Gerrit-Jan van Velze

{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Gerrit-Jan van Velze

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Gerrit-Jan van Velze

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|2|21}}

| birth_place = Secunda, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.95}}

| weight = {{convert|112|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Lock/flanker/number 8

| years1 = 2008–2012

| years2 = 2012–2014

| years3 = 2014–2021

| years4 = 2021-2022

| years5 = 2022-present

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| clubs2 = Northampton

| clubs3 = Worcester

| clubs4 = Tel Aviv

| clubs5 = Bath Rugby

| apps1 = 65

| apps2 = 38

| apps3 = 109

| apps4 = 0

| apps5 = 20

| points1 = 50

| points2 = 35

| points3 = 60

| points4 = 0

| points5 = 5

| ru_currentclub = Bath Rugby

| ru_clubupdate = 20 July 2022

| super1 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| superyears1 = 2010–2012

| superapps1 = 2

| superpoints1 = 0

| super14currentclub =

| super14update = 12 February 2014

| province1 =

| provinceyears1 =

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repyears1 = 2006-2007

| repyears2 = 2008

| repteam1 = South Africa U19

| repteam2 = South Africa U20

| repcaps1 = 5

| repcaps2 = 5

| reppoints1 = 0

| reppoints2 = 15

| ru_ntupdate = 20 July 2022

| spouse = Menanta van Velze

| school = Afrikaans Boys High

| university = University of Pretoria

}}

Gerrit-Jan van Velze (born 21 February 1988) is a South African rugby union footballer. He plays for Bath Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership. He is a versatile forward and can play as a lock, flanker or number 8.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=35282 | name=Gerrit-Jan van Velze | date=30 May 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_8093.html | title=It's Rugby profile : Gerrit-Jan van Velze | publisher=It's Rugby | access-date=12 February 2014}}

He previously played for the {{Rut|Bulls}} in Super Rugby, making his franchise debut during the 2010 Super 14 season against the {{Rut|Crusaders}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=18978 | homeid=7841 | awayid=7836 | leagueid=752 | hometeam=Vodacom Bulls | homescore=39 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Crusaders | matchdate=22 May 2010 | date=5 July 2016}} He also made 65 appearances for the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup competitions.

He joined Worcester Warriors ahead of the 2014-15 English Premiership season.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26032600 | title=Worcester Warriors sign Gerrit-Jan Van Velze from Northampton | publisher=BBC | date=4 February 2014 | access-date=12 February 2014}}

He has signed for Bath Rugby ahead of the 2022-23 English Premiership season.

He retired from professional Rugby at Bath Rugby at the end of the 2023-24 English Premiership season.

He since been appointed as the Player Innovation and Performance Futures position at Bath Rugby