Conraad van Vuuren

Conraad van Vuuren
Full nameJacobus Conradus van Vuuren
Date of birth (1995-09-04) 4 September 1995 (age 28)
Place of birthMagaliesburg, South Africa
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 243 lb)
SchoolHoërskool Nelspruit
UniversityUniversity of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead prop
Current team Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs
Youth career
2008–2013 Pumas
2014–2016 Free State Cheetahs
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 UFS Shimlas 11 (19)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 Free State Cheetahs 2 (0)
2017–2019 Bulls 19 (5)
2017–2018 Blue Bulls XV 3 (0)
2017–2019 Blue Bulls 18 (5)
2020 Sunwolves 6 (0)
2020– Cheetahs 0 (0)
2020–2023 Free State Cheetahs 19 (10)
2023– Lions 2 (0)
Correct as of 16 January2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 South Africa Schools 2 (0)
Correct as of 11 April 2018

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

2008–2013: Schoolboy rugby

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

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

Van Vuuren moved to Pretoria-based Bulls prior to the 2017 season on a two-year deal.[21]

References

  1. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Conraad van Vuuren". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  2. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province 40–24 Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  3. ^ "SA Rugby Squad – South Africa : 2013 SA Schools 2013". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  4. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 19–14 England". South African Rugby Union. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  5. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 17–13 France". South African Rugby Union. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  6. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – WP U19 50–26 Free State U19". South African Rugby Union. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  7. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 29–29 FNB UP - TUKS". South African Rugby Union. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  8. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UJ 0–24 FNB UFS SHIMLAS". South African Rugby Union. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  9. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 29–26 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  10. ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  11. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 21–10 FNB UCT". South African Rugby Union. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  12. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UFS SHIMLAS 63–33 FNB NWU-PUKKE". South African Rugby Union. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  13. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 74–22 Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  14. ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2015 Absa Under 21 Competition". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  15. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Free State U21 27–22 Sharks U21". South African Rugby Union. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  16. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Western Province U21 52–17 Free State U21". South African Rugby Union. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  17. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UP-TUKS 46–47 FNB UFS SHIMLAS". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  18. ^ "SA Rugby Log – 2016 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  19. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 55–17 Xerox Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  20. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State Cheetahs 36–16 Vodacom Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  21. ^ "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.