Ruan Ackermann
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 Ruan Ackermann, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 December 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 115 kg (18.1 st; 254 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hoërskool Garsfontein | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Johan Ackermann (father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ruan Ackermann (born 29 December 1995) is a South African professional rugby union player, currently playing in the United Rugby Championship with Stormers. His regular position is flanker.
2012–2014 : Early career
Ackermann played high school rugby for Hoërskool Garsfontein, where he featured for their first XV from 2012 to 2014,[1] also captaining them in 2014, where he helped them reach the final of the Beeld Trophy.[2] He didn't represent the Blue Bulls at Craven Week level and was instead contracted by Johannesburg-based side the Golden Lions to join their academy from 2015.
Despite still being at school, he was included in the Golden Lions U19 squad during the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship and was named on the bench for three of their matches. He played off the bench on all three occasions and marked his debut – a Round Ten match against Western Province U19 in Johannesburg – by scoring a try in a 28–8 victory.[3]
2015 : Vodacom Cup and Under-21
Ackermann was named in the Golden Lions squad for the 2015 Vodacom Cup. He made his first class debut by starting their opening match of the campaign, a 53–3 victory over the Welwitschias in Windhoek.[4] He played off the bench in their regular season matches against the Blue Bulls,[5] Leopards[6] and the Griffons in Welkom, a match that also saw Ackermann score his first senior try in a 36–20 victory.[7] The Golden Lions finished top of the Northern Section, winning all seven of their matches to qualify for the Quarter Finals. Ackermann played off the bench in a 29–21 victory over the SWD Eagles in their quarter final match[8] and started their semi-final match against the Pumas, which the side from Nelspruit won 43–20 to eliminate the Golden Lions from the competition.[9]
Ackermann was named in a 37-man South Africa Under-20 training squad in March 2015,[10] but missed out on selection for their final squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[11]
He made six appearances for the Golden Lions U21 team during the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship Group A, scoring a try in his side's 17–30 defeat to the Free State U21s[12] as they finished in fourth position on the log to qualify for the semi-finals, but didn't feature in the semi-final match which was won 43–20 by eventual champions Western Province U21.[13]
2016–2017 : Golden Lions/Lions
In December 2015, Ackermann was included in the 55-man Lions squad that prepared for the 2016 Super Rugby season[14] and he also made the cut for a 27-man squad for their tour to Japan and New Zealand for matches against the Sunwolves, Chiefs and Highlanders.[15] He was named on the bench for their opening match against the Sunwolves.[16]
2017-2025 : Gloucester
In August 2017, Gloucester Rugby announced the signing of Ackermann, whose father Johan had recently joined as head coach.[17]
2025: Stormers
On 24 June 2025, after 8 seasons at Gloucester, Ackermann will return to South Africa to join rivals Stormers in the URC competition ahead of the 2025-26 season.[18]
International career
Ackermann played for the Barbarians against South Africa XV in a non-cap friendly, held at the Wembley Stadium in London, England.[19] He also played against Fiji, Czech Republic and New Zealand XV in non-cap friendlies.[20][21][22]
He was included in the South Africa 'A' side in a two-test series against French Barbarians, also coached under his father, Johan Ackermann.[23]