Schalk Brits

Schalk Brits (born (1981-05-16)16 May 1981 in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal) is a South African rugby union footballer.

He married Colinda Wijnants on 29 January 2011 in Greyton, South Africa.

Brits attended Stellenbosch University and stayed at the prestigious Wilgenhof residence while studying.

Brits played for the Western Province from 2002 to 2004 and rejoined the Cape franchise in 2006–09.

Brits played for the Stormers for 4 seasons making 51 appearances for them and managing to score 20 points.

Brits made his debut for Saracens in the season opener against London Irish. Brits scored his first try for Saracens on 27 September 2009 against Gloucester, the result: 19–16 to Saracens. Brits scored 7 tries in the 2009/10 season and was praised for his pace and ball carrying skills. Brits played every minute in the Guinness Premiership Final against Leicester Tigers, which Saracens lost 33–27 in one of the most exciting finals in Guinness Premiership history. Brits is now regarded as one of the most exciting players in the English Aviva Premiership.

Brits was voted Players' Player of the year in the 2009/2010 season.

In the 2010/2011 grand final against Leicester Brits won the Man of the Match award. Saracens won the match 22-18 after a nail biting final nine minutes when Saracens defended the lead with Leicester encamped on their try line.

On 27 June 2011, Brits moved back to his former club Stormers on a short term loan deal. He played as a back rower for the South African side in the Super Rugby semi final loss against the Crusaders as a replacement for Duane Vermeulen.

Brits has now returned to play his usual, expansive role with Saracens.

In January 2012 he signed a new deal with the Saracens that will keep him at the club for at least the next 3 seasons.

Brits made his international debut against Italy in 2008. He was next called up when he was included in the Springbok squad that toured Ireland, Scotland and England during the 2012 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He came on as a substitute in the match against Scotland to earn his fourth cap. He earned his fifth cap in their next match, replacing Adriaan Strauss as they beat England 16–15.

Brits returned to international rugby in 2015, coming on as a substitute in South Africa's 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Argentina, and was then included in South Africa's squad that participated at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. While he didn't feature in their 32–34 loss to Japan in their opening match, he did play off the bench in their next match against Samoa, scoring a late try in a 34–16 victory. He was again omitted against Scotland before another appearance from the bench in a 64–0 victory over the United States. He didn't feature in their 23–19 win over Wales in the quarter final, their 18–20 loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals or the third-place play-off against Argentina, which South Africa won 24–13 to secure the bronze medal in the competition.