Against Toulouse, Rohan Janse van Rensburg celebrated his first start with Union Bordeaux-Bègles. The South African performed very well, particularly offensively. The opportunity to learn a little more about this mountain of muscles which has everything to succeed in France.
Even if you don’t know it very well, you won’t miss it. That’s for sure. This Sunday, Toulouse supporters witnessed the first tenure of Rohan Janse van Rensburg with UBB…And they quickly understood who they were dealing with. 1.85 m tall and 109 kg, the South African likes to stir meat. As evidenced by his four defenders beaten in four races with the ball in hand. The 30-year-old center has everything to become one of the strong links in the Gironde attack.
He found Bru in Gironde
The arrival of Yannick Bru in the summer of 2023 gave UBB a direct link with the Durban Sharks. As a result, pillar Carlu Sadie and center Ben Tapuai left the South African team to join France and find the manager. For Janse van Rensburg, it’s a bit the same story.
The center worked alongside Bru at the Sharks for a few months during the 2022-2023 season. This relationship helped to complete the transfer last season. The technician can now benefit from the power of the native of Welkom (South Africa).
Three Super Rugby finals lost
Before wearing the Bordeaux-Béglais jersey, Janse van Rensburg defended the colors of the Bulls, the Sharks but especially the Lions in his country. With the Johannesburg franchise, the main concerned experienced great moments, notably an association with Lionel Mapoe (formerly of Stade Français) in the center which wreaked havoc.
Problem is, he will never have managed to win Super Rugby with the red jersey on his skin. Worse, the Lions had one series of disappointments in the final. In total, they failed three times in quick succession on the last step. Beaten in 2015 by the Hurricanes then in 2016 and 2017 by the Crusaders. Frustrating.
In terms of achievements, Janse van Rensburg can boast of having won the Curry Cup in 2015 with the Golden Lions.
It has already hurt in Europe
The just thirty-year-old is not discovering the European continent this season, far from it. Before joining the Durban Sharks, it was with the Sale Sharks that the center tormented all the defenses he encountered. After a first freelance period between November 2017 and February 2018, Janse ven Rensburg joined the English club once and for all in the summer of 2018 and stayed there until 2022.
In total, he played 73 matches with Sale for 23 tries scored. Not too bad. A more than successful passage, which will have left good memories for fans of English rugby.
A selection with the Springboks
Performing for several seasons with the Lions, Janse van Rensburg was rewarded with a selection for the Springboks. After flirting with a first cap for many months, the current UBB player discovered international rugby in 2016 during the Wales – South Africa match. He was also the starter that day.
We will also note his three matches with the South African under-20s at the start of his career, which he started with the Pretoria Bulls.
