Road to the RWC | Springbok player profile: Willie le Roux

Willie le Roux has already featured in 87 Tests Springboks at the 2019 World Cup, and the title winner from 2019 is sure to have a key role to play once again this year.

Below we highlight some key information about the 34-year-old in our ongoing player profile series.

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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

All information correct as at 5 September 2023

SPRINGBOKS’ WORLD CUP FIXTURES:

Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 5:45pm
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux), 3pm
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris), 9pm
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille), 9pm

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

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World Cup squad

Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).

Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).

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Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).

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