Gerdus van der Walt
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Gerdus van der Walt
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|04|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Potchefstroom, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.83}}
| weight = {{convert|101|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Hoërskool Monument, Krugersdorp
| university =
| relatives = Jaco van der Walt (brother)
| position = Centre
| currentclub = Kamaishi Seawaves
| youthyears1 = 2013–2016
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| years1 = 2015
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| apps1 = 1
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2015–2017
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}
| apps2 = 9
| points2 = 10
| years3 = 2018
| clubs3 = Yamaha Júbilo
| apps3 = 3
| points3 = 10
| years4 = 2020–
| clubs4 = Kamaishi Seawaves
| apps4 = 8
| points4 = 5
| clubupdate = 22 February 2021
}}
Gerdus van der Walt (born 20 April 1995) is a South African rugby union player for Kamaishi Seawaves in the Top League Cup in Japan.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=112904 | name=Gerdus van der Walt | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is centre.
Career
In 2013, Van der Walt was selected to represent the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} at the Under-18 Craven Week competition held in Polokwane; he also scored a try for the Golden Lions in their match against SWD.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108364 | homeid=14044 | awayid=14054 | leagueid=1394 | hometeam=Golden Lions | homescore=34 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=SWD | matchdate=9 July 2013 | date=5 May 2016}} He was also selected to represent the {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}}s in the Under-19 Provincial Championship just a month later. He made seven appearances in the competition – all of those as a replacement – as the Golden Lions finished second on the log and reached the final of the competition, where they lost to the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}s.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=109124 | homeid=14524 | awayid=14474 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=23 | awayscore=35 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=26 October 2013 | date=5 May 2016}}
Van der Walt again appeared for their Under-19s in the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, having firmly established himself as their first-choice inside centre, starting all twelve of their matches in that position. He scored tries in their matches against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls U19}}s{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=126574 | homeid=21164 | awayid=21104 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Golden Lions U19 | homescore=11 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Blue Bulls U19 | matchdate=9 August 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} and the {{Rut|Leopards U19}}s,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=127234 | homeid=21154 | awayid=21164 | leagueid=2064 | hometeam=Leopards U19 | homescore=29 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Golden Lions U19 | matchdate=3 October 2014 | date=5 May 2016}} but could not help the team qualify for the semi-finals as they ended the season in fifth position.
Van der Walt made his first class debut during Round Two of the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition, coming on as a replacement in the second half of their 31–21 victory over {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}} in Polokwane.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140214 | homeid=24614 | awayid=24324 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls | homescore=21 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions | matchdate=13 March 2015 | date=5 May 2016}} His next appearance saw him elevated to the starting line-up in their final match in the competition, a 36–20 victory over the {{Rut|Griffons}} as the Golden Lions completed the regular season with sevens wins in seven matches.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140734 | homeid=24344 | awayid=24324 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Down Touch Griffons | homescore=20 | awayscore=36 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions | matchdate=8 May 2015 | date=5 May 2016}} He also appeared off the bench in their semi-final match against the {{Rut|Pumas}}, but it ended in disappointment as the team from Nelspruit ran out 43–20 winners.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140844 | homeid=24324 | awayid=24334 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=20 | awayscore=43 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=22 May 2015 | date=5 May 2016}} He made eleven starts for the {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}}s in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, scoring tries in five of those matches to help them finish fourth on the log.
Van der Walt was included in the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}' Currie Cup starting line-up for the final match of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season. He helped them to a 29–19 victory over {{Rut|Griquas}} to finish the regular season unbeaten, winning all ten matches.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=145054 | homeid=26624 | awayid=26574 | leagueid=2494 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=29 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=ORC Griquas | matchdate=10 October 2015 | date=5 May 2016}}
Personal life
Van der Walt is the younger brother of fly-half Jaco van der Walt. Both brothers came through the ranks at the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} and they played together on occasion; on 8 May 2015, both were selected in the starting line-up for the Golden Lions' match against the {{Rut|Griffons}} in Welkom, while they also played next to each other in the final match of the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season, in a match that saw Gerdus make his debut in the competition.
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Kamaishi Seawaves squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van der Walt, Gerdus}}
Category:Alumni of Monument High School
Category:Kamaishi Seawaves players
Category:Rugby union players from Potchefstroom
Category:Shizuoka Blue Revs players
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Japan