Herschel Jantjies, a promising young halfback, began representing Western Province at the youth level while attending Paul Roos Gymnasium. He later went on to play for UWC in the Varsity Shield and was selected for the Varsity Cup Dream Team, which faced off against the U20 Springboks in 2017.
In November 2017, Jantjies signed a short-term loan deal with Scarlets due to their injury crisis at the time. This provided him with an opportunity to gain experience at a higher level.
Following his stint with Scarlets, Jantjies was named in the Stormers' wider training squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season. He aimed to make his Super Rugby debut after his time with Scarlets.
During his rookie season in Super Rugby, Jantjies made an impressive impact. He scored five tries and made 15 appearances, predominantly as a starter. His performances caught the attention of the national selectors, resulting in his call-up to the Springbok alignment camp ahead of the Rugby Championship.
Jantjies made his test debut as the starting scrumhalf against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on July 20, 2019. In that match, he made history by scoring two tries in a 35-17 victory, becoming the first Springbok scrumhalf to achieve this feat on debut. He continued to shine in his second test, scoring his third international try in a 16-16 draw against New Zealand in the 2019 Rugby Championship. His ability to create scoring opportunities out of challenging situations was evident, emphasizing his talent and impact on the field.
Notably, Jantjies joined a select group of Springboks to have scored more than one try on their test debut, with teammate Sbu Nkosi being the last to achieve this in June 2018.
His outstanding performances led to his inclusion in the Springboks' Rugby World Cup squad. Throughout the tournament, he provided valuable contributions off the bench in matches against New Zealand, Italy, Canada, and Japan. Jantjies also started in the match against Namibia. Although he was unused in the semi-final against Wales, he made a crucial appearance as a substitute in the Rugby World Cup final against England, playing a role in the Springboks' title-winning campaign.
In March 2020, Jantjies signed a two-year contract extension with Western Province Rugby, demonstrating his commitment to the team and his future development. He later returned to the Springbok squad for the tests against Georgia and the British & Irish Lions, bringing his test caps tally to 10 with four tries to his name. Jantjies also represented the South Africa A team, contributing to their 17-13 victory over Warren Gatland's charges.
Further emphasizing his dedication to the Stormers, Jantjies signed a new two-year contract extension with the team in March 2022, solidifying his continued presence in the Stormers setup.
KG(17/05/2023)
Career
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Stormers Scrum Half |
2018 - present |
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Western Province Scrum Half |
2018 - present |
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Paul Roos Gymnasium Scrum Half |
|
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South Africa A Scrum Half |
2021 - present |
 |
Scarlets Scrum Half |
2017 - 2017 |
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Varsity Cup Dream Team Scrum Half |
2017 - 2017 |
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Springbok Gold Scrum Half |
2020 - 2022 |
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South Africa Scrum Half |
2019 - 2023 |
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Barbarians Scrum Half |
2023 - 2024 |
