Andries Bekker facts for kids
| Date of birth | 5 December 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Goodwood, Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 121 kg (267 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Paul Roos Gymnasium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Hennie Bekker (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby player | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andries Bekker (born 5 December 1983 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a former professional rugby player from South Africa. He was known for being a very tall player. He played for the Springboks, which is South Africa's national rugby team. He also played for the Kobelco Steelers in Japan.
Contents
Andries Bekker's Rugby Journey
Starting with the Springboks
Andries Bekker first played for South Africa's national team, the Springboks, in 2008. This was in a game against Wales in Bloemfontein. The Springboks won that match 43–17.
A Tall Player on the Field
Andries Bekker is one of the tallest international rugby players ever. He stands at 2.08 metres (6 feet 10 inches) tall. This made him a very important player in the "lineout" part of the game. A lineout is when players jump to catch the ball after it goes out of bounds.
His father, Hennie Bekker, was also a Springbok player. He played in the same position as Andries, which is called a "lock".
Playing for the Stormers
Andries Bekker also played for the Stormers team. He was a key player for them. Even though he was very big, he could move quickly. This made him a strong and important player for his teams.
Moving to Japan and Retirement
In 2013, Andries Bekker moved to Japan. He joined a team called the Kobelco Steelers. He played for them until he decided to stop playing rugby professionally. He announced his retirement in January 2018.
Awards and Recognition
In 2008, Andries Bekker was nominated for a special award. He was a Vodacom Super 14 Rugby Player of the Year nominee. This shows he was one of the best players in the Super 14 competition that year.
