Career
His regular position is tighthead property Boland
Having grown up in Wellington in the Western Cape province in South Africa, Van der Westhuizen was selected to represent Border at the annual Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition held in Upington, where he scored a try in their match against the Pumas. Blue Bulls / Bulls
However, he moved to Gauteng in 2011, where he enrolled at Hoërskool Centurion and represented Pretoria-based side the Blue Bulls in the Under-18 Craven Week competitions in 2011 and 2012.
In 2012, he was called up to represent a South African Schools side and he played in three matches for them – against France, Wales and England.
After finishing high school, Van der Westhuizen remained at the Blue Bulls. Van der Westhuizen also scored his first try at this level in their match against the Free State U19s.
In 2014, Van der Westhuizen was included in the South Africa Under-20 squad that participated in the 2014 Institutional Review Board Junior World Championship held in New Zealand. He played off the bench in their opening match against Scotland before making his first start for the Under-20s in a 33–24 victory against hosts and four-time winners New Zealand.
He played off the bench once again for their final pool match, a 21–8 victory over Samoa as South Africa finished top of the group to set up a rematch with New Zealand in the semi-finals.
Van der Westhuizen started the semi-final and helped South Africa secure their fourth consecutive victory over New Zealand at this level, winning 32–25. He made his fifth appearance – and third start – of the tournament in the final, but could not prevent South Africa finishing on the losing side this time, with England winning the championship for the second consecutive year with a 21–20 victory over South Africa. In 2015, he was included in the Bulls" squad for the 2015 Super Rugby season and was named on the bench for the side"s season opener against the Stormers.
He didn"t make an appearance for them, instead playing for Uttar Pradesh Tuks in the 2015 Varsity Cup competition.
He was named in a Varsity Cup Dream Team at the conclusion of the tournament which played one match against the South Africa Under-20s in Stellenbosch.
