Willie le Roux debuted for the Springboks in 2013 and has since played 93 Tests, including 79 starts. The 34-year-old fullback looks to have a fresh lease on rugby life after joining the Bulls following the World Cup.
Le Roux’s role with the Springboks has changed recently, with Damian Willemse being the first-choice No 15, but this should not lessen the veteran’s significance.
Le Roux still has a lot to give the Boks as a senior statesman who is the perfect team player, an exceptional try maker, and as competitive and passionate about the Springbok badge as you can get.
The playmaker might play in seven more Bok games this year, taking him to the fabled 100 Test mark, which would be an extraordinary milestone for a man who has been such a faithful servant of Springbok rugby for the better part of ten years.
PROFILE: WILLIE LE ROUX
Name: Willie le Roux, Born: 18 August 1989, Stellenbosch, School: Paul Roos Gymnasium, Major teams: Springboks, Cheetahs, Canon Eagles, Sharks, Wasps, Toyota Verblitz, Position: Fullback, Height: 6-foot-1, Test debut: South Africa v Italy in Durban, 8 June 2023, Tests played: 87, Tries scored: 13, Current club team: Moving from Suntory to Stormers.
THE BOKS’ HOME TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2024 IS:
- Saturday, 6 July: SA vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
- Saturday, 13 July: SA vs. Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
- Saturday, 20 July: SA vs. Portugal (venue TBC)
- Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
- Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
- Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
The Springboks’ away Test itinerary, meanwhile, has two games in Australia in August against the Wallabies, an away Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina in September, and games in Europe in November 2024.