Faf de Klerk

Born in Nelspruit on 19 October 1991, François "Faf" de Klerk was schooled at Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria. He played his junior rugby at the Blue Bulls, then moved to Johannesburg in 2010.

After three seasons with the Pumas, he made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions in 2014, in a 21–20 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. He played 65 matches in four seasons, setting the tempo for the attacking side that reached the 2016 and 2017 finals.

His Springbok debut came against Ireland at Newlands in 2016. At the 2019 World Cup in Japan he started every play-off match and was Player of the Match in the quarter-final against Japan, scoring a try. South Africa beat England 32–12 in the final. He won a second World Cup in France in 2023.

He has since played for Sale Sharks and in Japan.