Duhan van der Merwe is SA’s public enemy No 1
In a three-part series, we profile the South Africans who’ll go up against the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup. First up: Duhan van der Merwe.
He is a swashbuckling winger and on his day, one of the best and most entertaining players in the world. But before he was become Scotland’s brightest star, Duhan van der Merwe was just another South African player hoping to make it big.
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Van der Merwe is one of three players born and raised in South Africa who have been selected in Scotland’s lineup to square off the Springboks at the Stade de Marseille.
Below, we mapped out the road he travelled from youthful Springbok hopeful to global superstar and Springbok rival.
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WHO IS THIS SOUTH AFRICAN TURNED SCOTSMAN?
In addition to being a South African citizen, Van der Merwe also has strong ties to the Springboks. He is the younger brother of Springbok hooker Akker van der Merwe.
But unlike his brother, the younger Van der Merwe sibling couldn’t quite settle down in South African rugby to establish his career as he would have liked to.
After struggling to get a proper breakthrough at the Bulls, he moved to Montpellier in France. When that didn’t work out, the big man made a surprise move to Edinburgh, where his career sparked to life.
Now, Duhan van der Merwe is one of the biggest names in the game, and he has his sights on the Springboks. A bulking winger, he easily dwarfs all of the Springboks’ wing options.
Him coming up against South Africa adds another storyline to the highly-anticipated Rugby World Cup clash that is looming large.
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PROFILE: DUHAN VAN DER MERWE
Name: Duhan Van der Merwe
Born: 4 June 1994, George, Western Cape
Age: 28
School: Hoërskool Outeniqua
Position: Wing
Height: 1.93m
Weight: 106kg
Test debut: Scotland vs Georgia in Washington, 23 October 2020
Tests played: 31
Current club team: Edinburgh
Major teams: British & Irish Lions, Scotland, Junior Springboks, Edinburgh, Montpellier, Worcester Warriors, Blue Bulls
All information correct as at 8 September 2023
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