rwc15-Spotlight on – Jacques Burger

Namibia has a proud history among the rugby playing nations of the world, and has produced some excellent players over the years. Players like Jan Ellis, Gerhard Mans, Andre Stoop and Schalk van der Merwe come to mind, but Namibia’s current rugby captain Jacques Burger without a doubt ranks amongst the best.

With his high work rate and fearless crash tackles he has redefined the role of the modern day flanker, while he has consistently been ranked amongst the world’s top players over the past five years.

He has played a crucial role in the unprecedented success of his English club Saracens during that time, as they won the English Premiership twice and the LV Cup once, while they also reached the final of the European Heineken Cup.

In 2011 he was Saracens’ Player of the Year, while he was also selected as one of the top five players at the Rugby World Cup, and last year he was shortlisted for the European Player of the Year award.

These achievements have come at a huge personal cost as he pushed himself to the extreme and battered his body week in and week out, with the result that he had to undergo about ten operations to date. He has had six operations on his knees alone and still receives daily treatment with an ice machine to keep his battered body in shape.

He realises that his body cannot take it anymore and is seriously considering retirement, but now having turned 32 earlier this week, Burger is ready to lead his country at the World Cup one final time.

Burger was born and bred in Windhoek and rugby formed an indelible part of his life ever since he can remember.

“My dad was the manager at Wanderers Rugby Club and I was very involved in rugby from a young age. I used to watch the grown-ups playing and after the games I’d go into the changing room with the players and I just remember seeing these big men and thinking that I also want to be there one day,” he said.

Jacques soon became a player of note himself and by the time he joined Windhoek High School he had developed into a fine young flanker.

He made his national debut in 1998 when he represented Namibia u16 against the Gauteng Lions and went on to represent Namibia U18 for two years in a row at the South African Craven Week schools competition.

In 2002 he captained Namibia at the IRB Junior Rugby World Cup B division, where they produced their best performance to date, by reaching the final where they lost to Canada.

Burger received a sport bursary from the Free State Technikon and played a few matches for the Under 19 Cheetahs, while he made his senior national debut as a 20-year-old in 2004 when Namibia beat Zambia 52-10.

He went on to play for Griquas for three years, helping them win the Vodacom Cup in his final season, while he also played a major role in Namibia’s qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

Here, Burger was one of Namibia’s stand-out players and he received an offer to join the Blue Bulls.

His sojourn with the Bulls however did not turn out so well, as he had to compete with established Springboks like Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenburg and Danie Rossouw and he didn’t get much game time, and when his contract came up for renewal in 2009 he wasn’t sure if he should renew it.

It was during this time of indecision that Brendan Venter, the director of rugby at Saracens offered Burger a contract, and he jumped at the chance.

“I arrived on Christmas eve in 2009 and the place was full of snow. I was very excited and I knew it was a new beginning and opportunity for me to establish myself in a new team and I managed to do that.”

The rest, as they say, is history, and Burger went on to become one of the world’s top players, while playing an important role in Saracens’ most successful run in their 139-year history.

One on One with Jacques Burger

When and where were you born?

29 July 1983 in Windhoek

Schools attended?

Eros Primary School and Windhoek High School

Who did you look up to as a youngster?

I never really had a hero and didn’t look up to any specific player.

What Namibian players do you rate highly?

What do you like to eat and drink?

I like a braai and a potato salad. If Im braaiing I enjoy a cold beer otherwise a coke is fine.

What music do you like?