Josh Bekhuis
Encyclopedia
Joshua Bekhuis is a professional rugby union
player who plays at lock for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and provincially for Southland
in the ITM Cup.
. After making two starts in his debut season, he emerged as a regular starter during the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup
.
He followed up his debut Super Rugby season with an exceptional 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
, during which he made 14 starts and scored 4 tries, and was a key figure in Southland's Ranfurly Shield
triumph over Canterbury.
season. He had a fine first campaign, appearing in every game and making 8 starts. He would further build on that during the 2010 Super 14 season
, starting every match for the Highlanders.
During the 2011 Super Rugby season, Bekhuis appeared in every match for the Highlanders for the third season in a row, bringing his consecutive games streak to 42.
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...
player who plays at lock for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and provincially for Southland
Southland Rugby
The Southland Rugby Football Union is a provincial rugby union who govern the Southland Region founded in 1886. The headquarters of Southland Rugby are in Invercargill, New Zealand however the Southland Union also covers country teams such as Midlands of Winton and Excelsior Rugby Club of Gore.The...
in the ITM Cup.
Provincial Rugby
Bekhuis began his career with Southland in 2006 after a successful time with the Southland Boys' High School First XVSouthland Boys' High School
Southland Boys' High School is an all-boys school in Invercargill, New Zealand, and has been the only one in the city since Marist Brothers was merged with St Catherines to form Verdon College in 1982.-History:...
. After making two starts in his debut season, he emerged as a regular starter during the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup
2007 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2007 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 26 July 2007, and the Final, in which Auckland defeated Wellington, was held on Saturday 20 October....
.
He followed up his debut Super Rugby season with an exceptional 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November...
, during which he made 14 starts and scored 4 tries, and was a key figure in Southland's Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
triumph over Canterbury.
Super Rugby
Bekhuis' reliable performances for Southland saw him earning a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders for the 20092009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
season. He had a fine first campaign, appearing in every game and making 8 starts. He would further build on that during the 2010 Super 14 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, starting every match for the Highlanders.
During the 2011 Super Rugby season, Bekhuis appeared in every match for the Highlanders for the third season in a row, bringing his consecutive games streak to 42.