Willem van den Heever arrived in Durban the hard way - via the Varsity Cup and the Currie Cup First Division. The fiery front-ranker made his mark for Maties in the Varsity Cup, where his knack for scoring tries from the hooker position first drew attention, before joining the Griffons and playing a central role in the union's Currie Cup First Division triumph in 2025, earning a place among the finalists for First Division Player of the Year.
He was one of six Griffons snapped up afterwards, joining the Sharks in August 2025 and being thrown straight into Currie Cup action, with coach JP Pietersen praising his abrasive edge and effectiveness in open play. By the 2026 Currie Cup he had graduated to the starting hooker role.
An energetic, try-scoring No 2 with a point to prove, Van den Heever adds bite and depth to the Sharks' front-row resources for 2026/27.