Conraad van Vuuren
Full name | Jacobus Conradus van Vuuren | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 4 September 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Magaliesburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 243 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Hoërskool Nelspruit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of the Free State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Jacobus Conradus "Beertjie" van Vuuren (born 4 September 1995) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge.[1] His regular position is tighthead prop.
Rugby career
[edit]2008–2013: Schoolboy rugby
[edit]Van Vuuren was born in Magaliesburg in Gauteng, but grew up in Mpumalanga province. He represented Mpumalanga's rugby team, the Pumas at several youth tournaments at schoolboy level – he played for them at the Under-13 Craven Week tournament in 2008, at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournament in 2011 and at the premier high school rugby tournament in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week in 2013. He scored a try for the Pumas in the latter tournament, in a 24–40 defeat to Western Province in Polokwane.[2] After the tournament, Van Vuuren was included in a South Africa Schools squad,[3] and he made two appearances for them in the 2013 Under-18 International Series, coming on as a replacement in a 19–14 win over England[4] and starting their 17–13 victory over France.[5]
2014–2016: Free State Cheetahs and UFS Shimlas
[edit]After high school, Van Vuuren moved to Bloemfontein, where he enrolled at the University of the Free State and joined the Free State Cheetahs academy. He made a single appearance for the Free State U19 team during the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, coming on as a replacement in their match against Western Province U19.[6]
Despite being limited to five appearances from the bench for UFS Shimlas in their first six matches of the 2015 Varsity Cup, Van Vuuren scored two tries – one on his debut in a 29–all draw against UP Tuks[7] and another in a 24–0 win over UJ a week later.[8] He was promoted to the starting line-up for their final match of the regular season against NWU Pukke,[9] as UFS finished in second place on the log.[10] He remained in the starting line-up for their 21–10 victory over defending champions UCT Ikey Tigers in the semi-final,[11] and for the final, in which the Shimlas beat the NWU Pukke 63–33[12] to win the competition for the first time.
Van Vuuren was a regular for the Free State U21 team during the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship, appearing in thirteen of their fourteen matches, making five starts. He scored a try in their final match of the regular season, a 74–22 win over Sharks U21,[13] to help his side to second on the log[14] to qualify for the title play-offs. He came on as a replacement in their 27–22 win over the Sharks in the semi-finals[15] and in the final, which his side lost 17–52 to Western Province U21.[16]
Van Vuuren made three appearances off the bench in UFS Shimlas' 2016 Varsity Cup season, with a nine-point try in their Round Two match against UP Tuks proving decisive in a 47–46 win.[17] It was a disappointing season for the defending champions, as they failed to qualify for the semi-finals, finishing in fifth place.[18]
Despite not playing any more rugby in 2016, an injury to first-choice tighthead prop Tom Botha and Currie Cup regulations allowing eight players on the bench for the Currie Cup play-offs, Van Vuuren was named on the Free State Cheetahs' bench for their 2016 Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final match against the Golden Lions. Van Vuuren came on in the 62nd minute of the match to make his first class debut, helping his team to a 55–17 victory.[19] He was also named on the bench for the final, and again finished on the winning side, with the Free State Cheetahs beating the Blue Bulls 36–16[20] to win the title for the fifth time in their history and the first time since 2007.
2017–present: Bulls and Blue Bulls
[edit]Van Vuuren moved to Pretoria-based Bulls prior to the 2017 season on a two-year deal.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Conraad van Vuuren". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province 40–24 Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Squad – South Africa : 2013 SA Schools 2013". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 19–14 England". South African Rugby Union. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17–13 France". South African Rugby Union. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – WP U19 50–26 Free State U19". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 29–29 FNB UP - TUKS". South African Rugby Union. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UJ 0–24 FNB UFS SHIMLAS". South African Rugby Union. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 29–26 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 21–10 FNB UCT". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 63–33 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 74–22 Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 27–22 Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U21 52–17 Free State U21". South African Rugby Union. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UP-TUKS 46–47 FNB UFS SHIMLAS". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2016 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 55–17 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 36–16 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Botha to lead Vodacom Blue Bulls in Currie Cup, New signings" (Press release). Blue Bulls. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- South African rugby union players
- Living people
- 1995 births
- People from Mogale City Local Municipality
- Rugby union props
- Free State Cheetahs players
- Rugby union players from Gauteng
- Sunwolves players
- Bulls (rugby union) players
- Blue Bulls players
- Cheetahs (rugby union) players
- Lions (United Rugby Championship) players
- South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- Golden Lions players