, when he represented them at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007. In 2010, he played at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition and he played at both the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Under-18 Craven Week. He was also included in the South African Schools squad in both those seasons.
He then played for the Golden Lions U19 side in the 2012 and the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championships, making just one appearance in each. Despite being eligible for the Under-19s, he represented the Golden Lions U21 for the majority of the 2013 season, starting in thirteen matches during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring 17 points.
He also represented local university side UJ during the 2014 Varsity Cup competition, making 7 appearances.
Golden Lions
His first class debut for the Golden Lions came as a 20-year-old in the first match of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. He was named on the bench for their season-opening match in a trans-Jukskei clash with the Blue Bulls.[2] First-choice fly-half Marnitz Boshoff left the field ten minutes into the second half with a fractured arm,[3] which led to Van der Walt's introduction. He kicked one conversion and two penalties as the Golden Lions ran out 41–13 winners.[4]
Personal life
He is the older brother of Gerdus van der Walt. Both brothers came through the ranks at the 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 Griffons in Welkom,[5] 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.[6]
References
- ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jaco van der Walt". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ↑ "Whiteley leads strong Lions XV". Sport24. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ↑ "Season over for Lions' Boshoff". Sport24. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
- ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Xerox Golden Lions 41-13 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ↑ "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 29-19 ORC Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.