Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Dane Robert van der Westhuyzen is a South African rugby union player who last played for theLeopards. His regular position is hooker.
Career
Youth
He played forBorder Bulldogs at the Under-13 Craven Week in 2005 and for Eastern Province Country Districts at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2010.
He then joined the EPRU Academy and played for theEastern Province U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, starting all eight of his side's matches as they made it to the final of the competition, scoring one try againstGriquas U21 en route. Van der Westhuyzen started the final, helping them to beatSWD U21 24–10.
He was equally as involved for the U21s in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship – this time round also captaining the side – making eight appearances as the team progressed all the way to the final. He scored a try in the final againstBoland U21 in a 59–19 victory to help them win their second consecutive title, although they once again fell short in the promotion play-off, losing 23–21 toBorder U21.
Eastern Province Kings
He was included in the senior squad for the 2013 Vodacom Cup and was also included in theSouthern Kings squad for a match against theLions as they warmed up for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He made his first class debut in the Vodacom Cup in their match against Argentine invitational side,Pampas XV, and made a total of six appearances in the competition, all from the bench.
He made his first appearance in the Currie Cup competition in the opening fixture of the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season, when he appeared as a substitute in the match against thePumas. He made two starts in their matches against theGriffons and theLeopards and a further appearance off the bench against theFalcons.
Despite initially being released at the end of the 2013 season, he was later offered a one-year contract extension for 2014. He made four appearances in the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition and was included in their squad for the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division, but failed to make any appearances for the side and was again released at the end of the season.
Leopards
He then joined Port Elizabeth-based university sideNMMU Madibaz for the 2015 Varsity Cup competition, making 7 appearances as his side finished second-bottom on the log, before making the move to Potchefstroom to join theLeopards.
He was a member of theLeopards team that won the 2015 Currie Cup First Division. He featured in a total of eleven matches during the 2015 Currie Cup qualification rounds and First Division proper and scored two tries for the side. He also started the final, where he helped the Leopards to a 44–20 victory over theSWD Eagles to win the competition for the first time in their history.