Son of former Springbok lock, Schalk Burger Snr, Schalk Jnr was an extremely talented young sportsman showing early promise playing cricket and rugby while attending Paarl Gimnasium.
He ultimately followed his father's footsteps by choosing rugby and represented the Springboks Under 21 Springbok side that won the U21 Rugby World Cup in 2002.
He then captained the u21s in 2003 and earned a call-up for the senior Springbok squad and made his Test debut against Georgia in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup.
He has since carved out a name as one of the best flankers in the world with solid performances in the Super 12, Tri-Nations and Currie Cup.
Following the World Cup, he was named the World Rugby Player of the Year for 2004.
He was one of the Springboks' key players that went on to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Burger’s massive presence on the pitch was rewarded in 2011 with the SA Player of the Year award, for the second time.
In 2012, he was injured in the first game of the season and played no further part in The Stormers campaign.
Known for a well-rounded and balanced approach to loose-forward play, Schalk has little respect for his own body either when carrying the ball or on defence.
After a life-threatening illness, Burger, somehow made it back and won the Laureus Comeback Award in 2015 for this remarkable feat. Not only did he play for his beloved WP & Stormers but back into the Green & Gold of the Springboks.
In 2015, during the Rugby Championship, he was named as South Africa's 55th Springbok Captain ahead of the Test match against the All Blacks.
Burger has captained SA during his 12-year international career and in a stellar career, he won 86 caps for the Springboks and scored a record of 13 tries - the most by a Springbok flanker, he also won SA Rugby Player of the Year (2004&2011).
The legendary loose forward signed with the reigning English and European champions for the 2016/2017 season, after a spell with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath and Super Rugby franchise, Stormers.
As of the 2018/2019 Champions Cup, Burger has had 15 Champions Cup appearances.
JW May 18
ML 9/10/18
Career
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Paarl Gimnasium 1st Team Blindside Flanker |
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Barbarians Openside Flanker |
2013 - 2013 |
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South Africa Openside Flanker |
2003 - 2015 |
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Stormers Openside Flanker |
2004 - 2016 |
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Western Province Blindside Flanker |
2004 - 2016 |
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Tokyo Sungoliath Openside Flanker |
2014 - 2016 |
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Saracens Blindside Flanker |
2016 - 2019 |
