A product of the small Western Cape town of Gordon’s Bay, Ruan de Beer attended Hoerskool DF Malan, where he thrived in both the second and back row. Earning the school’s Forward of the Year award in both 2017 and 2018, his 48 appearances for the 1^st XV is a standout achievement in a league that boasts significant player depth. An exceptional lineout specialist, he won an incredible 65% of opposition throws in the 2017/18 season, leading de Beer to be singled out as one of Statspro’s leading schoolboy performers in South Africa. Intensely committed to the game of rugby union, Ruan completed a 3-year Sports Science & Development course from North West University whilst completing his schooling, but it was his form on the pitch that had coaches talking.

Having enrolled at Stellenbosch University, de Beer made his mark by captaining the Maties U20 team, leading to provincial selection for Western Province in both the U19 and U21 Currie Cup. Blessed with rapid raw pace, his athleticism has seen cross-cover defence emerge as a jaw-dropping feature of Ruan’s game, as is his ability to shrug off numerous defenders and counterattack with destructive effect. Set for a senior professional debut in the Supersport Challenge (before the interruption of Covid-19), Ruan de Beer is a quintessentially South African forward.