Cornish Pirates

PLAYER PROFILE / Rudi Brits - Prop 2009/10
	D.O.B 8th Oct 1980 Nationality South African Birthplace Pretoria (SA) Height 6' 0" (1.83m) Weight 18st 9lbs (118.5kg) Position Prop Previous clubs Eastern Province Pumas, Coventry Honours South Africa U19s, Currie Cup

 

Growing up in Pretoria, Rudi has always been a keen sportsman, He took up athletics and started playing rugby at the age of seven, and represented his district (county) in both sports at schools level.

At first he was a No. 8, but as he got older and bigger he moved from the back-row to the second-row, and finally at the age of 16 to the murky depth of the front-row.

In his own words, "I found my calling - as a tight-head prop!" Outside of school, Rudi also did Swiss wrestling, in which he represented South Africa. Swiss wrestling is almost like Cornish wrestling, but with a few different rules.

In his final school year, Rudi was fortunate to receive a three year contract with the Blue Bulls U21s, and he also attended the University of Pretoria to study Sports Management.

When his time in the U21s was finished, he moved down to Port Elizabeth to play in the same Eastern Province team as Heino Senekal. After two years Rudi moved back up north to play for the Pumas, and it was after his first season there that he welcomed the opportunity to venture abroad to play rugby in the United Kingdom.

Arriving here in November, 2004, Rudi had a short stint playing for Henley Hawks, who were then in National One, before in the January he moved to Bradford where he played 16 games for Bradford & Bingley. When that season ended he returned to SA to play 10 more games for the Pumas.

In October, 2005, Rudi returned to the UK to play for Coventry, for whom he made 93 appearances and scored three tries before signing for us in 2009.

It was at the end of 2005 that Rudi's fiancee, Deirdre, came over to join him in England. They were married in Coventry in February, 2007. Both love life here - especially the the weather (Rudi in particular hates the heat), and they are now working toward getting their residency and settling for life in the UK.

On his arrival in Cornwall this specialist tight-head prop, who can also play loose-head when occasions demand, looked forward to his time at the Pirates and keen to help the club get to the Premiership.