{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Andries Bekker | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|12|5}} | birth_place = [[Goodwood, Cape Town|Goodwood]], [[Cape Town]], South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=2.08|precision=0}}<ref name="SARU Player Profile Andries Bekker">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=25059 | name=Andries Bekker | date=29 May 2016}}</ref> | weight = {{convert|121|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="SARU Player Profile Andries Bekker"/> | ru_position = [[Rugby union positions#4. .26 5. Lock|Lock]] | super1 = [[Stormers]] | superyears1 = 2005–2013 | superapps1 = 104 | superpoints1 = 75 | super14update = 2 June 2013 | province1 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | province2 = [[Kobelco Steelers]] | provinceyears1 = 2004–2012 | provinceyears2 = 2013–2018 | provinceapps1 = 38 | provinceapps2 = 42 | provincepoints1 = 60 | provincepoints2 = 70 | ru_provinceupdate = 15 January 2017 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] | repyears1 = 2008–2012 | repcaps1 = 29 | reppoints1 = 5 | ru_ntupdate = 14 April 2013 | relatives = [[Hennie Bekker (rugby player)|Hennie Bekker]] (father) | occupation = Professional rugby player | school = [[Paul Roos Gymnasium]] | university = [[University of South Africa]] }}
'''Andries Bekker''' (born 5 December 1983 in [[Cape Town]], South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player for the [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springbok rugby team]] as well as [[Kobelco Steelers]] in the Japanese [[Top League]].
==Playing career==
Bekker made his South African debut in 2008 against Wales in a 43–17 victory in [[Bloemfontein]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/27339.html|title=Andries Bekker|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref>
At 6'11" he is one of the tallest international rugby players, but he only made the Springbok side regularly after the retirement of locks [[Bakkies Botha]] and [[Victor Matfield]]. He is the son of former Springbok International [[Hennie Bekker (rugby player)|Hennie Bekker]] who was also a lock.
Holding the record for being the tallest Springbok in history, Andries Bekker was an imposing figure in the DHL Stormers lineout. Despite his large physique, he is blessed with mobility and pace; aspects which have seen him become an integral part of the current Springbok squad. His experience and all-round ability was to be crucial to the success of a relatively young pack in 2010.
In 2013 Bekker agreed to a move to Japanese club Kobelco Steelers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Bekker-off-to-Japan-20130315|title=Bekker quits WP for Japan|date=2013-03-15|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref> He announced his retirement in January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/former-springbok-bekker-my-biggest-regret-is-not-looking-after-my-body-13675573|title=Former Springbok Bekker: My biggest regret is not looking after my body|date=2018-03-09|website=IOL|language=en|access-date=2020-09-21}}</ref>
==Accolades== Bekker was a Vodacom Super 14 Rugby Player of the Year nominee in 2008.
== References == <references/>
===Sources=== *{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/southafrica/2564631/Tri-Nations-South-Africa-call-on-towering-Andries-Bekkers-for-New-Zealand-Test---Rugby-Union.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817093006/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/southafrica/2564631/Tri-Nations-South-Africa-call-on-towering-Andries-Bekkers-for-New-Zealand-Test---Rugby-Union.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 August 2008|title=Tri-Nations: South Africa call on towering Andries Bekker's for New Zealand Test|last=Wildman|first=Rob |date=15 August 2008|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2008-09-07}}
== External links == *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=25059 | name=Andries Bekker | date=29 May 2016}} *[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_2175.html itsrugby.co.uk profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bekker, Andries}} [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:South Africa international rugby union players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Kobelco Kobe Steelers players]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Afrikaner people]] [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:Alumni of Paul Roos Gymnasium]] [[Category:Rugby union locks]]