# Andries Bekker

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South African rugby union player

Rugby player

Andries Bekker Born (1983-12-05) 5 December 1983 (age 42) Goodwood, Cape Town, South Africa Height 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)[1] Weight 121 kg (267 lb)[1] School Paul Roos Gymnasium University University of South Africa Notable relative Hennie Bekker (father) Occupation Professional rugby player Rugby union career Position Lock Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2004–2012 Western Province 38 (60) 2013–2018 Kobelco Steelers 42 (70) Correct as of 15 January 2017 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2005–2013 Stormers 104 (75) Correct as of 2 June 2013 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–2012 South Africa 29 (5) Correct as of 14 April 2013

**Andries Bekker** (born 5 December 1983 in [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town), South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player for the [Springbok rugby team](/source/South_Africa_national_rugby_union_team) as well as [Kobelco Steelers](/source/Kobelco_Steelers) in the Japanese [Top League](/source/Top_League).

## Playing career

Bekker made his South African debut in 2008 against Wales in a 43–17 victory in [Bloemfontein](/source/Bloemfontein).[2]

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](/source/Bakkies_Botha) and [Victor Matfield](/source/Victor_Matfield). He is the son of former Springbok International [Hennie Bekker](/source/Hennie_Bekker_(rugby_player)) 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.[3] He announced his retirement in January 2018.[4]

## Accolades

Bekker was a Vodacom Super 14 Rugby Player of the Year nominee in 2008.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SARU_Player_Profile_Andries_Bekker_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SARU_Player_Profile_Andries_Bekker_1-1) ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Andries Bekker"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=25059&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 29 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Andries Bekker"](http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/27339.html). *ESPN scrum*. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Bekker quits WP for Japan"](http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Bekker-off-to-Japan-20130315). *News24*. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Former Springbok Bekker: My biggest regret is not looking after my body"](https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/former-springbok-bekker-my-biggest-regret-is-not-looking-after-my-body-13675573). *IOL*. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2020.

### Sources

- Wildman, Rob (15 August 2008). ["Tri-Nations: South Africa call on towering Andries Bekker's for New Zealand Test"](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). *The Daily Telegraph*. Archived from [the original](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) on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2008.

## External links

- ["SA Rugby Player Profile – Andries Bekker"](http://www.sarugby.co.za/playerprofile.aspx?id=25059&fullview=true). *South African Rugby Union*. Retrieved 29 May 2016.

- [itsrugby.co.uk profile](http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_2175.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Andries Bekker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andries_Bekker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andries_Bekker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.