Alberton’s De Jager makes debut as a Springbok

ALBERTON – Over the years Alberton has produced a number of provincial and Springbok players. 2014 is no exception, as the town can boast the fact that there is currently another player who made his debut in the Springbok jersey.

Lood de Jager made his debut in the Springbok jersey against Wales in the first of two tests against the Northern hemisphere team on Saturday June 14 in Durban. He earned his first cap from the bench when he replaced stalwart Bakkies Botha on lock and partnered up with Victor Matfield.

The 21-year old who currently play lock for the Cheetahs, was born in Alberton on December 17, 1992. Though he did not further his school career in Alberton, but in the East Rand at Jan van Riebeeck and Hugenote, Springs, Alberton can still boast a player of format once again.

“What amazing occurrence to play my first Test, from the national anthem to the moment when I ran on the field. Truly a day to remember,” said the second-rower after the match.

“Whether I played one minute or 30, it was over much too quickly, but I was fortunate in the end to get 40, which was more than I had initially bargained for.”

Springbok Head coach Heyneke Meyer, said that De Jager and Eben Etzebeth – who could return next week for the Scotland Test in Port Elizabeth – are possibly the Bok locks of the future, together with the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit.

“I think one must also remember that between Bakkies and Victor there are something like 1 000 calls that have to be learned,” said Meyer.

“But I thought Lood was great when he came on, and he can be happy with his first Test for his country.”

De Jager, a mountain at 2.05m and 125kg, currently plays for the Cheetahs. It is a dream come true for him to play for his country, after he was still in the Leopards’ structures two years ago before joining the Cheetahs.

He played at youth level for the Leopards and also played for Potchefstroom-based university side NWU Pukke.

In 2012 he was included in the Leopards Currie Cup squad, but didn’t make an appearance. His performances in 2012 at the u.21 Provincial Championship earned him a move to the Free State Cheetahs, and he subsequently was included in the Cheetahs final squad for the 2013 Super Rugby season. He is one of the stalwarts in the Cheetahs 2014 team, which earned him a spot in the Springbok 2014 squad.

Alberton can also boast about the Junior Springbok player, Cyle Brink- flanker, who is a member of the junior Boks playing in the 2014 IRB Junior World Cup. Two provincial players, also playing flank for the Lions, Derrick Minnie and Jaco Kriel, have roots in the town.