DHL Stormers legend: Schalk Burger

Schalk Burger will long be remembered as one of the most influential players to wear a DHL Stormers jersey.

The all-action loose forward showed scant regard for his own well-being when playing for the DHL Stormers.

Famous for tearing around the pitch with his flowing blond mane, Burger lived up to his moniker as the ‘ultimate warrior’ for the DHL Stormers.

A two-time SA Rugby Player of the Year, Burger made his DHL Stormers debut against the Waratahs at Newlands on 13 March 2004, which came after his Test bow for the Springboks against Georgia at the 2003 World Cup in Australia.

He started his career as a tireless openside flank, and would be named World Player of the Year in 2004 at the age of just 21 for his feats in this role.

Later in his career, he featured at both blindside flank and No.8 for the DHL Stormers, finishing as a playmaking loose forward who posed an all-round threat for any opposition.

Burger ended his career with more DHL Stormers caps than any other player and is still the fourth-most capped player in the team’s history with 123 appearances, a remarkable feat given his career was paused for 18 months by an injury and then a life-threatening illness in 2013.

His comeback from that setback saw him awarded the Laureus Sports Comeback of the Year Award in 2015.

A 2007 World Cup hero who shot to fame as a wrecking-ball fetcher, Burger served as DHL Stormers captain and was an immensely popular figure among supporters across the globe.

He joined English Premiership side Saracens before the 2016-17 season and went on to win two Investec Champions Cup titles with the London club before retiring.

Schalk Burger by the numbers:

123 – The number of matches he played for the DHL
Stormers from 2004 to 2016

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