Ryno Eksteen, born on 3 October 1994 in Centurion, is a South African rugby player who currently represents the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby. He primarily plays as a fly-half or full-back and has showcased his skills for various teams throughout his career.
Eksteen began making waves in his rugby journey as he represented the Blue Bulls in the 2010 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week competition. He continued to excel and caught attention during the 2012 Under-18 Craven Week tournament, where he emerged as the top points scorer of the tournament and played a crucial role in helping the Blue Bulls secure victory in the unofficial final against the Golden Lions.
His outstanding performances earned him a call-up to the South African Schools side in 2012, where he had the opportunity to showcase his skills against France, Wales, and England in August of that year.
In 2013, Eksteen joined the Western Province Rugby Institute, making a move in the opposite direction of fellow S.A. Schools fly-half Handré Pollard, who joined the Blue Bulls. Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined Eksteen for the entire 2013 season, hampering his progress.
However, he bounced back and caught the attention of the Stormers, as he was included in their pre-season training squad ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby season. Eksteen's performances impressed the coaching staff, leading to his inclusion in the final Stormers squad.
He made his Super Rugby debut in the opening match of the 2014 season, despite not having any prior appearances in the South African domestic competitions such as the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup. Remarkably, Eksteen had not even played at the Under-21 or Under-19 level for Western Province before making his mark in Super Rugby.
Although his time with the Stormers was relatively short, Eksteen's talent and potential were evident during his stint with the team. He later ventured to the United States, where he joined the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby, continuing his rugby career on an international stage.
KG(17/07/2023)
Career
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Free State Cheetahs Fullback |
2017 - 2018 |
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Stormers Fly Half |
2014 - 2020 |
 |
Cheetahs Fly Half |
2017 - 2023 |
