A product of Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale, Ewan Coetzee’s tough as nails agricultural background is plain to see on the rugby field. After representing the SWD Eagles at the U18 Craven Week of 2015, he was signed by the Free State Cheetahs and made the move to Bloemfontein. The 2016 U19 Currie Cup season was testament to his work rate and ability to control a lineout, critical components to his 2017 call-up to the Shimlas Varsity Cup squad.

So impressive was Ewan at the set-piece that he drew the attention of the Blue Bulls, who recruited the physically imposing lock, despite already having talented second rowers within their own ranks. Pretoria has proven to be the perfect testing ground for Coetzee, allowing him to also bring his strong ball-carrying ability to the backrow, where the 22-year-old has performed for both the Bulls and the University of Pretoria as a barnstorming blindside flank.