Born in Johannesburg, Johan Mees Erasmus attended Hoerskool Ben Viljoen in the Limpopo province, before joining the Sharks. Quickly drafted into the Natal Sharks U21 squad, he was identified by (then) Director of Rugby, Jake White, as a player of the future. White fast-tracked Erasmus into his Vodacom Cup squad, playing ahead of many seasoned campaigners in the process. Although he was selected as a Hooker, Mees is most comfortable as a Tighthead Prop.

Blessed with a superb work rate and a rare ability to break numerous tackles, 2016 saw him head to Perth to join the Western Force. His barnstorming runs went on to become an online sensation at the World Club Tens, leading the ACT Brumbies to secure his signature for the following Super Rugby season. A Super Rugby debut versus the Jaguares followed, before the Rebels lured Erasmus to Melbourne in 2019. Reputed to be one of the quickest front rankers in the game, the 25-year-old not only solidifies the scrum, but also brings an invaluable mobility to any squad.