Schalk Burger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Schalk Burger

Burger with South Africa in 2007
Full name	Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr.
Date of birth	(1983-04-13) 13 April 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)
School	Paarl Gimnasium
University	Stellenbosch University
Notable relative(s)	Schalk Burger (father)
Occupation(s)	Rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose-forward Current team Saracens Youth Career 2002 Western Province Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2003–2014 Western Province 37 (35) 2004–2016 Stormers 123 (45) 2014–2016 Suntory Sungoliath 17 (25) 2016–2019 Saracens 52 (20) Correct as of 31 December 2019 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2003 South Africa Under–21 8 (20) 2003–2015 South Africa 86 (80) 2005 Southern Hemisphere XV 1 (5) 2014–2015 Springbok XV 2 (0) Correct as of 30 October 2019

Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr. (born 13 April 1983) is a famous South African former professional rugby union player. He played as a flanker, which is a key position in rugby. Schalk played for the Saracens team in the English Premiership. He also played 86 games for his country, South Africa.

Schalk was part of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was named South African Rugby Player of the Year twice, in 2004 and 2011. In 2004, he also won the big award for the best player in the world, the IRB Player of the Year. He holds the record for the most games (84) and most tries (13) scored by a flanker for South Africa. Schalk was known for playing very hard, which sometimes led to him getting yellow cards. He also had to deal with serious injuries to his neck and knee.

Early Life and Rugby Start

Schalk Burger comes from a rugby family. His father, also named Schalk Burger, was also a rugby player for South Africa. Schalk Jr. went to high school at Paarl Gimnasium. There, he played many sports and was very good at them. Later, he went to Stellenbosch University. He left university to focus on his rugby career.

Starting His Professional Journey

Schalk played for the South Africa Under 21 team. They won the U21 Rugby World Cup in 2002. He was the captain of this team in 2003. Soon after, he joined the main South African team, known as the Springboks. His first game was against Georgia at the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Since then, he became known as one of the best flankers in the world. He played well in big tournaments like the Super 12, Tri-Nations, and Currie Cup.

Big Wins and Challenges

Becoming Player of the Year in 2004

In 2004, Schalk was chosen for a new Springbok team. With their new coach, Jake White, they won the Tri-Nations trophy. This was the first time South Africa won it since 1998.

To make the year even better, Schalk won the top rugby award. He was named the IRB International Player of the Year in 2004. He also won the ABSA SA Rugby Player of the Year award in South Africa.

Dealing with Injuries in 2006

The Stormers team in 2006.

After a tough 2006 Super 14 season, Schalk was set to play for the national team again. But in a game against Scotland in June 2006, he got a serious neck injury. He needed surgery on his neck. Doctors were worried he might not play rugby again. Luckily, the surgery was successful. Schalk spent many months getting better. He worked hard to return to the game.

Winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007

England playing South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

After his recovery, Schalk returned to play for the Vodacom Stormers team in January 2007. He slowly got back to his best form. In mid-2007, he was chosen for the Springboks team for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

During the World Cup, Schalk faced a challenge. He was suspended for two matches after a tackle in the game against Samoa. But he came back to play a very important role. The Springboks won the World Cup by beating England 15–6 in the final. This was South Africa's second World Cup win.

2008 and 2009 Seasons

In March 2008, Schalk was suspended for two weeks. This was because he argued with a referee during a Super 14 game. After another good season with the Stormers, he was chosen for the Springboks' 2008 Tri Nations team.

In 2009, Schalk was selected to play against the British & Irish Lions. He had been out with a calf injury. During a game, he was given a yellow card for making contact with an opponent's face. He later received an eight-week ban. Schalk stated that he always played fairly and never meant to harm anyone.

2010 and 2011 Rugby World Cup

Schalk Burger with his medal after the 2007 World Cup Final.

Schalk played in the 2010 Tri Nations series. He scored two tries in games against New Zealand. Later that year, he broke a rib during a game. This injury meant he missed some international matches.

In 2011, Schalk was chosen for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He played in all the group matches. South Africa was knocked out in the Quarter Finals by Australia. At the end of 2011, Schalk was named the SARU's Player of the Year for the second time. This showed how important he was to South African rugby.

Tough Times and Comeback (2012–2013)

For two years, Schalk struggled with injuries and illness. In 2013, he had an operation on his back. During this time, he caught a serious infection in the hospital. His condition became very serious, and people were worried about his life. He spent six weeks in the hospital and many more weeks recovering.

Schalk finally returned to rugby in September 2013. He played for Western Province in a Currie Cup match. It was his first game in 18 months. This amazing comeback showed his strength and determination.

Playing in Japan and Return to Springboks (2014)

In May 2014, Schalk had a minor neck injury. In June, he signed a two-year contract to play for a Japanese team called Suntory Sungoliath. This contract allowed him to still play for the Stormers and the national team.

For the June 2014 international games, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer chose Schalk for the squad. Schalk had not played for South Africa since the 2011 World Cup. His return was a big moment for him and the team.

2015 Rugby World Cup and Bronze Medal

Because of his amazing return to rugby after his illness, Schalk won the Comeback of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards. He also reached 100 games in Super Rugby.

Schalk was chosen for the Springbok team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He played in all seven matches. The Springboks reached the semi-finals but lost to New Zealand. They then won the Bronze Final against Argentina, finishing third. Schalk scored tries against Samoa and Scotland. He also helped set up a try in their win against Wales. Schalk played in 20 World Cup matches, which is one of the highest numbers ever. After the 2015 World Cup, Schalk decided to retire from international rugby.

Playing for Saracens (2016)

Schalk signed a two-year deal to join the English Premiership team Saracens before the 2016–2017 season. He helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup twice, in 2017 and 2019. In December 2018, Schalk announced that he would leave Saracens at the end of the 2018-2019 season. He planned to return to Cape Town, South Africa.

Schalk Burger's Rugby Stats

Schalk Burger played 86 test matches for South Africa. He won 57 of those games, drew 1, and lost 28. He scored 16 tries, which gave him 80 points in total.

Test Tries (16)

Schalk scored tries against many different teams:

• 1 try against Georgia in 2003.
• 1 try against Wales in 2004.
• 1 try against Scotland in 2006.
• 2 tries against England in 2007.
• 1 try against New Zealand in 2007.
• 3 tries against Namibia in 2007.
• 1 try against USA in 2007.
• 1 try against Ireland in 2009.
• 2 tries against New Zealand in 2010.
• 1 try against England in 2014.
• 1 try against Samoa in 2015.
• 1 try against Scotland in 2015.

Personal Life

Schalk Burger is the oldest child of Schalk Burger Snr and Myra. When he is not playing rugby, Schalk lives and works with his family. They have a wine farm called Welbedacht Wine Estate.

Schalk married Michele de Munck, an interior designer, on 3 December 2011. They had their first son, Schalk Jr., in August 2012. Their second son, Nicol, was born in March 2014.

Images for kids

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  A Stormers match at Newlands.

See also

In Spanish: Schalk Burger para niños