Gerhard van den Heever

{{Short description|Japan international rugby union player}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Gerhard van den Heever | image = File:Gerhard van den Heever 2019a.jpg | fullname = Gerhard Jacobus van den Heever | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|04|13|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]] | height = {{height|m=1.91}} | weight = {{cvt|105|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}} | school = [[Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool]] | university = [[University of Pretoria]] | relatives = | position = [[Rugby union positions#Wing|Wing]], [[Rugby union positions#Fullback|Fullback]] | currentclub = [[Kubota Spears]] | youthyears1 = 2005–2010 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Bulls}} | apps1 = 31 | points1 = 60 | years2 = 2009–2011 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps2 = 41 | points2 = 95 | years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps3 = 26 | points3 = 10 | years4 = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps4 = 24 | points4 = 15 | years5 = 2013–2016 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Munster}} | apps5 = 29 | points5 = 30 | years6 = 2016–2018 | clubs6 = [[Yamaha Júbilo]] | apps6 = 22 | points6 = 203 | years7 = 2018–2019 | clubs7 = [[Sunwolves]] | apps7 = 18 | points7 = 35 | years8 = 2018–2026 | clubs8 = [[Kubota Spears]] | apps8 = 83 | points8 = 391 | repyears1 = 2009 | repteam1 = [[South Africa national under-20 rugby union team|South Africa Under-20]] | repcaps1 = 4 | reppoints1 = 15 | repyears2 = 2021–2022 | repteam2 = [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] | repcaps2 = 5 | reppoints2 = 5 | clubupdate = 21 February 2021 | repupdate = 7 June 2018 }} '''Gerhard Jacobus van den Heever''' (born 13 April 1989) is a South African-born Japanese [[rugby union]] player for the {{Rut|Sunwolves}} in [[Super Rugby]] and [[Kubota Spears]] in the [[Top League]]. His regular playing position is as a [[Rugby union positions#Wing|wing]].

==Education== Van den Heever attended [[Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool]] (Afrikaans High School for Boys, known as ''Affies''), in Pretoria — a school that produced several sports stars such as Bulls players Derick Kuun, [[Pierre Spies]] and [[Jacques-Louis Potgieter]] and Titans cricketers [[AB de Villiers]], [[Heino Kuhn]] and [[Faf du Plessis]]. He played in the University Seven's Rugby World Championships for the [[University of Pretoria]].<ref>http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=9524&language=1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930140446/http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=9524&language=1 |date=30 September 2012 }} .A. Students Seven's Rugby Team flush with TuksRugby players. Retrieved 25 June 2011</ref>

==Bulls== In early 2010, Van den Heever inherited [[Bryan Habana]]'s number 11 shirt in the Bulls team after Habana's departure for the [[Stormers]]; Van den Heever is said to be even quicker than Habana.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thebulls.co.za/profiles.aspx?Id=452 |title=Bulls News |access-date=23 March 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716031631/http://www.thebulls.co.za/profiles.aspx?Id=452 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.thebulls.co.za/columns.aspx?id=7274&headline=Gerhard%20van%20den%20Heever Gerhard van Heever]Bulls.co.za {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227121728/http://www.thebulls.co.za/columns.aspx?id=7274&headline=Gerhard%20van%20den%20Heever |date=27 February 2012 }}</ref>

==Stormers== On 24 October 2011, Van den Heever left the Bulls to join the Stormers and Western Province.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Van-den-Heever-signs-for-WP-20111024|title=Van den Heever signs for WP|work=News24|access-date=2018-10-17}}</ref>

==Munster== Van den Heever agreed to join Irish side [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] on a two-year contract after the [[2013 Currie Cup Premier Division]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/12088.php|title=Munster Confirm Van Den Heever Signing|date=22 July 2013|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=7 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728073546/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/12088.php#.UnubxF9FCM8|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> He arrived in [[Cork (city)|Cork]] to join up with Munster on 5 November 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/12477.php|title=Van Den Heever Arrives|date=5 November 2013|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref> He made his debut for Munster on 29 November 2013, starting against [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]] in the [[United Rugby Championship|Pro12]], but sustained a broken bone in his hand during the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12562.php|title=O'Connell Starts As Van Den Heever Makes Debut|date=28 November 2013|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=29 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203215852/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12562.php|archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12567.php|title=Munster Win Hard Fought Battle|date=29 November 2013|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=1 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203214318/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12567.php|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/12604.php |title=Sherry Faces Lengthy Spell on Sidelines |date=6 December 2013 |work=munsterrugby.ie |access-date=8 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212230029/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/12604.php |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}</ref> Van den Heever scored his first try for Munster in their 54–13 win against [[Cardiff Blues]] on 8 February 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12875.php|title=Six-Try Munster Outmuscle Cardiff|date=8 February 2014|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=9 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221213022/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/rugby/12875.php|archive-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> He was added to Munster's [[2013–14 Heineken Cup]] squad on 20 March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/18138.php|title=Trio Nominated For Heineken Cup Squad|date=20 March 2014|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=21 March 2014}}</ref> He made his [[Heineken Cup]] debut on 5 April 2014, coming on against [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]] in Munster's quarter-final. In May 2016, it was announced that Van den Heever would be leaving Munster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/22581.php|title=Departing Players|date=10 May 2016|work=munsterrugby.ie|access-date=10 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513020256/http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/22581.php#.VzIg4fkrLIU|archive-date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

==Yamaha Júbilo== After leaving Munster, Van den Heever played for Japanese [[Top League]] side [[Yamaha Júbilo]] from 2016 to early 2018.<ref name="2016年度追加入団選手のお知らせ">{{cite press release | url=http://rugby.yamaha-motor.co.jp/info/2016/05/ | publisher=Yamaha Júbilo | date=27 May 2016 | access-date=27 May 2016 | script-title=ja:2016年度追加入団選手のお知らせ | trans-title=2016 fiscal year – joined players (additional)}}</ref>

==Achievements== * [[2009 Currie Cup Premier Division|2009]] [[Currie Cup]] winner with the [[Blue Bulls]] * [[2010 Super 14 Final|2010]] [[Super Rugby]] winner with the [[Bulls (rugby club)|Bulls]] * [[2012 Currie Cup Premier Division|2012]] Currie Cup winner with [[Western Province (rugby team)|Western Province]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=GV203772 Munster Profile] *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=38030 | name=Gerhard van den Heever | date=30 May 2016}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130706124111/http://thestormers.com/backs/gerhard-van-den-heever/ Stormers Profile] *[http://wprugby.com/backs/gerhard-van-den-heever Western Province Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223455/http://wprugby.com/backs/gerhard-van-den-heever/ |date=4 October 2013 }} *[http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/teams/munster/squad.php?player=114569&includeref=dynamic Pro12 Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201701/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/teams/munster/squad.php?player=114569&includeref=dynamic |date=14 July 2014 }} *[http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_16791.html itsrugby.co.uk Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van den Heever, Gerhard}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:Bulls (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]] [[Category:Rugby union wings]] [[Category:University of Pretoria alumni]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Munster Rugby players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Bloemfontein]] [[Category:Afrikaner people]] [[Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players]] [[Category:Shizuoka Blue Revs players]] [[Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]] [[Category:Sunwolves players]] [[Category:Kubota Spears players]] [[Category:Alumni of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool]] [[Category:Japan international rugby union players]]