Francois Louw
Encyclopedia
Francois Louw is a South Africa
n rugby union
international who plays as a flanker
. Louw is the grandson of the former South African international Jan Pickard
.
He represents the Stormers
in the Super 14
, having made his debut during the 2008 season. He also plays for Western Province
in the Currie Cup
. Louw was part of the Stormers team that lost the 2010 Super 14 Final to the Bulls. Following the Super 14 season, Louw made his debut for South Africa against Wales at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff
. He played the entire game as South Africa won 34–31. Louw was selected for South Africa's next match in the mid-year tests
, against France at his home ground, Newlands Stadium
in Cape Town. Louw scored the last of five tries, helping South Africa to a 42–17 victory. After taking part in South Africa's victorious two match series against Italy, including a try in the first Test, Louw made his Tri Nations debut in July 2010. It was the first time Louw experienced defeat as a Springbok, with New Zealand winning the game 32–12. Louw has been one of the best flankers in the Western Cape in 2010 and 2011, winning man of the match awards at Test level, and helping the Stormers become the stingiest defensive squad in the Super 15. On March 19, 2011, he played admirably against the formidable Deon Stegmann
and Dewald Potgieter, in a brutal North-South derby, stealing the ball at breakdown.
He is a Springbok candidate for the No. 6 jersey (No. 7 elsewhere) in the World Cup, because he is big enough to create havoc at breakdown and be a lineout option.
On 12 July 2011 it was announced that Louw signed for Bath Rugby
on a 3-year deal.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who plays as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
. Louw is the grandson of the former South African international Jan Pickard
Jan Pickard
Jan Albertus Jacobus Pickard was a South African rugby union international who played as a lock. Born in Paarl and a product of Stellenbosch University, Pickard made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1951. He is the grandfather of Francois Louw, who also played for Western Province and...
.
He represents the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
, having made his debut during the 2008 season. He also plays for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
in the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
. Louw was part of the Stormers team that lost the 2010 Super 14 Final to the Bulls. Following the Super 14 season, Louw made his debut for South Africa against Wales at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. He played the entire game as South Africa won 34–31. Louw was selected for South Africa's next match in the mid-year tests
2010 mid-year rugby test series
The 2010 mid-year rugby Test series refers to the rugby union Internationals that were played from late May to late June, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere....
, against France at his home ground, Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....
in Cape Town. Louw scored the last of five tries, helping South Africa to a 42–17 victory. After taking part in South Africa's victorious two match series against Italy, including a try in the first Test, Louw made his Tri Nations debut in July 2010. It was the first time Louw experienced defeat as a Springbok, with New Zealand winning the game 32–12. Louw has been one of the best flankers in the Western Cape in 2010 and 2011, winning man of the match awards at Test level, and helping the Stormers become the stingiest defensive squad in the Super 15. On March 19, 2011, he played admirably against the formidable Deon Stegmann
Deon Stegmann
Deon Stegmann is a professional South African rugby union player, who represents the Springboks and Bulls at openside flank. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at the age of 21....
and Dewald Potgieter, in a brutal North-South derby, stealing the ball at breakdown.
He is a Springbok candidate for the No. 6 jersey (No. 7 elsewhere) in the World Cup, because he is big enough to create havoc at breakdown and be a lineout option.
On 12 July 2011 it was announced that Louw signed for Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
on a 3-year deal.