Akker van der Merwe

Akker van der Merwe

Personal information
Full name	Armand Hendrik Petrus van der Merwe
Nickname	Akker
Born	17 June 1991 Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
School(s) attended	Outeniqua High School, George
University	North-West University
Club information
Playing position	Hooker
Current club	Lions / Golden Lions XV
Youth career
2007–2009	SWD Eagles
2010	Leopards U19
2012	Leopards U21
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
2013	NWU Pukke	10	(15)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Pts)^†
2013	Leopards XV	6	(10)
2013–2014	Leopards	11	(0)
2014–present	Lions	39	(30)
2014–present	Golden Lions	18	(25)
2015	→ Racing 92	2	(0)
Representative team(s)^‡
2016	Barbarians	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 25 October 2016. † Appearances (Points). ‡ Representative team caps and points correct as of 8 November 2016.

Armand Hendrik Petrus 'Akker' van der Merwe (born 17 June 1991 in Vanderbijlpark) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing for Super Rugby side the Lions and Currie Cup side Golden Lions XV.^[1] His regular position is hooker.

Career

Youth

Although born in Vanderbijlpark, Van der Merwe grew up in George, where he played rugby for Outeniqua High School to win inclusion in the SWD Eagles Under-16 side for the 2007 Grant Khomo Week^[2] and their Under-18 side for the 2008 Academy Week and 2009 Craven Week competitions.^[3]

In 2010, he moved to Potchefstroom where he represented the Leopards and university side NWU Pukke. He was a regular for the Leopards U19 side during the 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championship competition, making thirteen appearances and in 2012, he made twelve appearances for the Leopards U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring six tries.

He played Varsity Cup rugby for the NWU Pukke in 2013 and 2014. He made eight appearances and scored three tries in the 2014 competition, helping his side to the final, where they lost 39–33 to the UCT Ikey Tigers, with Van der Merwe scoring a try early in the second half.^[4]

Leopards

His senior debut came in 2013, when he was included in the senior Leopards XV side for the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.^[5] He made his debut against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg,^[6] coming on as an early substitute. He also marked the occasion by scoring a try in injury time at the end of the match. Two more starts and three more substitute appearances (and one more try) followed during that competition.

His Currie Cup debut came in July 2013. He came on as a substitute on the hour mark at Olën Park in their 2013 Currie Cup First Division match against the eventual champions, the Pumas.^[7] While mainly being used as a substitute during the campaign (playing off the bench on eight occasions), he did one start in the competition against the Boland Cavaliers.^[8]

He made a further two appearances for the Leopards during the 2014 Currie Cup qualification tournament.

Lions

In April 2014, Van der Merwe was a surprise inclusion in the Lions touring squad for their Australian leg of the 2014 Super Rugby season.^[9] He made his Super Rugby debut against the Chiefs in Hamilton^[10] and scored his first try for the Lions in their next match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.^[11] After one more match that he played off the bench (against the Waratahs in Sydney),^[12] he made his first Super Rugby start in their final tour match against the Force in Perth.^[13]

On 4 April 2015, he scored a last-minute winning in their 2015 Super Rugby season match against the Bulls to help the Lions win the match 22–18 against their trans-Jukskei rivals.^[14]

Golden Lions

His performances for the Lions in Super Rugby also led to a domestic move, with Van der Merwe joining the Golden Lions on a deal for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.^[15]

Racing 92

He joined Racing 92 on a short-term deal for the start of their 2015–16 Top 14 season.^[16]

Personal

He is the older brother of winger Duhan van der Merwe, who also played Craven Week rugby for SWD Eagles and were included in the South African Schools sides in 2012 and 2013.

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Akker van der Merwe". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "SWD-keurders kies vir Cravenweek". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
3. "Eagles set to take to the air". Premier Soccer League. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB NWU-PUKKE 33-39 FNB UCT 1ST XV". South African Rugby Union. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Squad – Leopards XV : 2013 Vodacom Cup". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 45-15 Leopards XV". South African Rugby Union. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 27-35 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
8. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 22-17 Regent Boland Cavaliers". South African Rugby Union. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
9. "Vodacom Super Rugby Touring Squad Named" (Press release). Lions. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
10. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Chiefs 38-8 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Highlanders 23-22 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
12. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Waratahs 41-13 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
13. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Force 29-19 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
14. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Emirates Lions 22-18 Vodacom Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
15. "(H)Akker van der Merwe word 'n Leeu" (in Afrikaans). SupaRugby. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
16. "Lions Rugby contracting update" (Press release). Lions. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.