DHL Stormers legend: Tiaan Liebenberg

A powerful ball-carrier and set-piece specialist, Tiaan Liebenberg was a leader of the DHL Stormers pack.

The formidable hooker from Kimberley spent eight years with the DHL Stormers, during which time he helped the franchise qualify for three Super Rugby semifinals.

Liebenberg, too, was a regular feature in the team that progressed to the 2010 Super Rugby Final, and started the historic clash against the Vodacom Bulls in Soweto.

The Grey College alum was also a key member of two Currie Cup-winning squads, in 2012 and 2014, with DHL Western Province.

Liebenberg’s primary attributes lay in his prowess at the lineouts and in the scrum, where he consistently provided pinpoint accuracy and stability for the DHL Stormers

Liebenberg was as highly industrious in open play, contributing with strong carries, aggressive tackling, and tireless support running.

Having started his career at the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Liebenberg joined DHL WP in 2006 via Suzuki Griquas and the Toyota Cheetahs, before making his DHL Stormers debut a year later.

He ran out in national colours for the first time as a Springbok tourist in December 2007 against the Barbarians at Twickenham, and made 10 appearances for the Emerging Springboks side.

Liebenberg earned the first of five Test caps for the Springboks in 2012, after being called up as a replacement for the injured Bismarck du Plessis.

A back injury curtailed the latter stages of Liebenberg’s career and hung up his boots at the end of the 2014 season. He took charge of the FNB CUT Ixias for the first time during the 2017 Varsity Cup after stints as forwards coach with the Bloemfontein outfit and Free State U19s.

Liebenberg’s DHL Stormers numbers

73 – The number of matches he played for the DHL Stormers from 2007 to 2014

5 – The number of tries he scored for the DHL Stormers