Getting To Know Gerhard van den Heever

Beginning his third season with the province and following his return to play from a knee injury that saw him miss the second half of last season, we profile South African flyer Gerhard van den Heever.

Making his Super Rugby debut with the Bulls at just 19 years of age, in his two years with the club the winger played his part in capturing the 2010 Super Rugby title for the club, scoring 8 tries along the way and becoming the third highest try scorer of the league that year.

His time in Pretoria also saw him claim the first of his two Currie Cup titles in 2009 when he played for the Blue Bulls, playing alongside his future Munster teammate CJ Stander in his final year with the provincial outfit.

Moving to Cape Town in 2011, Gerhard continued his Super Rugby career with the Stormers and added a second Currie Cup title to his list of honours in 2012 when he represented Western Province.

Unlucky not to claim a third title, a 19-33 loss to Natal Sharks in the following year’s final was his last representative action for Western Province before making the move north in November 2013.

It wasn't the best of starts for the Bloemfontein native on Irish soil as later that month he sustained a broken bone in his right hand on his Munster debut against Newport Gwent Dragons. However, the speedster soon recovered and went on to make a further ten appearances in his first season, scoring three tries and making his first European Cup appearance in Munster’s comprehensive defeat of Toulouse at Thomond Park in the 2014 quarter final of the competition.

Having previously represented the University of Pretoria at the University Sevens Rugby World Championships, he lined out for Munster in last season’s Limerick World Club 7s although a bang to the knee at the tournament saw him miss the opening games of the season.

It would be the first blip of an injury plagued season as a further knee injury sustained on his first European start against Clermont Auvergne in December sidelined the 26 year old for the remainder of the season – making just seven appearances in 2014/15.

Since then, Gerhard has worked alongside Munster medical staff in completing a successful rehabilitation programme and with a full pre-season under his belt, the winger has already made a successful return to on-field action in recent weeks, looking hungry and threatening in Munster’s pre-season friendlies against Grenoble and Connacht.

Name: Gerhard van den Heever

Favourite Food: Wife’s cooking or a BBQ

Favourite TV programme: Suits or Entourage

Favourite Film: Talladega Nights

Favourite Actor/Actress: Will Ferrell

Marooned on a desert island what could you not be without: My wife, a BBQ and a knife

Favourite sport other than rugby: Athletics

The sport you least like: Cycling

Person you would most like to meet: If he was real, Ari Gold from Entourage

Sportsperson you admire most: Roger Federer

Hobbies: Spending time with my family and discovering new places

Where and when did you first play rugby: 6 years old in Bloemfontein Grey College Primary School

Biggest influence on career: My Dad

Best career advice you were given: Hard work beats talent every day

What you like most/least about being a rugby player: Games and the brother-ship / Injuries

Other sports that you played: Cricket and athletics

Best rugby memory: Making my Super Rugby debut at 19

Rugby player you admire most: Jonah Lomu

Rugby team you admire most: All Blacks

Sporting event you would most like to attend: F1 Grand Prix

Three people you would invite to dinner and why: Warren Buffett for advice, Will Ferrell for a laugh and Coldplay for the entertainment

If you weren’t a rugby player what would you be: Trying to be an athlete or if that didn’t work out, probably an accountant

Place in the province you most like to chill out: Killarney

Fav song or band you like to train to or listen to before a game: Pretty much anything that puts you in a good mood