Heinrich Brussow
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow (born 21 July 1986 in Bloemfontein
, South Africa
) is a South African rugby union
footballer. He plays for the Free State Cheetahs
provincial team, Cheetahs
in the international Super Rugby competition and the Springboks. His usual position is open-side flanker
.
in Bloemfontein where he played in the First XV and was later selected for the Under-18 Free State Craven Week
side. Brüssow was part of the Free State Cheetahs
squad who shared the Currie Cup
glory in 2006 with the Blue Bulls
, before playing in the 2007 Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions
, scoring a crucial try and helping the team to a 20-18 win. In 2008 he was voted best open-side flanker in the Super 14
and Currie Cup
. This earned him a call-up to the Springboks squad for the November 2008 tour to the British Isles
. He only played the final 4 minutes in the end-of-tour test against England
.
In 2009, Brüssow was again a flanker in the Super 14
competition. However, selectors excluded him from the Springboks squad. Soon afterwards he played for the Free State Cheetahs
against the British and Irish Lions
team; Brüssow was finally called up for Schalk Burger
, who failed to recover from an injury for the first test against the Lions
. He received the Man-of-the-Match award in the Springboks' win against the All Blacks
on the 25 July 2009. Brüssow once again featured in a Currie Cup
final in 2009
, but the Free State Cheetahs
lost to a hungry Blue Bulls
team.
Early March 2010 Brüssow's career took a blow when he injured his cruciate knee-ligament in a Super 14
game against the Hurricanes, which kept him from international rugby till August 2011.
He returned to international competition on the 13th of August 2011 against Australia where he played for a short stint from the bench where he showed he still has all the ability that made him so popular in 2009. On the 20th of August 2011 Heinrich Brüssow gave a Man-of-the-Match display of his skills as the Springboks managed to defeat arch-nemesis New Zealand All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, South Africa
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...
) is a South African 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...
footballer. He plays for the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
provincial team, Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
in the international Super Rugby competition and the Springboks. His usual position is open-side 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...
.
Career
Heinrich Brüssow attended Grey CollegeGrey College, Bloemfontein
Grey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, historically significant and prestigious Milner Schools...
in Bloemfontein where he played in the First XV and was later selected for the Under-18 Free State Craven Week
Craven Week
The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven....
side. Brüssow was part of the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
squad who shared 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...
glory in 2006 with the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
, before playing in the 2007 Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
, scoring a crucial try and helping the team to a 20-18 win. In 2008 he was voted best open-side flanker in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
and 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...
. This earned him a call-up to the Springboks squad for the November 2008 tour to the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. He only played the final 4 minutes in the end-of-tour test against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
In 2009, Brüssow was again a flanker in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition. However, selectors excluded him from the Springboks squad. Soon afterwards he played for the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
against the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team; Brüssow was finally called up for Schalk Burger
Schalk Burger
Schalk Burger Jr. is a South African rugby union player. He plays the position of flanker in the Springbok rugby union team.-Father:...
, who failed to recover from an injury for the first test against the Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. He received the Man-of-the-Match award in the Springboks' win against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
on the 25 July 2009. Brüssow once again featured in a 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...
final in 2009
2009 Currie Cup Premier Division
-Round one:-Round One Summary:* The Boland Cavaliers held off the fast finishing Leopards to claim a 26-18 win in their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match at Boland Stadium in Wellington on Friday 10 July....
, but the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
lost to a hungry Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
team.
Early March 2010 Brüssow's career took a blow when he injured his cruciate knee-ligament in a Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
game against the Hurricanes, which kept him from international rugby till August 2011.
He returned to international competition on the 13th of August 2011 against Australia where he played for a short stint from the bench where he showed he still has all the ability that made him so popular in 2009. On the 20th of August 2011 Heinrich Brüssow gave a Man-of-the-Match display of his skills as the Springboks managed to defeat arch-nemesis New Zealand All Blacks in Port Elizabeth.
Squads
- 2011
- Springboks squad (2011 Rugby World Cup2011 Rugby World CupThe 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
) - Springboks squad (Tri Nations (rugby union))
- Toyota Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(ABSA Currie CupCurrie CupThe 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...
Premier Division) - Toyota CheetahsCentral CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
(Vodacom Super Rugby) - Re-injured March 2011
- Springboks squad (2011 Rugby World Cup
- 2010
- Vodacom CheetahsCentral CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
(Vodacom Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
) - Injured March 2010
- Vodacom Cheetahs
- 2009
- Springboks spring tour squad (FranceFrance national rugby union teamThe France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, ItalyItaly national rugby union teamThe Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
& Ireland) - Springboks squad (British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
Tour) - Springboks squad (Tri Nations (rugby union))
- Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
Tour) - Vodacom CheetahsCentral CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
(Vodacom Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
)
- Springboks spring tour squad (France
- 2008
- Springboks spring tour squad (British Isles)
- Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(ABSA Currie CupCurrie CupThe 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...
