Marnus van der Merwe makes Lowveld history with Springbok call-up
Van der Merwe (28) will be on the bench for the Springboks in jersey number 16 during the match against the Barbarians at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. In receiving what is believed by many to believe a long-overdue Bok call-up, Van der Merwe will become the first former Laerskool Laeveld learner to don the green and gold come Saturday. He will also be the sixth (if one includes sevens rugby) Nellies alumnus to achieve the feat.
He finished Grade Seven at Laeveld in 2010, going on to attend Hoërskool Nelspruit from which he matriculated in 2015. After matriculating he made the move to Bloemfontein where he joined the Toyota Cheetahs Academy, earning his way up the ranks and appearing for the Cheetahs at U19 and U21 levels.
After breaking into the senior set-up he played more than 70 games for the Free Staters before he departed in July 2024, having made his debut in the defunct Pro14 Championship in 2018. He was also part of the victorious 2023 Currie Cup winning team.
Van der Merwe, a hooker by trade now after playing as a loose forward in high school, traded the plains of the Free State for the cold and wet countryside in Wales by joining the Scarlets in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
ALSO READ: Springboks to face Georgia at Mbombela Stadium
Since making his move to west Wales, Van der Merwe has been in the form of his life, playing outstanding rugby that has seen him voted the Scarlets' Supporters' Player of the Season and named in the BKT URC Elite XV for 2024/25. Only JC Pretorius and Sam Lousi won more turnovers than Van der Merwe over the course of the URC.
While 2024/25 has undoubtedly been his breakout season, Van der Merwe first attracted the attention of those in the Springbok coaching room last year when he was included in a 43-player squad for a Springbok alignment camp in early 2024. He didn't make the cut then, but that didn't stop his momentum and he has been unstoppable on his mission to earning a Bok call-up.
This hard work paid off when he was included in Rassie Erasmus' squad for the upcoming 2025 tests last month. He has stiff competition in the hooker position, but his work ethic has helped him stand out in Erasmus' eyes.
He is one of four uncapped players in the side that will take on the Baa-Baas – along with Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Vincent Tshituka and Neethling Fouché.
Commenting on the four uncapped players in the 23-man match day squad, Erasmus said: 'They have all slotted into our systems really well and have a good understanding of what we want to do in this match … Asenathi, Vincent, Neethling, and Marnus have all been impressive at training and for their respective franchises this season, and we hope to see them replicate those quality performances in this match.'
Van der Merwe won't be the only former Lowvelder in action on Saturday though, as old Lydenburger Kwagga Smith was also named on the bench for the encounter. While not included in the side for this Saturday, former Laerskool Bergland and NHS learner Faf de Klerk is in the larger squad for the series, along with former Airlink Pumas player Vincent Koch.
Rugby fans in the Lowveld will be itching to see their boys in action, especially when the Springboks return to Mbombela Stadium to take on Georgia on July 19. Tickets are available for the clash and you best make sure you get yours at Ticketmaster.co.za.
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