GALLERY: Albertonian Lood de Jager shines in Springboks win
Lood de Jager was part of the triumphant, Springbok team that captured the Webb Ellis Cup.
IT is only befitting to honour one of the 2019 Springbok squad member ho hail from Alberton, and played his schoolboy rugby in Springs.
Lood de Jager was part of the triumphant Springbok team that captured the Webb Ellis Cup by trumping England 32-12 in the finals of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Rugby World Cup (RWC). And as pointed out, together with his forward teammates, he formed the engine that was the basis from which the backline worked.
It was a stellar year when the Springboks became the RWC champions on November 2 at the Yokohama International stadium in Japan beating the English team.
The Springboks were the only team to have both won the Rugby World Cup and the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in the same season. The team finished the year at No 1 in the world rankings, for the first time since 2009.
The 26-year-old De Jager resided in Alberton for most of his youth, but went to Hoërskool Hugenote, Springs, where he started his career as a lock and has ever since played in that position. The 2.06m tall lock then went on to the North West University to further his career in rugby.
He played at youth level for the Leopards and Pukke. In 2012, he was selected for the Leopards’ Currie Cup squad, but did not make an appearance, and played for the u-21 team. He then played for the Free State Cheetahs and was included their 2013 Super Rugby team.
In 2017 he joined the Bulls on a one-year deal for the 2017 Super Rugby season. Since April 24, he has played for the Sale Sharks ahead of the 2019/20 Premiership season.
In 2014 he was one of eight uncapped players in the Springbok camp. De Jager’s career was marred with injuries over the last few months prior to the 2019 RWC in Japan, but subsequently was selected by the director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, for the 2019 Springbok squad to go to Japan.
De Jager played in most of the first round matches, but when the team reached the knock out stages, he and co-lock, Eben Etzebeth, were the first choice lock-pair for the starting lineup.
However, De Jager suffered a mammoth blow as he was forced off the field in the first 20 minutes of the finals against England. He appeared to have suffered from a dislocated shoulder.
His teammates praised him before he hobbled off down the tunnel. The Springboks were forced to continue without him and Bongi Mbonambi.
He became a vivid supported next to the field to watch how the Springboks captured their third RWC title, and now he is the proud owner of a gold medal to show for his efforts during the 2019 IRB RWC.
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