Andries Petrus van der Walt

Education

Two years later, he also represented the Leopards U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, starting all twelve of their matches as they finished sixth out of seven teams.

Career

His regular position is lock, but he has occasionally played as a flanker. Youth Van der Walt went to Outeniqua High School in George, where he earned a number of provincial call-ups to represent the SWD Eagles at various youth tournaments. He played for them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2007, at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2008 and at the premier South African high school competition, the Under-18 Craven Week, in 2009.

Leopards After finishing school, he went to North-West University in Potchefstroom.

He represented the Potchefstroom-based provincial rugby union side the Leopards in the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He made his first class debut during the 2013 Vodacom Cup, starting their 15–45 Round One defeat to the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.

He made a further three starts and one appearance off the bench as the Leopards finished in fifth spot, missing out on a semi-final tie on points difference. He remained in their first team squad for their 2013 First Division campaign and made his debut as a replacement in their season-opening match against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington in a 45–15 victory.

After the 2013, Van der Walt"s former province SWD Eagles announced that Van der Walt signed for them for the 2014 season.

However, he remained in Potchefstroom to make seven starts for the Northwestern University Pukke in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition – helping them reach their first ever final, which they lost 33–39 to the UCT Ikey Tigers in dramatic fashion after leading 33–15 with five minutes to go – prior to making the move back to George. SWD Eagles He also appeared as a replacement in their Quarter Final match, where his side were thoroughly outplayed, losing 15–84 to eventual champions Griquas.

Achievements

• After another appearance off the bench against the Falcons, he started his first Currie Cup match against the Eastern Province Kings in Portuguese Elizabeth, his first of eight starts during the season and also played off the bench on four occasions. The SWD Eagles then competed in the 2014 Currie Cup qualification competition, where the winner would qualify to play in the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. Van der Walt made three appearances – all off the bench – in this competition, but could only help his side finish in fourth spot to qualify to the 2014 Currie Cup First Division, where he made a further three appearances, including his first start for the SWD Eagles senior side against the Falcons in Kempton Park.