Premier Division) - Vodacom CheetahsCentral CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
(Vodacom Super 14)
- 2007
- Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(Vodacom Cup) - Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(ABSA Currie CupCurrie CupThe 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...
Premier Division) - Vodacom CheetahsCentral CheetahsThe Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
(Vodacom Super 14)
- Vodacom Free State Cheetahs
- 2006
- Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(ABSA Currie CupCurrie CupThe 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...
Premier Division) - Vodacom Free State CheetahsFree State CheetahsThe Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
(Vodacom Cup)
- Vodacom Free State Cheetahs
- 2005
- Free State (SA Under 19)
- 2004
- Free State (U18 Coca-Cola Craven WeekCraven WeekThe Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven....
)
- Free State (U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
2009
- 20 June 2009 : South Africa vs British and Irish Lions I: Heinrich Brüssow replaces injured Schalk Burger in the starting line-up. His ball-stealing and recovering skills proved too much for the Lions. When he was replaced in the second half, the Lions managed to fight back, but not enough to win the game. Scored a try from the back of a maul.
- 27 June 2009 : South Africa vs Lions II: Brüssow came on in the 62nd minute and effected a few crucial turn-overs helping seal the 28-25 victory for the South Africans.
- 25 July 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks I: Although being targeted, Brüssow battled competently against Richie McCawRichie McCawRichard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
, who is widely considered the best open-side flanker in the world. He made a number of crucial turn-overs and tackles. He was named Man-of-the-Match in the 28-19. - 1 August 2009 : South Africa vs All Blacks II: Continuing to build on his reputation, Brüssow again managed to compete with the All Black captain Richie McCaw at the breakdown. He once again made a number of crucial turnovers, tackles and powerful runs as the Boks won 31-19
- 8 August 2009 : South Africa vs WallabiesWallabiesA wallaby is the informal name for any of about thirty species of Australian animal.Wallaby may also refer to:* Wallaby ammunition carrier, a variant of the Canadian Ram tank* Wallaby , Japanese fantasy manga...
I: Brüssow was once again in outstanding form for the Springboks as his ruck work, brutal hits and ball-carrying led South Africa to victory over Australia. His opposite number George Smith, also considered one of the best in world rugby, could not cut it with Brüssow, and his frustration led to a yellow card. - 13 November 2009 : South Africa vs France: It was a grey evening for the men in green, as they were out-muscled by France 20-13. Brüssow, though, stood up and kept the Springboks in the match with several vital turnovers and tackles. Even though it was a defeat, the match in ToulouseToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
was considered Brüssow's best in a test jersey up to that point.
2011
- 20 August 2011: After a lengthy injury lay off Heinrich Brüssow returned to the international stage in the Springboks final two Tri Nations matches of the 2011 season. After a short stint against Australia (13 August 2011), he played a full game against New Zealand All Blacks. With a first-off whitewash on the cards, Brüssow's fetching skills would be vital, in order for the Boks to gain some momentum before the (RWC World Cup 20112011 Rugby World CupThe 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
). Brüssow delivered a Man-of-the-Match winning performance. One that saw him make some fantastic and crucial turnovers, immense tackles and ball carries while going through an enormous amount of donkey work and taking a boot to the face for his efforts. Brüssow ended the game with a bloodied, pockmarked face and bandage, but most probably assured his place in Peter De VilliersPeter de VilliersPeter de Villiers is a South African rugby union coach who is the coach of the South Africa national rugby union team. After his successes with South African U19 and U21 squads, de Villiers was named as the coach of South Africa's national team, the Springboks in January 2008, the first-ever...
' plans for rugby's greatest stage in New Zealand. (RWC World Cup 20112011 Rugby World CupThe 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
)
Tournament Winner Medals
| Tournament Winner | |||
| Year | Tournament | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Tri Nations 2009 Tri Nations Series The 2009 Tri Nations Series was the fourteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks... |
Springboks | Openside Flanker |
| 2009 | British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... |
Springboks | Openside Flanker |
| 2007 | Currie Cup | Free State Cheetahs Free State Cheetahs The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in... |
Openside Flanker |
| 2006 | Currie Cup | Free State Cheetahs Free State Cheetahs The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in... |
Squad Member |
| 2004 | Craven Week Craven Week The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven.... |
Free State U/18 Free State Cheetahs The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in... |
Openside Flanker |
Awards
- 2009
- SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
- Provincial Player of the Castle SA 2009 Lions Series
- {nominee} SA Player of the Year
- 2008
- {nominee} Sasol Young Player of the Year
- {nominee} ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
External links
- Who's Who SA: Heinrich Brussow
- Official SA Rugby site: Profile of Heinrich Brüssow
- Genslin.us: Springbok Hall of Fame
- ESPN Scrum.com Profile
- SARugby.com Profile
- Sky Sport Profile
- Planet Rugby Profile
- Daylife.com News, photos and quotes
- Zimbio news,information and photos
- Sporting Heroes profile
- OFM: Speler Profiel