Adriaan Pieter 'André' Esterhuizen (born 30 March 1994 in Klerksdorp) is a South African professional rugby union player for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and South Africa national team.[1] His regular position is centre.
Rugby player career
Youth
Esterhuizen represented his local side Leopards at the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007, at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2010 and at the Under-18 Craven Week in 2011.
In 2013, he moved to Durban to join the Sharks. He started twelve of the Sharks U21 side's matches during the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, finishing as the joint top try scorer in Division A of that competition with 9 tries.[2]
Esterhuizen was included in the Sharks wider training squad prior to the 2014 Super Rugby season, scoring a try for them in their warm-up match against Saracens[7] and was subsequently selected in the final Super Rugby squad for 2014.[8]
He won his first Premiership title and started as Harlequins won the final 40–38 against Exeter Chiefs in the highest scoring Premiership final ever on 26 June 2021.[10]
In May 2022, Esterhuizen won the Rugby Players' Association's player's player of the year. The result was determined after a poll by fellow players throughout the English Premiership. The award came off the back of him scoring 8 tries for Harlequins throughout the season after qualifying for the playoffs in an attempt to retain the Premiership title.[11]
On 2 January 2022, Esterhuizen won man of the match despite not scoring a try as Harlequins beat Gloucester 20-17 away.[12] On 5 January 2022, Esterhuizen scored a try against in a absence of a number of key players including England internationals Marcus Smith and Danny Care, going on to win man of the match against Newcastle Falcons as Harlequins won 24-3 away.[13] On 8 January 2022, Esterhuizen scored a last minute try and completed the game winning turnover to beat Exeter Chiefs. He was awarded his third consecutive man of the match in as many games for his performance.[14]
At the end of the 2021–22 season, Esterhuizen was voted Harlequins' players player of the year and fans player of the season.[15]
In April 2024, he scored a try from a cross-field kick by Marcus Smith as Harlequins won their first ever Champions Cup knockout game beating Glasgow Warriors 28-24 at home.[16]
Return to the Sharks
In March 2024 Esterhuizen announced he would be returning to South Africa for family reasons. On his time at Harlequins, he was quoted as saying I'm very grateful to Harlequins for providing me with the opportunity to return home to South Africa and be closer to my family...I have loved my time at Quins. The club has played a huge role in my development and career achievements.[17]
His return to the Sharks was confirmed on 14 March 2024, departing the Harlequins one year prior to the end of his contract.[18]
International career
In 2018, Esterhuizen made his debut for South Africa against Wales in a one off match staged in Washington. South Africa went on to lose the game 22-20.[19]
In September 2023, Esterhuizen was named as part of South Africa's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[20] South Africa went on to win the tournament beating New Zealand 12-11 in the final.[21]
