Michael van Vuuren rugby player
Michael van Vuuren rugby player

Michael van Vuuren

28th Sep 1991 1.87m/106kg Hooker

Michael van Vuuren is a South African rugby player who has played for various teams throughout his career. He attended Grey High School in Port Elizabeth and represented the school's first team in 2008 and 2009. He also played alongside Siya Kolisi, who is another notable Old Grey player. Van Vuuren later played Varsity Cup rugby for UFS Shimlas in the 2012 Varsity Cup.

He represented the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup in 2011 and 2012 before making a move to French Top 14 side Stade Français. Van Vuuren joined Stade Français for the 2012-2013 season, signing a two-year deal. He made his debut for the club in the Top 14 as a replacement against Biarritz in May 2013.

After his stint in France, Van Vuuren returned to South Africa and joined the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth ahead of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division. However, financial difficulties at the Eastern Province Rugby Union led to Van Vuuren and other players being given the option to terminate their contracts due to unpaid salaries.

He then had a trial period with Leicester Tigers in England and represented their A team in the Aviva A League. He extended his stay at Leicester Tigers until mid-March 2016 and made his debut in the English Premiership in February 2016.

Van Vuuren joined Bath Rugby before the 2016-17 English Premiership season and made his debut for the club in a match against Section Paloise. He also had loan spells with London Scottish in the RFU Championship.

In 2019, Van Vuuren joined Northampton Saints for the 2019/20 season before moving to Ealing Trailfinders for the 2020-21 season, playing in the RFU Championship.

At the representative level, Van Vuuren was a member of the South Africa Under-20 team that participated in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship.


KG (12/05/2023)

Career

lions Golden Lions
Hooker
2023 - present
image Cheetahs
Hooker
2011 - 2012
Untitled design (1) Stade Francais
Hooker
2012 - 2014
Untitled Eastern Province Kings
Hooker
2014 - 2016
leicester Leicester Tigers
Hooker
2016 - 2016
image Southern Kings
Hooker
2016 - 2016
bath Bath Rugby
Hooker
2016 - 2019
london-irish London Irish
Hooker
2019 - 2019
Bedford Blues Banner Bedford Blues
Number 16
2019 - 2019
1280 Northampton Saints
Hooker
2019 - 2020
nYOQ2IQd_400x400 Ampthill Rugby
Outside Centre
2020 - 2020
ws Wasps
Hooker
ealing Ealing Trailfinders
Hooker
2021 - 2023
golden_lions_thumb Lions
Hooker
2022 - 2023
newcastle-falcons Newcastle Falcons
Hooker
2023 - 2024