Ruben van Heerden

Pretoria has traditionally been South Africa’s second-row factory; just think Frik du Preez, Moaner van Heerden, Louis Moolman, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, to name a few.

Although he was born in Alberton, 22 years ago, rangy Ruben van Heerden seems no exception. The young beanpole was a tower of strength on the Affies touchline, while groomed as a Blue Bull lock.

However, he elected to join forces with the Cell C Sharks in 2018 and is keen to follow in the footsteps of equally great local locks like André Botha, Mark Andrews, Albert van den Berg and Johann Muller.