Andrew van Wyk
Full nameAndrew Justerine Deometrie van Wyk
Date of birth (1989-08-04) 4 August 1989
Place of birthPrieska, South Africa
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight88 kg (194 lb; 13 st 12 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Diamantveld, Kimberley
UniversityNorth-West University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger / Centre
Current team Falcons
Youth career
2005–2007 Griquas
2008–2010 Leopards
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2012 NWU Pukke 29 (65)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013 Leopards 8 (0)
2011–2013 Leopards XV 4 (0)
2013 Border Bulldogs 12 (25)
2014–2021 Falcons 70 (93)
Correct as of 27 March 2022

Andrew Justerine Deometrie van Wyk (born 4 August 1989) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Falcons in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is winger or centre.

Career

Youth and Varsity Cup rugby

He was selected for several youth tournaments by his local provincial side, Griquas. In 2005, he was selected in their Under-16 squad for the Grant Khomo Week tournament and in both 2006 and 2007, he was selected for their Under-18 Craven Week side. Towards the end of 2007, he was also a member of the Griquas U19 side that participated in the Under-19 Provincial Championship.

In 2008, Van Wyk moved to Potchefstroom where he became involved in rugby for university side NWU Pukke, as well as the Potchefstroom-based provincial outfit the Leopards. He played for the Leopards U21 side in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Under-21 Provincial Championships. He scored six tries in 2010, one behind the joint-leading try-scorers for the Leopards U21 side, SP Marais and Joubert Engelbrecht.[2]

He played Varsity Cup rugby for four consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2012. He scored two tries in nine appearances in his maiden season in the competition in 2009. One try followed in both 2010 (in five appearances) and 2011 (in seven starts), but 2012 was the season when he sprung to prominence with his performances, scoring nine tries in eight starts to finish the season as joint-top try scorer in the competition with UJ's Chrysander Botha.[3] His scoring spree included three braces during the competition, against the NMMU Madibaz,[4] eventual champions UP Tuks[5] and UFS Shimlas.[6]

Leopards

Van Wyk was named on the bench for the Leopards' 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division match against Western Province and came on with a few minutes remaining in the match to make his first class and Currie Cup debut.[7]

The Leopards suffered relegation during that Currie Cup season, so Van Wyk's seven appearances the following season were in the 2012 Currie Cup First Division. He failed to score any points as the Leopards finished fourth and suffered a semi-final defeat at the hands of the Eastern Province Kings.[8]

With Van Wyk not being involved in the Varsity Cup for the first since 2008, he was part of the Leopards XV side that played in the 2013 Vodacom Cup. He played four times without scoring any tries.

Border Bulldogs

He joined East London-based side the Border Bulldogs for the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season and recaptured his try-scoring form as he ended the season as the Bulldogs' top scorer with five tries in twelve appearances, which included two tries in their match against the Griffons in Welkom.[9]

Falcons

Serious financial problems at the Border Bulldogs at the end of 2013[10][11] saw a number of players leave the side, with a large number of players, which included Van Wyk, joining East Rand side the Falcons. Van Wyk played in all seven their matches during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition and, despite switching from playing on the wing to outside centre for the first time in his senior career, he scored a further three tries, two of those in their 65–14 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Andrew van Wyk". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2010 ABSA Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "SA Rugby Try Scorers – 2012 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – NMMU 16–26 Pukke". South African Rugby Union. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Tuks 40–20 Pukke". South African Rugby Union. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Pukke 64–24 Shimlas". South African Rugby Union. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – DHL Western Province 49–21 Platinum Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Eastern Province Kings 50–27 Leopards". South African Rugby Union. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 24–19 Border Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Border crisis hits players hard". SA Rugby Mag. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Bankrupt BRFU can't pay staff". Daily Dispatch. 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Valke 65–14 Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
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